Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 27, 1994 TAG: 9409270104
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TAMPA, FLA. LENGTH: Short
The 15-year-old could face a charge of filing a false police report against Robert Mays, said Phil Ramer, head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Tampa office, which investigated the case.
She ``needs professional help,'' Ramer said, explaining that official\s have no way of forcing her to get counseling.
Kimberly spent nearly six years in the middle of a custody battle between Mays, who had raised her since her birth, and Regina and Ernest Twigg, her biological parents.
Kimberly once testified tearfully how she pleaded with Mays not to let the Twiggs take her away from him. She told a judge she wanted any ties with the Twiggs severed and finally got her wish in August 1993.
Seven months later, she ran away from the Mays' home to a shelter, and last spring she moved in with the Twiggs in Sebring.
On Sept. 12, the state law enforcement agency learned from the Sebring state attorney's office about allegations by Kimberly that Mays had sexually abused her from age 7 until this past June. Mays had visitation rights with Kimberly after she moved in with the Twiggs.
Ramer said he did not know when the allegations were made.
State investigators interviewed Kimberly a number of times and began detecting inconsistencies. On Friday, she admitted she lied, he said.
He said his agency made the case public Monday because the investigation made the news.
Mays cooperated in the investigation, Ramer said. He described Mays as relieved about the outcome but worried about Kimberly.
by CNB