Spirited defense by jogger fabricated

The Westchase attack was made up, deputies say.

By RODNEY THRASH, Times Staff Writer
Published December 23, 2007

A woman who told authorities she was attacked while jogging on Countryway Boulevard in Westchase Wednesday recanted her story, a Hillsborough County sheriff's spokesman said Saturday.

"There was some type of domestic situation between her and her husband and she felt a need to go to the extreme measure to make up a story," J.D. Callaway said. "She fabricated the whole incident."

The woman, who has not been identified, told officials she fended off her attacker - a 6-foot-1, 210-pound white man, age 25 to 30 - by clinging to a tree. She described the suspect in great detail, telling deputies he wore a mask, gloves, a dark jacket with a drawstring hood and dark pants.

The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office dispatched a canine unit and helicopters to search for a suspect. Then on Friday, two days after the now fictitious attack, she changed her story, Callaway said. The woman will not face charges.

Rodney Thrash can be reached at rthrash@sptimes.com or 813 269-5303.

[Last modified December 23, 2007, 00:01:28]