So horrific. Vanderbilt University is in shock after four of their football players were indicted on August 9 on five counts of aggravated rape each for allegedly raping an unconscious 21-year-old girl in her dorm room in June.
A black cloud is looming above Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., where four players – safety Cory Batey, 19, defensive back Brandon Banks, 19, receiver Jaborian “Tip” McKenzie, 19, and tight end Brandon Vandenburg, 20 — from the school’s football team were charged for the rape of an unconscious, 21-year-old student on August 9.
Four Vanderbilt University Football Players Charged With Rape
The four players have been indicted on five counts of aggravated rape, as well as two counts of aggravated sexual battery. Additionally, Brandon Vandenburg is being charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of unlawful photography, presumably for allegedly taking pictures while the sexual assault was going on.
After a long investigation by the Nashville Police’s sex crimes unit, Police Chief Steve Anderson stated that they were ready to indict the college players. “The investigation has uncovered compelling, unsettling evidence that was presented to the Davidson County Grand Jury,” he said in a statement.
Four Football Players Indicted On Rape Charges: Vanderbilt University Speaks Out
Vanderbilt University obviously had knowledge of the investigation before August 9 — Batey, Banks, McKenzie, and Vandenburg had all been dismissed from the team on June 29, though the school did not disclose a specific reason at the time.
After the indictments were made public, the school’s vice chancellor Beth Fortune said that their first thoughts are with the victim, and that they will do everything in their power to help and support her.
“We are shocked and saddened by the allegations that such an assault has taken place on our campus and that they include members of our football team,” Fortune stated. She continued her statement:
The charges brought today against the four former Vanderbilt football players allege conduct which is abhorrent and will never be tolerated. We will review our athletics program to be sure that it, like all other programs at the university, reflects our culture of community and respect for others and that our student athletes are held to the same high standards of conduct as all our students.
Of the four men, only Cory Batey has been taken into custody. He was taken to a hospital for a blood test before being brough to the Metro Jail — his bail is set at $350,000. Arrangements are reportedly being made to arrest the other three suspects, according to USA Today.
Vanderbilt Sexual Assault May Have More Suspects
And though police and the District Attorney’s office have their eyes set on these four players, D.A. General Torry Johnson also stated that the horrible acts may not be limited to just them: “Although four people are being charged at this time, the investigation is still on-going into the actions of other individuals and the role(s) they may have played in this incident.”
This is just a shocking, disgusting, and depressing story. Though Batey, Banks, McKenzie, and Vandenburg have not been convicted yet, we can’t even believe that people can be accused of doing such horrible things to another person. Our thoughts are with the victim, and we will update you as this story progresses.
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– Andrew Gruttadaro
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