Woman Set On Fire, KKK Painted on Car, Cops “Unsure” if Motivation is Racial

[HarveyDarkey]

A 20 year old black woman in Louisiana suffered burns over 90% of her body when 3 men in white hoodies set her on fire and spray painted “KKK” on her car. An investigation is underway to determine whether or not this crime was racially motivated, much to the confusion of friends and family.

Sharmeka Moffitt of Winnsboro, Louisiana was approached by the 3 men when she was on a walking trail at Civitan Park in Franklin Parish on Sunday. Moffitt was able to call 911 for assistance and is listed in critical condition at the LSU-Shreveport hospital.

The FBI is working in conjunction with the Louisiana State Police, the state Fire Marshal’s Office, the Winnsboro Police Department and Franklin Parish sheriff’s office, and thus far, the authorities have declined to classify the incident as a hate crime.

A Facebook page has been created for Moffitt, decrying the fact that this crime has not received national media coverage.

KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/woman-set-on-fire-kkk-painted-on-car-cops-unsure-if-motivation-is-racial_102012

[0rganism]

1. burn victims have it incredibly rough, i hope she recovers fully

and may the people who did this to her face prosecution and sentencing in a federal court, and spend the rest of their wasted lives rotting in prison.

[defacto7]

4. yes to this

[Care Acutely]

22. At over 90%, it is extremely improbable that she can recover fully

And if any significant portion of those are full-thickness burns, it is sadly unlikely she will live. This is utterly horrific.

[TorchTheWitch]

31. it's 50 or 60% - not 90%

It's also been determined that she did it herself and has since admitted this. It's still horrific though... one has to have pretty severe mental problems to do something like this to themselves. I can't help but believe she didn't intend to burn herself so badly since it's just so difficult for me to think that she actually wanted to burn herself so badly or even burn to death just to perpetuate a hoax.

Terribly sad and disturbing regardless.

[Horse with no Name]

28. During one of my practicums I spent some time in the burn unit at Parkland

It was heartbreaking.

I was physically sick at the end of the first day. Truly, in the bed, throwing up, sick.

I don't believe I have ever seen so much pain and suffering in my entire life--before or since.

[beam me up scottie]

32. Another reason to be an organ donor.

If I am ever burned that badly I hope they let me die.

[FrodosPet]

38. She did this to herself

Should she prosecution and sentencing in a federal court, and spend the rest of her wasted lives rotting in prison?

ALWAYS be skeptical! Make every belief prove itself. Even if it is uncomfortable to do so. And the more you believe something to be a fact, that's the time to question even more.

[0rganism]

39. apparently so, but that's cause for pity, not snark

Let's assume the newer version is true. Upon recovery, she should be evaluated for mental illness and kept in a facility where she can do no more harm to herself or others. Perhaps prison, more likely a mental hospital.

But you yourself counsel skepticism; what about now? The more you believe she did it to herself, according to you, the more you yourself should question whether that's actually the case. The sheriff says her DNA was on the lighter and lighter fluid, and she admitted to doing it herself, but why do you believe him all of a sudden? All we have is his word; it wouldn't be the first time a police department forced a false confession. For a skeptic, you're suddenly very credulous.

In the absence of contradicting evidence, there was no likely reason to doubt that she was the victim of a crime perpetrated by a hate group, who have historically engaged in comparable acts against minorities. To jump in now pointing out the wisdom of doubting her story from the beginning strikes me as rather ex post facto and a bit condescending; why didn't you come forward to share your remarkable foresight when the original story first broke?

[defacto7]

2. What the hell else could it be

but a hate crime?

for god sake!

[freshwest]

6. I agree. What's up in Louisiana? Will this be like VA not investigating GOP vote fraud?

This country is more like something out of the old mobster movies with the GOP as the mafia, or the Nazi era. The Tea Party are the enforcers or brownshirts, willing to commit acts of terror and intimidate others. I don't see any difference between the goals of the GOP and the KKK, who always wanted a 'race war,' to take over the USA government.

[Major Nikon]

8. The only thing I can possibly come up with...

is that maybe someone which a score to settle tried to kill her and make it look like a hate crime.

If she didn't know of anyone that was out to get her, it's hard to imagine it being anything but a hate crime.

[Nye Bevan]

17. What the hell else could it be? How about a hoax by someone seeking attention? (nt)

[defacto7]

24. yeah, could be...

I may have jumped the gun on this one, but the larger issue remains. Most are not acts of self immolation by people with psychological disorders.

Point taken, though.

[LisaL]

19. A hoax?

[slackmaster]

27. In light of information that the police now regard the injuries as self-inflicted, I'd call it...

...a suicide attempt.

[limpyhobbler]

3. omg wow.

Can't wait to see these bastards mugshots.

[sheshe2]

7. They will be white male Neo-Nazi with lots of tats

This is insane! The police are checking it out to see if this is race related....really. The first clue might have been the KKK on the car. Hello!

[Marinedem]

14. Or not.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20121023/BREAKING_NEWS/121023022/UPDATED-5-06-P-M-Franklin-sheriff-Sharmeka-Moffitt-set-herself-afire

[sheshe2]

15. She set herself on fire?

That's just awful. Sorry to jump to conclusions!

[vercetti2021]

5. My god

This is horrible and i hope she recovers fully. Hope they find these 3 racist assholes and give them a good sentencing.

[mythology]

9. Taking time to get the decision right is more important than doing it quickly

Should there be pressure on the police and other relevant authorities? Of course, but I also want them to make the right choice. Immediate rushes to decisions often create poor decisions.

For example there is confusion right now if she was attacked for wearing an Obama tshirt or not. If she had been attacked over being an Obama supporter that would have been awful, but not necessarily something that would fall under the hate crime statute.

But in a situation like this, where there's seemingly little evidence that will help to identify the perpetrators, like security video of the parking lot, the investigators should avoid letting out unnecessary information. Even president of the local branch of the NAACP has said that he wanted further information about what happened before making conclusions.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/22/louisiana-hate-crime/1650645/

As for why it's not a major news story, it happened late Sunday night. It's Monday, that's not a lot of time for something to percolate up to the national level, especially given the presidential election upcoming and a mass shooting occurring in the last few days.

[Barack_America]

10. I agree. There's something weird about this story.

I'm praying for her recovery.

[mythology]

25. Indeed

I feel indescribably sad for this woman and her family/friends. I wish she can find the hope and the healing that she needs.

Just because she wasn't attacked doesn't mean she is any less deserving of our thoughts and the best medical care available.

[MessiahRp]

11. I immediately thought of this:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/mccain-volunteer-admits-to-hoax-618221/

Maybe that's the skeptic in me but something seemed fishy about this story.

[Quantess]

12. Injuries may be self-inflicted.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014276705

[uponit7771]

13. WOWWWWW I pray for her complete healing, sould..mind .....body

[Skidmore]

16. I just got a message from my cousin

who says that the New Orleans news was reporting this as a hoax gone awry. I could not find anything beyond what you have found at this point.

[LisaL]

18. You didn't look hard enough.

Police think her injuries are self-inflicted.

"After two days of investigation, authorities said evidence showed that she apparently set herself on fire, CBS affiliate KSLA reported. Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas said Tuesday afternoon that authorities linked Moffitt's fingerprints to a lighter and a bottle of lighter fluid found at the scene."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57538944-504083/sharmeka-moffitt-burned-la-woman-made-up-story-about-racial-attack-police-say/

[Nye Bevan]

21. Lots of times when there is writing involved, it's a hoax.

Tawana Brawley, and the woman who wrote the backwards "B" on herself, spring to mind.

[dems_rightnow]

20. Self-inflicted

http://houston.cbslocal.com/2012/10/24/police-black-woman-lied-about-kkk-setting-her-on-fire/

Wow.

[superpatriotman]

23. Kicked

Late to the game.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20121023/NEWS01/121023030/Police-say-Winnsboro-attack-fabricated?nclick_check=1

Police announced Tuesday they believe Sharmeka Moffitt fabricated a story about being attacked and burned Sunday night at Civitan Park in Winnsboro by three men who wrote “KKK” on the hood of her car, and instead set herself afire.

Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb said during a press conference at the Franklin Parish Courthouse this afternoon that Moffitt's DNA and fingerprints were found on the lighter as well as charcoal lighter fluid used in the incident.

Police say they are still unsure why Moffitt set herself on fire. It will now be up to the district attorney's office to determine whether she will face charges for the fabrication.

“Basically we had to follow the facts,” Cobb said. “This was a disturbing case for all involved. All indications show this was a self-inflicted situation.”

[Media Lies]

26. I checked their website and found...

The KKK is mostly motivated by Christian values. Leave it to cops in the deep south to cover for their Christian brothers in the KKK.

[Bucky]

29. Actually, it's starting to look like this really was self inflicted.

It's always best to hold off opinions till the facts come out.

[Nevernose]

30. Except for the fact that she CONFESSED to making it up

And they found her fingerprints on the lighter...well, except for that stuff, it's obviously a police cover-up. One in which the FBI is also involved in.

[trof]

33. You might think about self-deleting this post.

[Jamastiene]

34. How the hell can they be "unsure" if it was racial movitated?

I don't think it gets much more obviously racially motivated than that, does it?

[dems_rightnow]

35. You may want to read the rest of the thread

The titles should be enough.

[cthulu2016]

36. Since she did it herself, they were right to be unsure