New Hampshire woman uses 'vampire blood' and makeup to falsely claim neighbor assaulted her, ends up in handcuffs
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: A New Hampshire woman was arrested by police after she used "vampire blood" and makeup to falsely claim that her neighbor assaulted her.
The truth came to light after officers from the Manchester Police Department responded to 75 Prospect Street #7, the residence of Christie Benoit, 20, at around 9:40 pm on August 5 on reports of an assault, according to an official press release by the police.
On arrival, they found Benoit with red stains on her shirt, black eyes, and scratches on her arms and legs, and were informed by the 20-year-old that her neighbor had broken down her door, scratched her, and punched her.
She also told officers that the assault had left her with black eyes and a bleeding nose.
Inside the apartment, officers found a scene that seemed to suggest that there had been a fight, with couch cushions and broken plates on the floor, a coffee table pushed aside, and what appeared to be blood splattered in the living room, bathroom, and kitchen.
Describing the scene, Lucina Beldin, another neighbor, told WMUR, "There were couch pillows all over the floor, the broken plate in the living room on the floor. In her bedroom, it looked like the clothes basket had been dumped over. There were clothes all over, and then what I thought was blood."
But on further examination of the red substance on the floor and a paper towel, they determined the fluid was not consistent with blood.
They later found a plastic tube of "vampire blood", commonly used in Halloween, which had the same consistency. They also determined that the blackness around Benoit's eyes was makeup.
Officers questioned Missy Benoit, the alleged attacker and Christie's neighbor, about the incident and concluded that it had been faked.
"They came over to look at my hands to make sure I had no bruises on my hand, which I don't, as we see," Missy said.
Christie has been charged with falsifying physical evidence and giving a false report to law enforcement. She is scheduled to make an appearance at the Hillsborough Superior Court on August 22.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old told WMUR that Missy had been harassing her and that she wanted it to stop.
She also claimed that she suffers from a post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological issues.