KKK Burn Victim Sharmeka Moffitt Lied, Police Say

9:23 PM EDT
10/23/2012 by Terry Shropshire


Police investigators say that a woman who claimed that members of the KKK kidnapped her and set her on fire in a Louisiana town, which caused a national uproar, made up the entire story to explain her burns.

Sharmeka Moffitt set herself on fire, which burned over 90 percent of her body and left her in critical condition at the Louisiana State University-Shreveport hospital, forensic investigators state.

On Sunday at 8 p.m., Sharmeka Moffitt called 911 from a walking trail in Winnsboro, La., and told authorities she had been doused in flammable liquid by three men wearing white hoodies. She suffered extensive burns on more than half her body and was taken to the LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport for treatment, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Authorities, including the FBI, began to unravel Moffitt’s story immediately based on the evidence collected.

“The evidence does not support the statement that she was attacked by three males,” said Louisiana State Police spokeswoman Lt. Julie Lewis.

Lewis said Moffitt’s fingerprints were found on a lighter and lighter fluid recovered from the scene. Investigators also believe Moffitt used toothpaste to draw the Ku Klux Klan initials and racial slur on her vehicle. DNA evidence also points to Moffitt, Lewis said.

Investigators, however, have not been able to interview Moffitt because she remains in critical condition. Without speaking to her, it remains unclear why she might set herself on fire, Lewis offered.

Police are handing the case over to the Franklin Parish District Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether to file charges against Moffitt, she said.

“I feel a hurt for the victim,” Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas Lester Thomas told a news conference Tuesday.

“Nobody knows, it could be you, it could be me, it could be one of our family members struggling like this,” added Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Kobb.

Several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, began looking into the alleged attack as a possible hate crime. If this new revelation turns out to be true, then these same agencies will be looking to file charges against here.

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  • Concerned

    What… no coments? Hmmm…

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/2SPEKPPLAG5CJCDSCXMDSH2AOM Likewaterforchocolate

    I had NO comment on this story when it was first reported, because I knew something like this was on the horizon. I was on a another site and a commenter suggested that she probably set herself on fire.
    Everyone balked at this commenter.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1444373824 Annunaki Tucker-Ferguson

    The thought passed rapidly through my mind. Ifelt terrible for even thinking this lady did it herself.

  • Blackdude

    I don’t believe it! COPS ARE COVERING UP IN THIS SMALL CLOSE KINSHIP TOWN!!!

    • Shiron

      I have always been a conspiracy theorist when it comes to black folks and law enforcement, simply because of our troubled history with the police–I think you are right to question and have doubts! There was even a case where a DNA “expert” was sentenced to prison for lying about findings from DNA evidence, which had caused several people (all Black) to wrongfully be sent to prison.

      • Ennis mack

        I mean I’m 30 mins away from that town. It does not add up. The media says while her mom was at the cafeteria the girl woke up and gave a statement. This is a cover up to quiet the NAACP. SHE WOULD BE TOO SEDATED ON MEDS TO GIVE A CREDIBLE STATEMENT! 90% OF HER BODY WAS BURNED!

  • USArmy1181

    I’m surprised Al Sharpton and the rest of the race baiters weren’t all over this. You usually find them at these type of events trying to exploit it for everything it is worth. The usual media types jumped on it from the start instead of investigating the story. They love to throw the words “hate crime” and “racism” to stir up the populace.

  • vixen

    None of this makes sense! Why would anyone set THEMSELVES on fire? And HOW could a person burn 90% of their body with a lighter and lighter fluid? Give me a brake! It all sounds shady to me. I do hope they continue to investigate this ludicris accusation!!!

  • Cregg Calhoun Rayne La

    When committing suicide and wanting your family to collect the insurance you don’t want it to look like a suicide more like a murder or an accident your choice make a statement when you go ! And hope you don’t survive the attempt