By Compiled from Times wires
Published July 25, 2003
EAGLE, Colo. - The family of a young woman wrongly identified on the Internet as Kobe Bryant's accuser is demanding Web site operators remove her photograph.
Beth Matthews, the mother of the wrongly identified woman, said Thursday her daughter was upset to see two photographs of herself, apparently lifted from a high school Web site, spread to hundreds of sites.
Strangers in Internet chat rooms rate her appearance while others make judgments about her character, sometimes using four-letter words, Matthews said.
"I keep telling her these comments are not about you," Matthews said. "But I don't think the real person should have to go through this either."
Her 18-year-old daughter is a year younger than the woman who accused the Lakers star of sexually assaulting her June 30 at an exclusive mountain resort. Both women graduated from the same high school and have similar first names and hair color, but do not favor each other much.
Matthews said her daughter has been obsessively spending hours online each day finding where the photos have spread and seeing how they have been doctored. One site features her daughter's head imposed on the photo of a nude woman.
No decision has been made about whether the family will file lawsuits.
Meanwhile, authorities confirmed Bryant's accuser was hospitalized four months before the alleged sexual assault. University of Northern Colorado police chief Terry Urista said campus police received a call Feb 25 about the woman in a dorm room.
"An officer determined she was a danger to herself," he said. "It's classified as a mental-health issue."
Lindsey McKinney, a former friend who lived with the woman two months last spring, said the woman attempted suicide last winter and again in May by overdosing on sleeping pills. Authorities have not confirmed either.
Also, Eagle County Judge Fred Gannett issued an order limiting public comment about the case by attorneys, authorities and others involved, including Bryant and any witnesses.
THREE-TEAM TRADE: The Kings, Pacers and Spurs completed a five-player trade that sent All-Star Brad Miller to the Kings moments after he signed a seven-year, $68-million contract. The Kings traded backup center Scot Pollard to the Pacers and sent promising forward Hedo Turkoglu to the Spurs, who traded forward Danny Ferry to Indiana. San Antonio got guard Ron Mercer from the Pacers.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said the team received a trade exception worth about $4-million. Walsh believes Indiana now has the room to re-sign five-time All-Star Reggie Miller and possibly another free agent.
BUCKS: Hawks coach Terry Stotts interviewed with general manager Larry Harris for coach.
NETS: Free-agent point guard Jason Kidd re-signed for six years, $103-million.
ROCKETS: A long-term naming rights deal was signed to call the new $200-million downtown arena Toyota Center, which will be completed in September and replace the Compaq Center. The arena also will be used by the WNBA's Houston Comets and the AHL Houston Aeros.
L.A. 82, PHOENIX 65: Nikki Teasley scored 16 and the host Sparks tied a league record by making all 27 free throws. The defunct Portland Fire made 27 on July 28, 2001, against Los Angeles.
INDIANA 80, WASHINGTON 75: Tamika Catchings scored 29 to lead the visiting Fever. Chamique Holdsclaw scored a career high 34 for the Mystics.
CHARLOTTE 67, DETROIT 61: Allison Feaster scored 18 as the host Sting snapped a three-game skid.
