{
  "id": "2016-09-11-clemson-university-sexual-assault-report-unfounded",
  "slug": "clemson-university-sexual-assault-report-unfounded-2016-09-11",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Clemson University",
    "shortName": "Clemson",
    "state": "SC",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "CU Alert",
    "enrollment": 28000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2016-09-11",
    "endDate": "2016-09-19",
    "type": "sexual-assault",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "unfounded",
    "headline": "Sexual assault report; later determined the assault did not occur",
    "headlinePublic": "Sexual assault report; later determined the assault did not occur",
    "summary": "Clemson issued a [CU SAFE ALERT for a reported sexual assault](https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/11/cu-safe-alert-sexual-assault/) and a [third-party report safety notice](https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/11/cupd-sexual-assault-reported-by-third-party-follow-these-safety-tips/), then [announced the reported Sept. 10 sexual assault did not occur](https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/19/more-information-regarding-sept-10-incident/).",
    "outcome": "After investigation, CUPD determined the reported sexual assault did not occur.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "2016-09-11 (CU SAFE ALERT)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "CU SAFE ALERT: AN UNKNOWN WHITE MALE IN HIS EARLY 20’S FORCED A FEMALE INTO HIS 4 DOOR SUV IN THE AREA OF SIKES HALL AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER AT AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. CUPD CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE. PLEASE USE CAUTION.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/11/cu-safe-alert-sexual-assault/",
      "sourceDescription": "CU Alerts official archive",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete text from alerts.clemson.edu"
      ],
      "characterCount": 218
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "2016-09-11 (CUPD safety tips)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "The Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) received a third-party report of a sexual assault that occurred Saturday, Sept. 10, in the vicinity of Sikes Hall on S.C. Highway 93. A female student was walking back to her apartment when an unknown white male, college age; in his 20’s (no further description provided) forced her into his vehicle (a four-door SUV; unknown make, model, and color) and sexually assaulted her at an unknown location. The victim ended up at Highway 93 and Highway 76. The victim has not made contact with the CUPD at this time. No further information is available. If more information is provided, the campus community will be informed.\n\nCUPD Chief Eric Hendricks urges students and others on campus to be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious people or activity to police. He also offers the following safety tips:\n\n-Stay alert to your surroundings, limiting use of earphones and lengthy phone conversations.\n\n-Avoid walking or jogging alone at night. Call Tiger Transit at 864-656-3333 to arrange a ride between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.\n\n-Stay in well-lit, populated areas.\n\n-If you feel threatened, call 911 from your cell phone or use one of the blue light emergency phones located around campus.\n\nI-f you are confronted by an attacker, scream loudly and try to run to a safe area.\n\nAs always, Counseling and Psychological Services personnel are available to support students who may be impacted by this incident and/or this report. During normal business hours, call CAPS at 864-656-2451 to schedule an appointment. For psychological emergencies after hours and on weekends, contact the CAPS counselor on call through CUPD at 864-656-2222. The dispatcher will obtain your contact information and have the counselor on call return your call.\n\nNotification mandated by the Clery Act\n\nIssued in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, a federal law originally known as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, that mandates timely notices to the campus community. The Clery Act is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/11/cupd-sexual-assault-reported-by-third-party-follow-these-safety-tips/",
      "sourceDescription": "CU Alerts official archive",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete text from alerts.clemson.edu"
      ],
      "characterCount": 2139
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestampApprox": "2016-09-19 (unfounded)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Dear members of the Clemson University campus community:\n\nIn the early morning of Sept. 11, Clemson University Police Department issued a CU Safe Alert message regarding the apparent abduction and sexual assault of a female student on or near campus that reportedly occurred on the evening of Sept. 10. An Inside Clemson message with further information was sent later in the day on Sept. 11.\n\nAfter a thorough investigation of the reported incident by CUPD, with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, it has now been determined that the reported incident did not occur – a fact that the alleged victim has confirmed to CUPD.\n\nClemson University takes all reports of sexual assault and violence against students, faculty, staff and visitors extremely seriously, and CUPD dedicated significant resources to fully investigating this report as quickly as possible.\n\n“Our investigation revealed that this incident did not occur as reported, so we felt it was important to share that information with the campus community in order to alleviate any fear and anxiety the report may have caused,” said CUPD Chief Eric Hendricks. “Ultimately, we are thankful that no one was harmed in this incident.”\n\nMembers of the campus community are encouraged to remain vigilant with regards to their personal safety and that of their friends and colleagues, and to continue to report instances of sexual misconduct to CUPD or other responsible parties so the appropriate support can be provided to victims in these situations.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/19/more-information-regarding-sept-10-incident/",
      "sourceDescription": "CU Alerts official archive",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete text from alerts.clemson.edu"
      ],
      "characterCount": 1532
    }
  ],
  "context": "Official full text from [alerts.clemson.edu](https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/11/cu-safe-alert-sexual-assault/).",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official CU Alerts archive full-text recovery"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "CU Alerts official archive",
      "url": "https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/11/cu-safe-alert-sexual-assault/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "CU Alerts official archive",
      "url": "https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/11/cupd-sexual-assault-reported-by-third-party-follow-these-safety-tips/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "CU Alerts official archive",
      "url": "https://alerts.clemson.edu/2016/09/19/more-information-regarding-sept-10-incident/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "CU Alerts index",
      "url": "https://alerts.clemson.edu/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "clemson",
    "cu-alerts",
    "timely-warning"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-21",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-21",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}