Authorities at first believed the man used a well known date rape pillto commit the crime, but said later that doctors may have ruled that out.
The second-year medical student, 28-year-old David Coolidge Jr., ischarged with statutory rape and taking indecent liberties with a minor ina Duke University dormitory. The 13 year old, whom authorities said knewCoolidge, allegedly stayed overnightwith Coolidge on May 25, 1997, in Southgate dorm on Duke's East Campus.
Residents in Southgate are shocked by the allegations of what went on inthat dorm. Police say the victim was sodomized three times.Biology Student John Snyder lives just down the hall from Coolidge. He says it's notuncommon to live within feet of total strangers. Students there usuallystay inside their rooms, except to walk to the public restroom.
Duke Police MajorBob Dean says it is a shocking and surprising crime for that setting.
Coolidge voluntarily appeared at the Duke Public SafetyCenter to be formally charged. He has been banned from campus pending theoutcome of the incident. He is now free after posting a $10,000 securedbond.
A rumor that an Internet sex chat room might have beenconnected to the incident has not been confirmed.
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