She took a rape test to prove her father abused her. Now that she is dead, lawyers are dropping the charges.
A California family is fighting the Ventura County DA after rape charges were dropped, leaving the accused father facing only three years in prison.
When a young woman dies after reporting a sexual assault, you expect the justice system to fight harder for her. But one grieving family says the state is doing the exact opposite.
WHAT HAPPENED
Crystal has spent 34 days posting videos online to seek justice for her cousin, Makayla. Makayla took her own life after accusing her father, Steven, of rape. Before she died, Makayla went to a hospital and completed a rape kit to secure evidence.
The Ventura County DA recently dropped the rape charge against Steven. Officials released a video on Facebook saying they cannot seek justice on TikTok. They claim some of the facts shared online are not true.
Crystal says the DA told her family that Makayla's evidence is no longer valid because she is not here to speak. She says the dropped charges mean Steven now faces a maximum of only three years in jail.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
Makayla completed a rape kit at a hospital while she was alive.
- The Ventura County DA dropped the rape charge against her father, Steven.
- Steven now faces a maximum prison sentence of three years.
- Crystal has posted online updates for 34 days to keep public attention on the case.
- The DA's office posted a video response to Facebook about the case.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
What happens to victims of abuse when they are no longer here to stand in a courtroom? If physical evidence like hospital kits cannot speak for a victim, it leaves a scary gap in our legal system. It forces us to ask if our courts care more about legal loops than finding the truth.
This case also shows how social media is changing the law. Without TikTok, this family feels their case would have been ignored. We must ask why regular people have to make viral videos just to get state lawyers to do their jobs.
THE OTHER SIDE
The Ventura County DA's office says they must follow the law and check evidence based on what can hold up in court. They state that much of the facts on social media are not true and that they cannot argue cases online.
While the DA must meet a high legal bar without a living witness, dropping the charges entirely based on a witness's death seems to ignore physical evidence that still exists.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
This decision sends a worrying message to victims of family abuse and assault. It suggests that if a victim dies, their abuser might get off with a much lighter sentence.
Local families and supporters are watching this case closely. It could change how people trust local lawyers to protect them.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Why does the law treat a hospital rape kit as invalid if the victim is not alive to speak?
- What specific details on social media does the DA claim are not true?
- Will the state face public pressure to change how they handle abuse cases when a victim dies?