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Teen: Dukes got me pregnant
Early edition: A 17-year-old foster girl living with a relative of Elijah Dukes told police the Devil Rays outfielder got her pregnant.
By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published June 12, 2007
A 17-year-old foster girl living with a relative of Elijah Dukes told police the Devil Rays outfielder got her pregnant. Detectives believe the sex was consensual and no crime was commited, but the incident has sparked a state investigation into the foster home.
Police say an anonymous tip prompted them to look into the matter. In May, investigators went to the West Tampa home of Dukes' step-grandmother, Johnnie Johnson, according to Tampa police reports. Johnson told police that the teen girl, whose name was not released, lived in Johnson's foster home until she turned 18 in April. Johnson said she learned of the pregnancy about two weeks before the teen left the home.
The girl, expected to give birth Nov. 5, told investigators she and Dukes had consensual sex on the living room sofa. She said Dukes got angry when she and another person confronted him about the pregnancy.
"Yeah, we sat down and told him and he got mad and threw a Gatorade at me," she told investigators.
Devil Rays management said Dukes would not comment on the investigation.
"He will not discuss personal matters," said team spokesman Chris Costello.
Dukes' mother, Phyllis Dukes, said she didn't know about the allegations.
"He's doing well on the field," she said. "He's doing so good. It's just every time he turns around there's something coming at him." Times staff writer Eduardo A. Encina and news researcher John Martin contributed to this report.
[Last modified June 12, 2007, 21:42:35]
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Comments on this article
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by TONI
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12/27/07 05:07 PM
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DISGRACE TO HIS RACE
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by LEE
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09/20/07 10:46 AM
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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE SEX WITH A MINOR??? WHAT IF THE GUY DOES EVERYTHING TO TAKE YOUR BABY AWAY. THAT'S SOUNDS LIKE TOTAL MANIPULATION. A 17 YEAR IS NAIVE.
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by Lissa
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06/14/07 10:02 PM
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Wow. Smart girl. I believe child support is a percentage of income rather than fixed amount? Welcome to the ghetto.
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by Bill
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06/14/07 07:51 AM
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Yep. Keep having babies. I want to see you match Shawn Kemp with 7 kids from 5 different women. And then I want to see them all hound you into bankruptcy for child support.
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by Liz
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06/14/07 12:16 AM
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Geez Bill... looks to me like all the previous comments already senteced him to prison. Get the facts straight! Also, sorry society, but I have no sympathy for young women who are stupid and can't keep their legs shut. More welfare taxes for to pay!
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by Jay
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06/13/07 08:50 PM
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Looks like Dukes is auditioning for the NBA in case his MLB career doesn't pan out.
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by Steeler1
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06/13/07 06:08 PM
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Yea, I agree, he should be a BENGAL!! He would fit in w/ Marvin Lewis's thugs.
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by claudette
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06/13/07 06:00 PM
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Mr Dukes just needs to know that he will never separate his private life from his career. The two will always overlap and what he does off the field is going to effect his career because his fans are wives, husbands, parents and etc...
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by Melissa
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06/13/07 05:54 PM
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On 97x today someone called in and suggested they make up child sized t-shirts that say "Elijah Dukes is my dad." LOL I've love to walk into the Trop and see that.
This guy has NO MORALS! He's married and still making babies with other women.
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by Cliff
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06/13/07 05:35 PM
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Maybe we should ship him to the Nats before we lose all trade value for him. In DC, he will not be near his hometown and cvould rebuild himself......maybe
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by Sassy
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06/13/07 04:30 PM
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His father is in state prison for 2nd degree murder. You can see for yourself at www.dc.state.fl.us His name is Elijah Dukes. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
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by LilDukie
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06/13/07 03:59 PM
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Lay 'em down and smack 'em yack 'em!
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by John
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06/13/07 02:47 PM
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Send his **s to jail!
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by Bill Zabka
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06/13/07 01:01 PM
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Liz, no one is saying he should be put in jail, so innocent until proven guilty is completley irrelevant. Given Dukes' history, I tend to believe the young girl.
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by Josh
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06/13/07 12:57 PM
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Good for him, who wouldn't pull some 17 year old tail of they could.
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by jamaal
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06/13/07 12:28 PM
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So homeboy was throwin dat hatorade all up in that?
Why everyone in deez comments hatin on this man? He is a pro athelete, dogg! You should want your kidz to make it in the big league just like DuKeS!
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by Iversen
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06/13/07 09:47 AM
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This girl was living with a relative of his...which granted they aren't tied by blood but she is part of his family...
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by Precious
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06/13/07 01:08 AM
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Elijah didnt care about his career when he created all this mess. And its going to get worse The Law shouldnt treat him any different hes still a human being and he commited all types of crimes and he should be punished.Lets see what the Law does.
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by Precious
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06/13/07 01:00 AM
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It upsets me,Just because Elijah has a career and hes playing for the devils rays doesnt excuse him for his actions regardless of whether its personal or not its out in the open and what you do in the dark comes to the light.
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by Dana
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06/13/07 12:50 AM
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"If true I believe this will be his 5th child with 4 different women"
Steve, believe this will be his 6th child with 5 different women. When will he learn to keep it in his pants?
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by liz
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06/13/07 12:38 AM
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Weird... I thought it was innocent UNTIL proven guilty in this country?? And how strange it would be for an 18 year-old to charge a pro athelete that makes $29000/month. I guess she can afford birth control and sex ed now. Wake up people!
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by Richard
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06/13/07 12:25 AM
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Great thoughts fellas, but you are all forgetting some things. 1. Bud Light is not Goodell, but a spineless buffoon who will do absolutely nothing. 2. The Rays are spinless buffoons who will do nothing. 3. They are all too scared of the players assoc
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by Bob
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06/13/07 12:20 AM
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Last time I checked, sex with a 17 year old was still a crime. So was assaulting a pregnant woman with a gatorade. I guess becuase he is a good ball player he's not held to the same standards as everyone else. What a great role model for our kids.
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by Fred
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06/13/07 12:19 AM
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I think the Bengals could use him.
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by JD
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06/13/07 12:10 AM
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Why do the papers keep writing about his personal life. So when he was 21 he had consensual sex with a 17 year old and she is claiming he got her pregnant. Why is this anyone's business. He is a baseball player. No law was broken. Not news worthy.
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by Randy
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06/13/07 12:05 AM
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Maybe you people should get your facts straight before you start calling someone a sexual prediator. In Florida it is not illegal for an 22 year old to have sex with a 17 year old. Plus, there is no proof yet that it is even his baby.
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by John
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06/13/07 12:02 AM
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This guy is a joke and it's a shame the Rays are in a tough position with him.
However, it is legal for him to be with a 17-year old. 16 and up are of age of consent with anyone under 24.
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by David
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06/12/07 11:58 PM
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she 17, he under 23, not illegal in Florida, sadly. Now, pregnant with child, her life could be ruined, and his, well, we'll see what happens to him and his future. I have a hunch he'll continue to play...in every sense of the word.
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by Steve
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06/12/07 11:39 PM
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17-23 is legal in Florida. If he was a year older, he would have been charged.
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by John
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06/12/07 11:38 PM
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It is not actually illegal for that to happen. BY LAW- EVERY MINOR 16 AND 17 YEARS OLD CAN HAVE CONSENUAL SEX WITH A PERSON WHO IS WITHIN 6 YEARS OF THEM. This does not make it morally ok, but he was within the legal bounds of the law.
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by Jesse
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06/12/07 11:36 PM
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Let's package him and a AAA pitcher (we have depth) for a real catcher. The Braves need a CF and the Rockies are interested. Dukes has amazing talent and someone will give him a shot. It's just time to move on. I hope he cleans up act...elswhere
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by mike
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06/12/07 11:28 PM
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I was miffed when the Rays called Dukes up, but I gave it a chance. Now I root against my hometown team, and wouldn't dream of paying to see a game. As long as the Rays make excuses for this miscreant, I'll be cheering for the Phils.
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by Don
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06/12/07 11:19 PM
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Everyone should ban the Rays until they get they get rid of the low life thug!!!
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by billy
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06/12/07 11:18 PM
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has someone told this clown about condom use? or is he too much of a "man" to worry about a little thing like disease or pregnancy? just how will this baseball "playah" support all these children if he screws up his career?
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by Jamie
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06/12/07 11:16 PM
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I believe the age of consent in FL is 16, but the guy is a walking stereotype. Sad...
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