Accuser in Dotson Rape Case Dies
Cathleen Crowell Webb Accused Gary Dotson of Rape and Recanted
People who lived in the Chicago area in the mid to late 1980s likely have memories of the facinating case of accused rapist Gary Dotson and his accuser Cathleen Crowell Webb. The true story riveted the public with the drama of crime and punishment.The Dotson case is historically significant because Dotson was the first man to be exonerated by DNA evidence.
The story of Gary Dotson and Cathleen Crowell Webb has resurfaced because Cathleen Crowell Webb passed away after a six year battle with cancer.
Gary Dotson Case Headline News in the 1980s
The Dotson case was headlining news in the mid to late 1980s. Chicago news outlets, including television, radio and newspaper covered every aspect of the case. A news commentator stated that in a few years the public will have forgotten this rape case recantation and Dotson will just be a car. Datsun was a vehicle that used to be produced by Nissan, hence the clever play on words.
DNA Evidence Exonerates Dotson
That prophecy did not come true. The Dotson case did fade from public consciousness, but the name Dotson will be around in legal circles for years to come. The Dotson case made legal history as the first case where DNA evidence exonerated an accused perpetrator from a crime.
Cathleen Crowell Makes False Accusation of Rape
The case made headlines when Cathleen Crowell Webb recanted her accusation of rape in 1985. Gary Dotson had served eight years in prison after being convicted of the alleged 1977 crime, which he had not committed.
Cathleen Crowell Webb was just 16 years old when she concocted the rape story. Reportedly she had made up the story out of fear after having consensual sex with her boyfriend. She later claimed that she feared pregnancy and made up to rape tale to tell her foster parents. Her pregnancy fears were unfounded.
According to an article, "Gary Dotson The Rape That Wasn't - the First DNA Exoneration in Illinois," by the Northwestern School of Law Bluhm Legal Clinic, Crowell had not anticipated that the law would get involved in the hoax. When her foster parents took her to the Homewood Police Station, she invented a description of the accused rapist for a police artist, Two days later the police showed her a mug shot of Gary Dotson and she identified him as her rapist.
Gary Dotson was convicted of rape largely based upon Crowell's testimony. Dotson was sent to prison.
Cathleen Crowell Webb Recantation
Cathleen Crowell married and moved to a small town in New Hampshire. She turned to Christianity and became active in the local Baptist church.
Crowell told her Christian pastor that she was riddled with guilt because her false accusation had sent an innocent man to prison. The pastor encouraged her to step forward to correct the injustice. Cathleen Crowell Webb was supported spiritually and emotionally by her husband and pastor as she confessed that the rape accusation had been false.
Gary Dotson Released From Prison
At the time, there were people who were convinced that her recantation was a lie. Even though Webb recanted her testimony, Dotson was not released from prison immediately. The report on the Northwestern Law website provides a detailed recounting of complicated legal maneuverer's regarding the rape case. Eventually Dotson was released from prison, his conviction commuted to time served. Dotson had spent eight years in prison.
Dotson had some problems adjusting to freedom. The Northwestern Law report documents issues with alcohol abuse. Dotson had brushes with the law after his release, including an accusation of disorderly conduct, domestic violence and parole violation.
Legal History is Made When DNA Evidence Clears Dotson
The Dotson case made legal history in 1988, when Dotson became the first person to be exonerated by DNA evidence.
DNA evidence is a scientific tool used for forensic identification. DNA Evidence is used to identify suspects whose DNA may match evidence left at crime scenes. In current times DNA evidence is a respected techology often referred to in court cases. Twenty years ago DNA evidence was a ground breaking technology.
Webb and Dotson Aftermath
Cathleen Crowell Webb and Gary Dotson made a few television appearances and were interviewed together. Gary Dotson gave the impression that he was not bitter about the false accusation, but rather was grateful that she had finally come forward with the truth.
Cathleen Crowell Webb wrote a book, "Forgive Me," and gave the proceeds, of the book to Dotson. She could not give him back the lost years, but she did attempt to make amends with The $17,500 from "Forgive Me." According to the Northwestern Law website, Dotson and his fiance, married and moved to Las Vegas. The money was spent within a couple of months.
There was an outcry from the public that Crowell had ruined Dotson's life with her false accusation. Her falsehood may have been a terrible thing to do. However, it took a lot of courage to step forward and tell the truth. Crowell could have stayed silent and let Dotson stay in prison. When Crowell-Webb came forward with the truth, she risked going to jail for her youthful perjury.
Cathleen Crowell Webb Obituary
Find a Grave published a Sun Times obituary written by Art Golab. According to the obituary, Cathleen Crowell Webb was 46 years old when she passed away. Mrs. Webb had worked as a receptionist at Dublin Christian Academy for 11 years.
Cathleen Crowell Webb is survived by her husband and two sons and two daughters.One of her sons is West Point graduate and is now serving in Iraq. Another son is a student at West Point. The Webb family has lived in a small New Hampshire town for the past 28 years.
