Woman shares 'terrifying' experience of being drugged at Bengals game - Story

 

MOUNT ORAB, Ohio -- Courtney Shaw was watching the Bengals take on the Buffalo Bills Sunday afternoon when the world around her began to disintegrate.

 

She had come to the game with her family, she said, and purchased a beer to enjoy while she cheered for the team. Shortly after she began to drink, Shaw felt her body rebelling against her in a way it had never done before.

 

"I lost control of my muscles," she said. "I couldn’t comprehend a single sentence, a simple statement from anyone. Within 30 minutes of me drinking it, I was completely blacked out."

 

She had not pre-gamed, she was on her first drink and she had only set her beer down in the stadium cup holder for a short time. There was no apparent explanation for her sudden disassociation from reality.

 

Her family took her home early and took her to bed, but Shaw didn’t feel any better when she woke up: Her skin was crawling and itching, she said, as though bugs had burrowed into it, and she could not recognize the room around her. Her texts for help were nearly incomprehensible, according to her boyfriend, Randy Chase.

 

"To wake up and not even know where I was when I was in my own home, in my own bed, was just terrifying," she said.

 

When Chase rushed her to Mercy Health, he and Shaw discovered the source of her sudden, alarming collapse: Her drink had been drugged at the football game. The doctor told her that she had likely been dosed with a fast-acting knockout drug similar to rohypnol.

 

Although Shaw’s friends and family helped her leave the game safely -- albeit with some scrapes and bruises from struggling to move under the drug’s influence -- she said she wanted to share her experience in order to remind others to be cautious.

 

"I don’t want somebody else to be put in this position," she said. "Don’t set your drink down. Ever. If you set it down and you’ve lost sight of it, $9 isn’t worth losing nine hours of your life."

 

Emily Parker, a spokesperson for the Bengals, said the team was concerned to learn that this kind of incident could happen in Paul Brown Stadium and would work with authorities to learn more about it.

 

"We have never had a report of a date rape drug during a game," Park said. "We have significant law enforcement and medical personnel throughout the stadium, so there are many ways for fans to seek help if they would need it."

 

She added that the team had encouraged Shaw to file a police report about the incident and would do its best to help authorities with their investigation.

That's pretty crazy.

So can we assume that she is saying it happened at the beer vendor stand? If so those are all under camera, should be easy to tell is someone put something in the drink.

So can we assume that she is saying it happened at the beer vendor stand? If so those are all under camera, should be easy to tell is someone put something in the drink.

 

Or it could have happened when she put her drink down in the holder at her seat.

Although it didn't play out this way...RADD training says that if you are in a bar (or similar venue) and someone offers to buy you a drink, refuse anything they have already purchased and sat down in front of you. Go to the bar with the person and order directly from there. Always keep your eyes on your drink.

Or it could have happened when she put her drink down in the holder at her seat.

 

So then one of her friends did it?

At least she didn't have to watch the outcome. So, there's that. I was in Miami to watch the Steelers implode. Rohypnol might have been a preferred alternative.

So then one of her friends did it?

 

Or the people in front of her or next to her. It could have been anyone - yes, including her friends.

Although it didn't play out this way...RADD training says that if you are in a bar (or similar venue) and someone offers to buy you a drink, refuse anything they have already purchased and sat down in front of you. Go to the bar with the person and order directly from there. Always keep your eyes on your drink.

 

Also known as "common sense."

Also known as "common sense."

 

You've got to have street smarts; not everybody has them; especially young girls.

We are all assuming that it was draft beer? Didn't really say in the article, but as a beer vendor at PBS (didn't work this week), that was the first thing I looked to see if it mentioned draft or can.

I would have to be drugged to watch a Bengal game.

So then one of her friends did it?

 

Or someone who she thought was her friend?

had to be Burfict

I'm genuinely upset with myself that, after reading that, my first instinct is to be cynical of her story. Is it possible that it occurred exactly as she stated? Yes.