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PG video: Roethlisberger case interviews
June 9, 2011 12:00 am
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The people listed below were interviewed by authorities about what took place at the Capital City nightclub in Milledgeville, Ga., on March 5, 2010, involving Ben Roethlisberger and a female college student.
« Warning: Some language might be objectionable to readers. »
See the Post-Gazette's news coverage of the case in Milledgeville, Ga.
THE ACCUSER AND HER FRIENDS
- The accuser: A 20-year-old who was attending Georgia College & State University, she met Roethlisberger while out bar-hopping with her girlfriends after a birthday party. Drunk and wearing a provocative nametag, she entered the VIP area of the Capital City nightclub where the quarterback and his entourage were. She claimed that a bodyguard escorted her to a hallway and that Roethlisberger had sex with her in a nearby bathroom.
- Ann Marie Lubatti: A friend of the accuser, she said she saw a bodyguard lead her friend to a door, and Roethlisberger followed less than a minute later. She went to Joyner and told him she wanted to see her friend, but Joyner would not look her in the eye and said he didn't know what she was talking about.
- Victoria Lauren Garofalo: A member of Zeta Tau Alpha, she was with the accuser and took several group photos. She and the accuser spent time with Roethlisberger and Colon at The Brick.
- Nicole Biancofiore: A friend of the accuser, she said Roethlisberger bought the woman drinks all night. She described Roethlisberger as being angry at times. She said she saw a bodyguard take the accuser into the bathroom and then saw Roethlisberger go in.
- Aliesha Scholten: A member of Zeta Tau Alpha, Roethlisberger kicked her out of the VIP area.
- Elizabeth "Lizzy" Brooks: She was in the VIP room. She said Roethlisberger asked the girls what they wanted to drink, ordered two rounds of shots, and said, "All my bitches, take some shots."
- Lesley Chesnutt: A Zeta Tau Alpha member, she said the accuser told her that Roethlisberger had raped her.
- Katie Cromie: She works at The Brick. She said Scholten invited Roethlisberger to the sorority house, but he said, "Hell no. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen." She said Roethlisberger invited her to his home, but she declined.
CAPITAL CITY EMPLOYEES
- Rocky Duncan: The manager of Capital City, he directed Roethlisberger's group to the VIP area and provided them with a bartender and a bouncer. When approached by a woman who wanted her friend brought out, he told her Roethlisberger was an NFL quarterback and that he would hope he would not be so stupid.
- Aimee Michelle Adams: A bartender in VIP room at Capital City, she said Roethlisberger ordered two rounds of shots. She said everyone in his party was "nice," but that Roethlisberger was "mean."
- Michelle Grabowski: A bartender at Capital City.
- Mason Davis: He works at Capital City. He went back to the VIP room. He said the girls in the area were getting "hammered."
MILLEDGEVILLE POLICE
- Sgt. Jerry Blash: He had a photo taken with Roethlisberger outside the bars, then was the officer to whom the women reported the incident. He made derogatory comments about the accuser inside Capital City, but said he said those things to fellow officers and that members of Roethlisberger's party overheard them.
- Officer Richard Davidson: He was outside Capital City, but did not know Roethlisberger was inside. He accompanied the accuser, whom he described as intoxicated, back to the police department to take her initial statement.
- Officer Jason Lopez: He was in downtown Milledgeville and went to Capital City. He heard Roethlisberger tell Sgt. Blash, "Yes, she was really drunk." He accompanied the woman to headquarters to interview her.
ROETHLISBERGER'S ENTOURAGE
- Willie Colon: Steelers teammate, he accompanied Roethlisberger to Georgia. He said he spent most of the time at Capital City on the dance floor and saw nothing. Roethlisberger later told him the accusation was "b.s." and that he hadn't done anything.
- Anthony Barravecchio: A Coraopolis police officer who accompanied Roethlisberger as a bodyguard and assistant, his interview was not videotaped because he occasionally does undercover police work. His request to give a written statement was granted.
- Edward Joyner: A Pennsylvania state trooper who accompanied Roethlisberger as a bodyguard and assistant, he told sorority girls looking for their friend, "OK, she's back there with Ben." Then got a bouncer to make the girls leave.
- Nima Zarrabi: He works for the California agency that represents Roethlisberger. He informed Roethlisberger of the arrival of police and advised him to not say anything.
- Brian Jacobelli: A friend and neighbor of Roethlisberger. Was at Capital City, but he said he did not hear about sexual allegations until the next day.
- Avery Lane: He has known Roethlisberger since college. He said he got very drunk and remembered very little.
- Jaime Cooper: He has known Roethlisberger since college. He said he saw Barravecchio walk a girl to the back hallway leading to the bathroom, but he did not see Roethlisberger go there.
- Brad Aurila: A friend and former neighbor of Roethlisberger, he said he keeps to the side when Roethlisberger is in a big group. He said he was unaware of any trouble until the police arrived.
OTHERS
- Matthew White: [ nothing of substance ]
- Linc Boyer: Told investigators about a young woman who claimed that Roethlisberger acted inappropriately and sexually assaulted her. The woman declined to be interviewed by authorities.
- Christopher Mygrant: Gave the accuser and her friends a lift to the police department after being contacted by Nicole Biancofiore and then to the hospital.
- Katherine Justice: She was in the VIP room when Roethlisberger had a tray of drinks and loudly said, "All my bitches come and take a shot."
- Kelly Colsson: She joined the group at The Brick, where she ordered a round of drinks for her underage friends. Roethlisberger said, "You look like a nice girl," and paid for the drinks.
- Laura Huff: [ nothing of substance ]
- Caitlin Smith: A member of another sorority, she was in the VIP room and said she saw the accuser, who "appeared very intoxicated" and was "hanging all over" Roethlisberger.
- Asher Kincaid: She said she met Roethlisberger at Capital City, where he told her he was providing free drinks in the VIP room. She went back and spoke with Barravecchio.
- Katie Richland: Told by Nicole Biancofiore that she was "freaking out" because her sorority big sister was in the back room with Roethlisberger.
First Published June 9, 2011 12:00 am
