No Proof Anyone 'Callously' Took Video of Rape on SEPTA Train, DA Says

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SEPTA

No Proof Anyone ‘Callously' Took Video of Rape on SEPTA Train, DA Says

“That is simply not true. It did not happen. We have security video from SEPTA that shows that is not the true narrative," Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said

By Rudy Chinchilla • Published October 21, 2021 • Updated 29 mins ago

Passengers did not sit around and record cellphone video of a rape aboard a SEPTA train for their own gratification without contacting authorities, Delaware County’s top prosecutor said Thursday.

The revelation from District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer runs counter to the police narrative of the rape on a SEPTA Market-Frankford elevated train at the 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby. Police said in that case that passengers took cellphone video without calling 911 before a SEPTA employee called police.

“There is a narrative out there that people sat there on the El train and watched this transpire and took videos of it for their own gratification,” Stollsteimer said using the nickname for the Market-Frankford line. “That is simply not true. It did not happen. We have security video from SEPTA that shows that is not the true narrative.”

In fact, Stollsteimer said, SEPTA security video shows that a “handful” of people who were getting on and off the train as it traveled from Philadelphia to the 69th Street Terminal had observed different parts of the rape, possibly without knowing what exactly was happening.

{snip}

[LizBeth]

1. Another report said at least two people video'd, yet then states didn't happen. I guess they

decided it was not "callous".

[Joinfortmill]

2. Scary. No one called the police??

[Effete Snob]

3. I was skeptical of those early reports

When you see a news story like this one, you have to wonder where some of the "facts" came from. Who said there were people taking videos and posting on unidentified "social media"? Because, if it had been posted anywhere, it is a sure bet the regular media would have a blurred-out picture.

It could very well be that people were taking pictures or video for the purpose of preserving evidence of a crime they were witnessing. But then, given the outrage over "people were taking pictures/video", I can see why they don't want to jump into the media mixer on this one.

But in order to even get to the "people were taking pictures/video" of what happened, you would need a witness who actually saw that taking place.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. The article said it was a "police narrative"...

... about the callous onlookers who did nothing.

Makes me wonder about the mindset of their cops -- e.g., "They're all animals, so it's better to shoot first and ask questions later."

[Effete Snob]

6. No police person was there to see that

Two cops boarded the train and attended immediately to the attacker and victim. Other passengers left. They had no idea what was going on with other passengers when they arrived.

[niyad]

4. That whole release is disturbing. He did not say no videos had been taken, only that

they were not "callous". What thee f'n hell does that even mean?? And seeing different parts of the rape (40 minutes, by one account) and not knowing what was going on?? What the f'n hell did they think was happening??

I know that some people who ride subways, trains, etc. tend to pay no attention/draw no attention.. but, just. . .wow.