January 19, 2010

No Charges Filed Against Detroit Woman for Online HIV Hoax

A Detroit woman who posted a video clip in which she claimed to have intentionally transmitted HIV to 500 people told police the clip was a hoax, The Associated Press (AP) reports. No charges have been filed.

“We don’t see anything at this point under state law that would allow us to press charges, but we are researching,” police spokesperson John Roach said January 15.

The woman identified herself as 23-year-old Jackie Braxton. She submitted to an HIV test after being approached by police. The results came back negative.

Braxton told The Detroit News she made the video and posted it on mediatakeout.com because she “wanted to raise awareness about AIDS.”

On one level, her strategy appeared successful: Detroit health department spokesperson Michael McElrath told the AP the number of walk-ins for HIV testing more than doubled in the city after local media outlets picked up the story. 

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Previous Comments:

tonibgood2000, Las Cruces, 2010-01-24 12:37:57
Something should be done however it did raise awareness nothing should be this drastic however what is it gonna take to make this epidemic seem real.

Christy, Nashville TN, 2010-01-21 19:52:45
it should be a crime & she should pay for it. How dare she! Why are we stigmatized when nobody else wants to have a test before sexual relations. The laws on HIV transmission are wrong & need to be revised. All people have a responsibility for the own actions. It takes 2 to tango! I have been hiv+ for 25 years, have asked all my non poz partners to be tested to put my mind at ease. Would never want to bear any guilt burden if I was not the source of someones infection, none of them took the test

Mark, San Francisco, 2010-01-21 18:08:55
The mentally disturbed often get national attention or run low-brow cults... although someone like this should be charged with a terrorist act.