Last night, Twitchy reported the story of a 20-year-old woman, Sharmeka Moffitt, being attacked and burned by three members of the KKK. While many Twitterers were quick to link the attack to Mitt Romney and the Tea Party, we expressed our condolences to Moffitt and her family and sent prayers for recovery. Now, as it turns out, the horrific act may have been perpetrated by the victim herself. The police investigation points to this being the case.
From The Franklin Sun:
After analyzing the evidence at the State Police Crime Lab, it was discovered Moffitt’s fingerprints were on the cigarette lighter and the lighter fluid recovered near the wooded area around the crime scene.
…
A racial slur and the letters, KKK, that were written in toothpaste on Moffitt’s vehicle were linked to female DNA, authorities said.
“All of the evidence is pointing back to the victim inflicting this upon herself,” Thomas said. “No evidence has shown any other person was involved.”
Moffitt has reportedly confessed to setting herself on fire. The police now consider the case to be closed.
As Michelle Malkin writes, this incident is just the latest in a series of hate crime hoaxes.
Longtime readers know it’s not an isolated phenomenon — and neither is the knee-jerk impulse to blame conservatives/the Tea Party/Fox News for numerous incidents that turned out to be completely manufactured.
As Twitchy pointed out, liberals rushed to blame the Sharmeka Moffitt case on Mitt Romney and the Tea Party.
Indeed. And despite the truth about Moffitt’s crime coming to light, some Twitterers are still running with the original story — and blaming Romney for what happened:
KKK Burn A Black Lady Alive For Wearing A Obama Shirt…That Shit Crazy Now Let Me Catch A Bitch Supporting Romney See Wat Happen #NoTalking
— Free Weezy (@FloydMay_WetHer) October 23, 2012
https://twitter.com/Mr_Touch_Ent/status/260854511646670848
Kkk Burnd A Black Lady Alive For Wearin A Obama Shirt …Romney Become President They Fuck Around Make Slavery Legal Again
— Welcome2NewJack™ (@Murda_4Fun) October 23, 2012
This woman knows that Moffitt’s wounds were self-inflicted yet can’t resist tying Romney to the KKK:
@TJMShow I knew it was a lie. The KKK is more organized this day in age. The sponsor Romney not with money.
— #letmeoffthisplanet (@lovegroove22) October 23, 2012
Others are defending Moffitt’s actions because they supposedly draw attention to America’s racist underbelly:
https://twitter.com/ucleverdan/status/260886080788787200
https://twitter.com/stopbeingfamous/status/260890798780985344
Just because Sharmeka Moffitt fabricated a story that included racist motives, the reality is racism is very much alive in the US.
— Shay Stewart Bouley (@blackgirlinmain) October 23, 2012
Most people, though, just feel duped and taken advantage of:
I am simply embarrassed to hear that it is suspected that Sharmeka Moffitt faked the attack..absolutely ridiculous.
— Rickey Edwards Jr. (@RJ_56) October 23, 2012
https://twitter.com/DTPMZP/status/260887265092444160
@GlobalGrind have you hear sharmeka moffitt lied? She burned herself! So sad
— Tammy M. Wright (@tammymwright) October 23, 2012
https://twitter.com/SirTrillington/status/260879169418842112
Something about the Sharmeka Moffitt crime didn't ring true to me. Now it appears it was faked. Terrible. http://t.co/xm28dInD
— Lorna Cooper??????????? (@Coops_tv) October 23, 2012
Wow. Sharmeka Moffitt lied. RT @blackvoices: Black woman who alleged KKK attack reportedly self-inflicted her wounds http://t.co/pCDFGz0d
— Vincent Benjamin (@evincentb) October 23, 2012
https://twitter.com/NoBootyyJudy/status/260884882673238016
https://twitter.com/rstephens4/status/260884811844034561
HOLD UP. Sharmeka Moffitt set herself on fire? I knew there was a reason I didn't go brand new activist at first. #StillPray for her mental.
— Angel Starr (@YourStarrAngel) October 23, 2012
Umm wtf RT @blackvoices: UPDATE: Black woman who alleged KKK attack reportedly self-inflicted her wounds http://t.co/GnXAk9R0
— B(dot) Carter (@theBdotCARTER) October 23, 2012
I can't believe this… “@blackvoices: UPDATE: Black woman who alleged KKK attack reportedly self-inflicted her wounds http://t.co/ZqtQooAE”
— Rijana (@nanapointblank) October 23, 2012
What in the psychopath RT @SheSeauxSaditty: "Moffett wrote KKK and Nigger on her car and lit herself on fire" http://t.co/O0ZVIXy2
— Chun Bae ? (@ImPepperAnne) October 23, 2012
Moffitt’s family has issued a statement:
Our family is devastated to learn the circumstances surrounding our daughter’s injuries. While this was not the resolution we had expected, it is a resolution, and we appreciate the thorough investigation by the local and state police as well as federal agencies.
We are sincerely sorry for any problems this may have caused and wish to express our appreciation for the outpouring of love, prayers and support we have received from friends, acquaintances, church organizations and government officials.
Over the coming days and weeks, our focus will be on Sharmeka and her recovery. We ask that you continue to pray for her and for our family, and that you respect our privacy at this difficult time.
That Moffitt was willing to mutilate herself in order to get attention clearly demonstrates that she is a very disturbed young woman.
https://twitter.com/msbusy/status/260887476682510336
There has to be something very mentally wrong for you to set yourself on fire. Sharmeka Moffitt still needs prayer.
— Abolish the Police State! (@JayRachelle) October 23, 2012
I actually feel sad for that Sharmeka Moffitt. She must have been in a mentally desperate position to harm herself so badly.
— Sally M (@proverbial_one) October 23, 2012
And, as betrayed as we and others feel after being deceived by Moffitt’s cry for attention, we hope she gets the help she needs.
Deeply saddened to learn that Sharmeka Moffitt allegedly made up story about 3 men burning her. I still pray for her and her family.
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) October 23, 2012
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