Prosecutor: Kane accuser's mother lied about bag; evidence not tampered with

The latest development in the Patrick Kane investigation brought a measure of clarity in regards to the rather bizarre events of the past few days.

Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita III, the top prosecutor in the sexual assault investigation, held a press conference Friday to address allegations of evidence tampering levied Wednesday by the complainant's now-former lawyer, Thomas Eoannou.

Without referring to the Chicago Blackhawks forward by name, Sedita began by saying the investigation is ongoing, and he would have no comment on that matter.

He said the allegations made by Eoannou in regards to the integrity of the investigation, specifically questions revolving around rape-kit evidence that was alleged to have been delivered in a bag to the home of the accused's mother, had no merit.

"There is no bag," Sedita stated flatly.

He explained this type of evidence is stored in boxes, not bags. He then showed video evidence of the sealing, submitting, and storing of the rape kit in question - which has not been removed since that time - and revealed that the plastic bag shown by Eoannu at the earlier press conference came straight from his office.

Furthermore, the paper bag in which the rape kit was alleged to have been placed at the mother's door was last seen in possession of the complainant's mother herself, provided to her by a nurse for the collection of an article of clothing.

Neither a plastic bag nor a paper bag, therefore, ever contained the rape kit. Most importantly, Sedita confirmed, forensic evidence in the Kane investigation was not tampered with or compromised.

"We believe the mother was involved in an elaborate hoax," he added.

In terms of where this case goes from here, Sedita maintained the investigation is ongoing, with two options ahead.

"The question in my mind is not when this case will go to a grand jury, it's if this case will go to a grand jury," he said. "This case will either be administratively closed or this case will be presented to an Erie County grand jury."

Sedita will continue to look into the matter of the alleged hoax perpetrated by the mother of the complainant, with a view to determining whether the complainant knew of or took part in those actions.

The prosecutor said he's never seen anything like the circumstances of the past few days, calling them "nuts."

No firm timetable has been set for an outcome to the investigation, while Kane remains an active participant in training camp in advance of the Blackhawks' season opener Oct. 7.