Kaivon Washington: Madison Brooks rape suspect gets arrested for 2020 sexual assault of 12-year-old girl
Warning: The article contains recollections of sexual abuse which can be triggering to some readers
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LIVINGTON PARISH, LOUISIANA: One of the suspects in the rape of LSU student Madison Brooks, before she was struck and killed by a car, has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a girl,12, in 2020. Kaivon Washington, 18, who is accused of third-degree rape in the case of Brooks, 19, was arrested for first-degree rape just a day after being released on bond.
Washington, who was 15 at the time allegedly sexually abused the 12-year-old in May or June 2020. The alleged incident reportedly took place at an apartment complex in Livingston Parish after the victim left a birthday party to go swimming, as per the documents acquired by WBRZ.
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According to reports, the 12-year-old informed authorities that Washington literally ripped her towel off during a 30-minute rape in an apartment. Washington refuted the accusations while the girl was brought to the hospital. The case stayed unsolved until a witness came forward on Friday and told detectives that she had seen Washington enter a room with the victim. "She witnessed the accused enter the victim’s bedroom, but denied hearing any voices or sounds that would have led her to think someone was having sex," the arrest doc reads. "She further stated that she did not hear anyone hollering," as cited by WBRZ.
Victim recounts harrowing rape
As cited by Daily Mail, the 12-year-old victim revealed the assault in graphic detail in an interview with investigative reporter Kiran Chawla from Baton Rouge. During a pool party, the now-teenage victim's pal asked for her help in bringing a boy into her room. She did it by covering a Ring camera with a towel. The victim claims that as the other boy walked into the room, Washington barged his way in as well. The victim claimed that although she objected and repeatedly said "no," Washington continued to sexually attack her for an hour. After he was done, "He got up and told me to 'go check myself."'
The victim continued by saying that she kept quiet about the attack until a year had passed. She claimed to have written about the rape in her notebook in 2021, placed it on her bed, and then left for school. She emailed her mother from school to inform her to read the items on her bed. Her mother then took her to the police station to file an official complaint. She told, "I feel like after the police was told, they just kind of swept it away and never kept up with it. I just felt like she was never going to get justice." A witness to the 2020 rape only came forward after Washington was detained in connection with the Madison Brooks case.
Washington's attorney, Ron Haley, emphasized the timing of the witness' appearance in a statement made after his client's detention. "Washington and his mother cooperated with the investigation two years ago, and law enforcement took no action," Haley stated. "Upon the review of the new statement from a witness that came forward yesterday, we are concerned not only of the timing of this statement, but whether it meets the threshold of probable cause."
The unidentified victim stated in her interview, "If you’ve been raped or sexually assaulted by Kaivon Washington, I want you to know that you’re not alone. I know it’s hard, but if you speak up, hopefully, hopefully he will get put in jail forever, and we will get justice. Not only for Madison Brooks, but for all of us that he has done this to," as cited by Daily Mail.
Kaivon Washington faces third-degree rape charges in Madison Brooks case
Meanwhile, Washington has been charged in connection with the alleged rape of Brooks earlier this month along with two other men and a 17-year-old. Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male have been charged with third-degree rape. Casen Carver, 18, and Everett Lee, 28, are charged with principle to third-degree rape, meaning they were present but did not participate in the crime, as reported by New York Post.