Allegations Against BYU Quarterback Jake Letzraff
Jake Letzraff, the quarterback for Brigham Young University (BYU), is facing serious allegations involving the rape, strangulation, and biting of a woman from Utah back in November 2023.
The lawsuit brings to light claims that the Provo, Utah police have not been helpful in investigating these incidents.
In response, the Provo Police department is disputing these allegations.
The woman, referred to as Jane Doe AG in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday, asserts that Provo police advised her against pursuing her case because, as they noted, “the victim of sexual assault will never get justice.”
“A year and a half after the incidents of rape and strangulation, Jane Doe AG continues to endure severe post-traumatic stress disorder and other traumatic symptoms,” the lawsuit states.
Mark Baute, an attorney representing Letzraff, expressed his eagerness to demonstrate his client’s innocence.
“We look forward to proving that innocence,” Baute stated. “Jake’s main focus this year is on football. We haven’t taken this to the media; we respect the judicial process and aim to establish Jake’s innocence there.”
The lawsuit claims Letzraff and Doe met online in October 2023, and he invited her to his home on November 22nd. Things took a turn for the intense after a friend left, leading to them watching a film together.
According to the lawsuit, “At one point, they began kissing, but Jane Doe AG didn’t want to progress further.” It describes Letzraff escalating the encounter despite Doe’s attempts to slow things down, saying things like, “Wait.” She clearly expressed her disinterest in moving forward sexually.
Doe attempted to leave while asserting her refusal, but the lawsuit claims, “It hurt so badly, causing immense pain, that Jane Doe AG felt as if she might pass out.” She recalls tears streaming down her face as she struggled to breathe.
The woman underwent a rape kit examination, and photographs of her injuries were taken following the alleged assault.
The lawsuit indicates that Doe did not identify Letzraff initially when she reported the case to Provo Police but eventually shared his name after filing her complaints.
Police said that upon Doe mentioning Letzraff, they cautioned her not to take further action because “victims of sexual assault will never get justice,” according to the lawsuit.
The Provo Police have strongly refuted these claims, stating, “From everything we reviewed, this is untrue. We have a dedicated team of investigators and victim advocates whose sole mission is to bring justice to victims of sexual abuse. They do not discourage anyone or imply that justice is unattainable.”
Police received a report on November 27th from a woman matching Doe’s initials; however, as the attacker had not been named at the time, they decided to close the incident.
“Our victim advocates made several follow-ups to offer support, but there was no response,” the police statement continued. “Because the civil lawsuit does not identify the victim, we cannot confirm that the police report corresponds to the plaintiff’s case, but it appears we were given the information we have.”
BYU released a statement on Wednesday, acknowledging awareness of the lawsuit. “The University takes every claim very seriously, adhering to all mandated processes and guidelines under Title IX,” they noted. “Due to federal and university privacy regulations, we cannot provide additional comments.”
In 2024, Letzraff threw for 2,947 yards, achieving 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
