Largo Police Say False Rape Claim Led To Death Of Innocent Man

LARGO, FL -- Largo Police say a woman's false claim of being raped indirectly resulted in the stabbing death of an innocent man.

On April 14, 30-year-old Brittany Sorey reported to Largo Police that she had been raped by a Hispanic man who forced his way into her apartment at The Lakes At Largo off 137th Street, threatened her with a box cutter, battered her and vaginally penetrated her with a broken broom handle.

Shortly after, Sorey and her husband, Gerald, who were behind in their rent payments, were evicted from the apartment in Largo and moved to Port Richey. However, the couple allowed a friend, Timothy Hignite, 38, to take over the lease at their old apartment at The Lakes At Largo.

According to Largo Police, at around 10 p.m. on May 10, a neighbor in the same apartment complex, Michael Peterson, 60, knocked on the door of Sorey's former apartment. Not realizing the couple had moved out, he intended to confront Sorey and her husband about paying back $440 he loaned to them.

When there was no answer, Peterson began banging on the door and yelling for Sorey to open up. At one point he also threw an empty beer bottle at the door.

Instead of answering the door, Hignite called Sorey to ask about the angry man. Sorey told Hignite that it sounded like the man who raped her in April had returned.

Upon hearing about the rape, Hignite said he'd try to get a photo of the man to give to police. Armed with a knife in one hand and his cell phone in the other, he opened the apartment door.

The confrontation between Hignite and Peterson quickly turned physical. Police said Peterson tried to spray Hignite with pepper spray and Hignite reacted by stabbing Peterson several times with the knife. Peterson, an Army veteran, died of his injuries.

When detectives re-interviewed Sorey, the mother of five admitted to making up the entire story about being raped. She said she lied because she was having marriage problems and was depressed.

She was charged with knowingly giving false information to police concerning the commission of a crime, a misdemeanor. She was released from jail on a $150 bond.

Hignite's actions were ruled self-defense, and he was not charged based on the recommendation of the Pinellas-Pasco County State Attorney's Office.

Following Sorey's admission that she fabricated the rape story, she removed all photos and personal content from her Facebook page. But that hasn't prevented people from posting a stream of vitriol on the page.

"You ruined a man's life that resulted in his death," said Antonella Lo Presti in one of the more sedate postings. "Shame on you. I hope you're haunted by this for the rest of your life."

Those commenting were equally incensed that Sorey was only charged with a misdemeanor.

"You should serve 10 years," said Ian Wood.