Woman admits fabricating acid attack

VANCOUVER, Wash. – A woman who gained sympathy worldwide after she claimed a random assailant threw acid on her face came forward Thursday with a startling admission: She inflicted the attack on herself.

Vancouver police Chief Clifford Cook said Bethany Storro admitted under police questioning to fabricating a story about the attack, in which she suffered severe burns.

Cook said he did not know a motive for Storro’s actions, but added she is “very remorseful.” He said Storro was still being interviewed by detectives.

The police chief said that “during the course of the investigation, several discrepancies began to emerge regarding the alleged attack,” leading police to search her home earlier Thursday and interview her.

“During the interview, Ms. Storro admitted the injuries were self-inflicted,” Cook said.

Police had been seeking a black woman with a ponytail after Storro described the Aug. 30 attack. She had said the woman asked her, “Hey, pretty girl, want something to drink?” then threw acid in her face.

Vancouver police Commander Marla Schuman said detectives were working on a way to return any money donated to Storro.

Schuman said the alleged attack and the probe stretched the resources of Vancouver’s small police department.

“It’s been hundreds of hours,” Schuman said about the time invested in the investigation.

Schuman was asked whether Storro will face a charge of filing a false police report, to which she responded: “At this point, yes, that would certainly fit.”