Police in New Mexico are investigating the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl by a fellow student on a Santa Fe charter school bus in August.
Lt. Patrick Trujillo stated that the girl’s mother contacted the police on August 21 to report the event, as per the Santa Fe New Mexican. He mentioned that the girl was taken to a hospital on the day the incident occurred.
“I am unaware if a rape kit was administered by the hospital, but it is confirmed that the mother did take her daughter there,” he said.
Trujillo mentioned that the bus was not equipped with a surveillance camera, but at least one other student captured the incident on video and distributed it among peers. The police have reviewed this video, he stated.
“We have interviewed some other students and gathered additional evidence from cell phones,” Trujillo informed KOAT. He referred to the circulated videos among students as “sharing underage pornographic images.”
Investigators have seized five cell phones as evidence, the New Mexican said.
Monte del Sol Charter School Head of Learning Zoë Nelsen said the school is also conducting an investigation into the incident.
Trujillo noted that although the incident occurred a month ago, the bus driver has not yet been interviewed, according to KOAT. The victim has also not undergone an interview, but this is anticipated to happen next week.
Trujillo stated that the alleged perpetrator is 13 years old and that no charges have been brought against him or the students who recorded or disseminated the “underage pornographic images.”
