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Jennifer Gries: Stanford employee accused of lying about being raped to wreak revenge on coworker

Jennifer Gries received money from the California Victim of Crimes Board after she wrongfully claimed she had been raped twice by the same co-worker
UPDATED MAR 16, 2023
A Stanford University employee was arrested and charged with lying about being raped on campus grounds (NBC/Video screengrab)
A Stanford University employee was arrested and charged with lying about being raped on campus grounds (NBC/Video screengrab)

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: A Stanford employee who claimed she was violently raped twice on campus by a coworker has been arrested and accused of lying to exact vengeance and make some money. In connection with the false allegations, Jennifer Gries, 25, is accused of felony perjury and other offenses, the Santa Clara District Attorney said on Wednesday, March 15.

The Housing Services employee allegedly defamed her colleague because she believed he had "turned her friends against her" and given her "false intention," according to court papers that New York Post has acquired. "Evidence shows that the Gries made up the stories due to being angry at a co-worker," the DA’s office stated in a release. 

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What did Jennifer Gries say?

Gries reportedly told forensic exam nurses in August that she was attacked as she made her way to her car inside a campus garage by an "unknown, late 20s, black male" with a slender build and 6-foot stature. "He grabbed both my arms, had me on the ground facing up. He told me not to scream," she said to investigators. The 25-year-old claimed the man held her against her will before dragging her into a bathroom where he sexually assaulted her anally and vaginally. 

'He attacked her again'

When she learned that the police had sent out a campus alert about the alleged crime, she was evasive with the officers, but she claimed to know who her attacker was. Gries claimed that two months later, as she was returning to her workplace from lunch, the same black man grabbed her arm and dragged her to a basement storage room where he again sexually assaulted her both vaginally and anally. 

'She received public funding'

The document reveals that Gries received government funding in both instances from the California Victim of Crimes Board. Although it's unclear how much money she qualified for, program papers indicate that applicants are only permitted to receive up to $70,000. 

Rape reports sparked fear among students

Because of the extreme danger, Gries' claims posed to the university, investigators prioritized her rape kits and pushed for increased security on campus. However, no male DNA was found in her samples, according to the DA. Police kept looking into it as Gries' alleged plan fell apart. Cops sent out electronic alerts to the campus, which spread dread and led to a protest in October by hundreds of students demanding that university officials take additional precautions to protect them. According to DA Jeff Rosen, the reports sparked fear among students who were afraid, constantly peering "over their shoulders" in the college community to stay safe. Following an inquiry, it was discovered that Gries was describing a male coworker against whom she had filed a sexual harassment claim in March. She was sent to a different job location after it was determined that the claims were baseless.

'Make his life a living hell myself'

Gries had a past of making up details about her relationship with the unnamed man in the records. She claimed to be in a relationship with him and told one of her coworkers that he had sexually assaulted her, left her pregnant with his twins, and then abandoned her before she miscarried. However, the medical documents contradicted her claims. "Can’t I just make his life a living hell myself," she texted her coworker about the alleged assault. "I need to start standing up for myself … I am so annoyed … I’m coming up with a plan. That way he’s s—-ing his pants for multiple days."

Gries finally confessed to lying about the multiple rapes after being questioned by a detective and after Standford spent $300,000 on the investigation and security measures. Since then, she has been given a leave of absence, and her employment with the institution is being examined. Gries sent her victim a note of apology, but the incident, he claimed, "scarred" him at a time when he was taking care of his ailing mother, who has since died. 

'Rare and deeply destructive crime'

District Attorney Jeff Rosen called it a "rare and deeply destructive crime" adding that "our hearts go out to the falsely accused. Our hearts go out to students who had to look over their shoulders on their way to class. Our hearts go out to legitimate sexual assault victims who wonder if they will be believed," as per CBS.

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