NC woman charged more than month after reporting she was attacked, sexually assaulted at a park

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A woman in North Carolina faces serious charges more than a month after reporting that she was sexually assaulted in a popular park in Forsyth County.

On Friday, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office charged 26-year-old Kaitlyn Bryant with felony obstruction of justice and misdemeanor filing a false police report. She reported the assault in June.

Her description of the alleged attacker led to an Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated sketch, which was widely distributed by the sheriff's office, including on their social media accounts.

Timeline of the Investigation

According to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, the investigation started when a 911 call was received about a woman who said she was sexually assaulted in Tanglewood Park on Tuesday, June 30. Deputies responded to the call around 12:59 p.m.

The woman told deputies she was jogging on a hiking trail near the dog park and overflow parking lot when an unknown white man surprised and attacked her. She said she was able to escape after fighting off her attacker and run out of the wooded area. Someone in the park called 911 on her behalf.

The woman was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

On July 1, the day after the alleged assault, the sheriff's office held a news conference to spread the word about the assault, and they released an AI-generated sketch of a possible suspect.

The composite (see photo below) was based on the woman's description of her alleged attacker. She described him as a white male with dark eyes, a bald head and beard, wearing a red shirt and unknown-color shorts. The suspect has multiple tattoos, including a noticeable cross tattoo. He also has ear piercings, but no earrings.

After widely circulating the AI composite, the sheriff's office received numerous tips, which led them to a man in Whitsett, which is located in Guilford County.

On July 6, six days after the report, deputies showed up to his house and questioned him. He was cleared, but he told a Triad television station that the AI photo took a toll on his reputation.

Digital Evidence Unravels Woman's Story

On July 15, sixteen days after the report, the sheriff's office had another news conference to say the assault didn't happen at Tanglewood Park.

Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough stated at the news conference, "We felt compelled to bring you an update. After a thorough investigation, using electronic data and man-hours, other evidence, we can unequivocally say the alleged assault did not take place at Tanglewood. It did not take place there."

He added that there was a fear factor after the report of people going to the park and he wanted to let everyone know the alleged assault didn't happen at the park.

Kimbrough said, "We have concluded, and she has attested, that it did not take place at Tanglewood Park. The factual evidence, the electronic evidence, and the alleged victim stated it did not happen there," Sheriff Kimbrough said during the news conference.

The sheriff said her story came into question through an investigation of her phone, its subsequent location data and inconsistencies with her story.

Captain Sloan, who is part of the investigation for the sheriff's office, also spoke at the news conference. He said they called the woman back in for a second interview after digital evidence showed discrepancies in her story. It was during that interview that she admitted it didn't happen at Tanglewood.

The sheriff said an assault happened, but it didn't happen the way it was first reported. He said due to the ongoing investigation in that case, he can't release any details.

According to Capt. Sloan, the biggest piece of evidence that helped determine the incident didn't happen at the park was digital forensics from her phone. He said they were able to plot out spots, times, locations and activities. After gathering those details, Sloan said they decided to reinterview the alleged victim.

When asked about the AI-generated composite, Sheriff Kimbrough reiterated that it was based on what she told them. He told a reporter, "Based on what has been told to us we are moving very cautiously on everything that is said to us as it relates to that."

Watch July 15 news conference here

The sheriff told reporters that he wouldn't use the composite, but that was his opinion.

Alleged Victim Charged

On Friday, August 7, the woman who reported the crime was officially charged.

"We have concluded, and she has attested, that it did not take place at Tanglewood Park. The factual evidence, the electronic evidence, and the alleged victim stated it did not happen there," Sheriff Kimbrough said during the news conference.

Bryant is charged with a common-law felony count of obstructing justice and a misdemeanor count of filing a false police report.

Sheriff Kimbrough said the investigation cost the county nearly $50,000 of taxpayer money on some 'tomfoolery,' countless man-hours and resources used to investigate the false report.

He also apologized to the community for the anguish it caused and the fallout, as some stopped doing activities in the park and changed everyday life due to the fear.

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