Duke Lacrosse accuser charged with arson, attempted murder

Crystal Gale Mangum, the exotic dancer at the center of a high profile rape case involving members of the Duke Lacrosse team in 2006, has been arrested and charged with arson and attempted murder.

Mangum, 33, was arrested following an incident in which she allegedly scratched, punched and threatened to stab 33-year-old Milton Walker before setting some of his belongings on fire in a bathtub. Three children, aged 10, 9 and 3, were evacuated from the home during the incident. The attempted murder charge stems from the fact that the stabbing threat was allegedly made in front of law enforcement officers. According to Durham County records, Mangum was charged with attempted murder, arson, assault and battery, identity theft, communicating threats, damage to property, resisting an officer and child endangerment.

In the 2006 case, charges against Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans were dropped after Mangum’s claims were found to be without merit. Prosecutor Mike Nifong was disbarred and served a day in jail for contempt in the wake of the case.