Kane Cooperating in Rape Probe, Sources Say

Patrick Kane: Did he or didn't he? That is the $84 million question....

 

This newspaper has confirmed that NHL hockey star Patrick Kane, who is being investigated for allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman in his lakefront home in the morning hours of Aug. 2 after a night of partying, has met with investigators in his attorney’s office and according to our sources is “cooperating fully” with authorities.

Hamburg police and the Erie County District Attorney’s office are investigating what happened between Kane and his accuser after they arrived at his home after partying for several hours at the downtown Skybar in Buffalo.

Neither Hamburg police nor District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III are commenting on the status of the investigation and Kane’s attorney, Paul

Cambria has also refused to comment on the probe of the young hockey star who recently signed an $84 million contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks.  But we have confirmed that Kane is said to be cooperating with investigative authorities as they move forward in the probe.

The alleged victim is a former University of Buffalo cheerleader who went to Kane’s home with a female friend in a car driven by Kane’s chauffeur for the night, Buffalo Police Lt. Thomas English, who has reportedly told investigators the alleged victim urged her friend to go with her to Kane’s house.   That contradicts earlier published reports from anonymous sources that the alleged victim went to Kane’s house at the urging of her friend.

Other sources have reported that the alleged victim suffered bite marks on her shoulders and injuries to her leg in the encounter with Kane at his Hamburg home but defense attorney Cambria last week took issue with several published accounts of events leading up to the encounter between the alleged victim and the South Buffalo hockey star.  Here’s what Cambria told this newspaper last week:

 “Unless someone claims they were an eyewitness to an event, you can assume their statement is spin and they have an agenda.”—Paul Cambria

So far, there is no evidence that anyone witnessed what happened between Kane and the alleged victim after she went into a room with him at his home.

The Chicago-based website SportsMockery.com (Click here to visit the sports mockery website) is reporting this week that “Kane Says Nothing Happened,” quoting comments made on a sports website broadcast called “Being Frank,” and featuring NHL Hall of Fame player Phil Esposito.

Someone on the broadcast which features Esposito, Canadian media personality Bill Watters, and former assistant Maple Leafs GM Frank D’Angelo reportedly commented that a media source who’s a “Buffalo guy” said Kane assured him “nothing happened.”  That comment, of course, is reportedly coming from Kane and means absolutely nothing in the scheme of things.  What will matter is what investigators determine happened between Kane and the young woman.

No question there’s a lot hanging in the balance for all concerned in this investigation with such a high profile, multi-million dollar sports star in the center of it and rumors and leaks flying hot and heavy.  With the stakes so high, it may be several more weeks before investigators make their decision on the merits of the accusation by the alleged victim that she was raped by the 26-year-old hockey sensation who has already captured three world championships.