Woman sues BYU QB Jake Retzlaff, alleging rape, strangulation
A Utah woman has alleged that BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff raped, strangled and bit her, and that she was encouraged by Provo police not to do anything after reporting it, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Utah state court.
The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe A.G., alleges the assault took place at Retzlaff's home in November 2023.
"A year and half after the rape and strangulation, Jane Doe A.G. continues to experience extreme post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma symptoms as she works to process what happened and move on," the lawsuit states.
Retzlaff's attorney, Mark Baute, said in a statement that his client is "factually innocent."
"We look forward to proving that innocence," Baute said. "Jake's focus this year will be on football. We don't try cases in the media, we will respect the process and establish Jake's innocence through the judicial system."
Email and phone calls to a spokesperson for the BYU athletic department and the Provo Police Department seeking comment were not immediately returned.
The lawsuit says the woman and Retzlaff connected through social media in October 2023 and messaged for a few weeks before he invited her to his place on or around Nov. 22. The woman and a friend arrived at Retzlaff's home that night, where friends and teammates of Retzlaff were also present.
Later that evening, the woman's friend left, after which Retzlaff and the woman started watching a movie, the lawsuit states.
"At some point they began to kiss, but Jane Doe A.G. did not want to do anything more," the lawsuit states. "Retzlaff began escalating the situation ... and Jane Doe A.G. tried to de-escalate the situation and attempted to slow things down, trying to pull away, and saying 'wait.' She did not want to do anything sexual with him."
The lawsuit says the woman told Retlaff "no" and "wait, stop," but he continued to force himself on her. After she tried to get up out of the bed, the lawsuit alleges, in graphic detail, that Retzlaff put his hands around her neck and proceeded to rape her.
"It hurt so bad and caused so much pain that Jane Doe A.G. passed out," the lawsuit states. "Jane Doe A.G. remembers tears rolling down her face as she fought to breathe."
The woman visited the hospital a few days later, where a rape kit was performed and pictures of her injuries were taken. The lawsuit says she was connected with Provo police but did not initially share Retzlaff's name.
"At some point after speaking to the police, an officer reached out to her asking for the name because someone else filed a complaint against a football player and the police wanted to see if it was the same person," the lawsuit said. "At that point Jane Doe A.G. shared Retzlaff's name, and the Provo police then encouraged her not to do anything because, as they claimed, 'sexual assault victims never get justice.'"
Retzlaff made four starts for BYU in November 2023, and he took over as the program's starting quarterback for the 2024 season, serving as co-captain. He transferred to BYU from Riverside City College in Southern California.
A Utah woman has alleged that BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff raped, strangled and bit her, and that she was encouraged by Provo police not to do anything after reporting it, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Utah state court.
The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe A.G., alleges the assault took place at Retzlaff's home in November 2023.
"A year and half after the rape and strangulation, Jane Doe A.G. continues to experience extreme post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma symptoms as she works to process what happened and move on," the lawsuit states.
Retzlaff's attorney, Mark Baute, said in a statement that his client is "factually innocent."
"We look forward to proving that innocence," Baute said. "Jake's focus this year will be on football. We don't try cases in the media, we will respect the process and establish Jake's innocence through the judicial system."
Email and phone calls to a spokesperson for the BYU athletic department and the Provo Police Department seeking comment were not immediately returned.
The lawsuit says the woman and Retzlaff connected through social media in October 2023 and messaged for a few weeks before he invited her to his place on or around Nov. 22. The woman and a friend arrived at Retzlaff's home that night, where friends and teammates of Retzlaff were also present.
Later that evening, the woman's friend left, after which Retzlaff and the woman started watching a movie, the lawsuit states.
"At some point they began to kiss, but Jane Doe A.G. did not want to do anything more," the lawsuit states. "Retzlaff began escalating the situation ... and Jane Doe A.G. tried to de-escalate the situation and attempted to slow things down, trying to pull away, and saying 'wait.' She did not want to do anything sexual with him."
The lawsuit says the woman told Retlaff "no" and "wait, stop," but he continued to force himself on her. After she tried to get up out of the bed, the lawsuit alleges, in graphic detail, that Retzlaff put his hands around her neck and proceeded to rape her.
"It hurt so bad and caused so much pain that Jane Doe A.G. passed out," the lawsuit states. "Jane Doe A.G. remembers tears rolling down her face as she fought to breathe."
The woman visited the hospital a few days later, where a rape kit was performed and pictures of her injuries were taken. The lawsuit says she was connected with Provo police but did not initially share Retzlaff's name.
"At some point after speaking to the police, an officer reached out to her asking for the name because someone else filed a complaint against a football player and the police wanted to see if it was the same person," the lawsuit said. "At that point Jane Doe A.G. shared Retzlaff's name, and the Provo police then encouraged her not to do anything because, as they claimed, 'sexual assault victims never get justice.'"
Retzlaff made four starts for BYU in November 2023, and he took over as the program's starting quarterback for the 2024 season, serving as co-captain. He transferred to BYU from Riverside City College in Southern California.