Natalie Greene, a former Republican staffer accused of staging a politically motivated attack, has posted a new Facebook profile picture showing the lasting scars from wounds prosecutors allege she paid someone to inflict. The 26-year-old was found bound with zip ties on a wooded trail in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, in July last year, claiming she had been abducted and mutilated by three masked men. The words 'Trump w***e' were written across her stomach, and dozens of deep cuts covered her face, neck, chest and shoulder.
Hoax Allegations and Evidence
Federal prosecutors say the entire incident was an elaborate hoax. According to court documents, Greene travelled from New Jersey to Pennsylvania two days before the alleged attack to meet a body-modification artist she contacted through Instagram. Investigators allege she paid the artist $500 to carry out the scarification procedure. They recovered a receipt documenting the payment and discovered Greene had viewed online pages relating to body modification and scarification on Reddit.
Investigators also allege that an accomplice searched online for 'zip ties near me' shortly before the incident. Police later found zip ties matching those used to bind Greene's wrists and ankles inside her car. Emergency services were called after a woman allegedly acting at Greene's request made a frantic 911 call reporting a violent assault. Officers found Greene lying in a wooded area with her hands and feet bound behind her back using black zip ties, her shirt pulled over her head, and multiple cuts across her body.
Conflicting Statements
Greene allegedly told officers she had been restrained by one or more attackers who carved into her skin and wrote the slur across her stomach before fleeing. She also claimed one of the supposed attackers had been armed with a gun. However, prosecutors say Greene and the woman who called 911 gave conflicting versions of events and inconsistent descriptions of the alleged suspects.
Legal Consequences
The US Department of Justice subsequently charged Greene with conspiracy and making false statements to law enforcement. If convicted on both counts, she faces up to 10 years in prison, fines totalling up to $500,000, and as much as six years of supervised release. Court records also show Greene was ordered to undergo mental health treatment in December last year. Her current whereabouts are unclear after reports she became estranged from a number of family members and friends following the criminal case. The charges remain allegations, and Greene has not been convicted.
