Former University student William Beebe was indicted by a grand jury Monday, 22 years after allegedly raping University alumna Elizabeth Seccuro, according to several media reports.
One indictment of rape was handed down along with one indictment of animate object penetration. Beebe's attorney, Rhonda Quagliana, would not comment on the case except to confirm the indictment of animate object penetration.
Beebe stands accused of raping Seccuro at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house in October 1984.
"I want to thank the good people on the jury for allowing the case to move forward," Seccuro said of the indictment. "It's been a long time coming."
Seccuro alleged that she was raped by Beebe during her first year when she attended a rush event at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house.
Seccuro said she initially met with the dean of students following the incident but did not file criminal charges at the time.
The case was reopened when Beebe sent a letter to Seccuro last September to apologize for "harming" her. According to Seccuro, Beebe later stated in an e-mail the letter was an attempt to make amends as the ninth step of the 12-step process in the Alcoholics Anonymous program.
Seccuro decided to press charges following an e-mail correspondence between herself and Beebe, which she released to The Cavalier Daily.
"It seems you are not convinced of my sincere wish to help you as I can," Beebe said in an e-mail dated Nov. 30, 2005. "And now it appears from your latest response that I'm actually doing more harm than good, which is not what I want to do."
Seccuro made a statement to the Charlottesville Police Department in December 2005.
"There was no master plan," Seccuro said. "I didn't even tell my own husband."
Beebe will stand trial starting Nov. 27. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
Attempts to contact Beebe at his home and at the Las Vegas real estate agency where he is employed were unsuccessful.
-- Chris Hall and staff reporters contributed to this article.
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