Accuser writes book

Parents of the three Duke University lacrosse players who prosecutors exonerated of rape charges said money and notoriety has motivated the woman who accused their sons to come out with a book today that maintains that she was attacked.

"The attorney general, Roy Cooper, who is the most senior law enforcement official in the state of North Carolina, conducted a lengthy and comprehensive investigation of the facts of this case," said Kevin Finnerty of Garden City, the father of Collin Finnerty, one of those originally accused and arrested.

"They unequivocally concluded that no attack had occurred and they concluded that no attack could have occurred."

Phil Seligmann, the father of Reade Seligmann of New Jersey, another of the cleared players, said the book is "simply a pathetic attempt to further her need to remain in the public eye at the expense of demonstrably innocent individuals." Both Seligmann and Finnerty said they are consulting their attorneys about possible legal action.

Two years ago, a woman identified as Crystal Mangum told police in North Carolina that she was attacked at a March 2006 lacrosse team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper.

The state investigation found no DNA, medical evidence or witnesses to confirm Mangum's story, which had inconsistencies that the state said, "were so significant and so contrary to the evidence that the state had no credible evidence that an attack occurred in the house that night." The state attorney general declared the players innocent victims of a "tragic rush to accuse" in April 2007. The prosecutor, Mike Nifong, was later disbarred for violations of the bar's rules of professional conduct.

In the book, "The Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story," Mangum and co-author Vincent Clark say that she is not "looking forward to opening old wounds" but, Mangum writes, "I want to assert without equivocation that I was assaulted. Make of that what you will. You will decide what that means to you ..."

Kevin Finnerty said, "We view this to be a desperate attempt by a desperate person to profit from a fictitious situation." Meanwhile, his son is a senior at another college where he continues to play lacrosse, Finnerty said. "The three boys are moving on with their lives. Obviously this woman is not."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.