Nate Parker Rape Accuser’s Family Speaks Out: They Sucked The Life Out of Her

Sister of young woman who committed suicide speaks to The New York Times

The sister of a woman who accused director Nate Parker of rape and later committed suicide said that her sister was broken by the experience, and that the men involved “sucked the soul and life out of her.”

Sharon Loeffler, the sister of the woman who accused Parker and another man of rape in 1999, told The New York  Times on Tuesday evening that she did not agree with the family’s request for privacy after the case resurfaced in interviews with Parker about his upcoming film, “The Birth of a Nation.”

All I can ask is any other victims to come forward, and not let this kind of tolerance to go on anymore, Loeffler said.

Nate Parker 'Devastated' After Resurfacing of Sexual Assault Case

Loeffler also revealed that her sister had believed there were other victims and had been broken by the 1999 case and its aftermath. 

“These guys sucked the soul and life out of her,” she added, referring to Parker and his college roommate, Jean McGianni Celestin, who wrote the story to the film.

Parker wrote an emotional post on Facebook on Tuesday acknowledging that he was “devastated” over the 1999 sexual assault case that resurfaced this week.

[...] we are dubious of the underlying motivations that bring this to present light after 17 years, and we will not take part in stoking its coals.

While we cannot protect the victim from this media storm, we can do our best to protect her son.

For that reason, we ask for privacy for our family and do not wish to comment further.

Fox Searchlight Stands Behind Nate Parker As Rape Case Resurfaces

Parker is the writer, director producer and star of the acclaimed film “Birth of a Nation,” which won Sundance and was bought by Fox Searchlight in an historic Sundance bidding war this year.

Celestin, who received a story credit on “Birth of a Nation,” was convicted in the case, though it is not clear what happened in the appeal process. 

Monday reports revealed that the woman took her own life in 2012 at age 30.

In his own Facebook statement Tuesday, Parker wrote: “Over the last several days, a part of my past — my arrest, trial and acquittal on charges of sexual assault — has become a focal point for media coverage, social media speculation and industry conversation.”

Parker insisted on his own innocence in the case, saying: I have never run from this period in my life and I never ever will, and adding that he had been unaware of the tragic ending.

“I myself just learned that the young woman ended her own life several years ago and I am filled with profound sorrow,” he wrote.

Earlier on Tuesday, the woman’s brother told Variety that she had committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. 

“She became detached from reality,” the man named Johnny said, asking not to use his last name to honor his sister’s wishes to remain anonymous.

The progression was very quick and she took her life.

“He [Parker] may have litigated out of any kind of situation,” the brother continued.

There’s no evidence that the woman’s death was directly linked to the trial, according to Variety, but she did testify in court that had tried to kill herself twice after the reported rape.

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