The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has released evidence in the case of a pro football player investigated for sexually assaulting a Milledgeville college student, including a video of his accuser.
Charges were never filed against Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the high profile case. Officials said there was not enough evidence. The alleged victim never recanted her statement.
Sarah Chatfield counsels sexual assault victims at The Cottage in Athens, another college town. She says victims are often reluctant to come forward because they fear media attention and seeing this could make things worse.
“It’s re-traumatizing. It’s a violation of something that is so personal and yeah I do think it does shape whether people want to come forward or not because they see that and they think, I don’t want to be that person.”
The DVD of the victim’s testimony does distort her face, but her voice remains the same. Georgia law mandates release of these materials.

Tags: Athens, Milledgeville, GA., Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburg Steelers, The Cottage