In 1991, Miss Black Rhode Island, Desiree Washington, gained notoriety in the print media when she claimed that Mike Tyson, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, had r*ped her.
Her name has been in the spotlight since the latter spoke candidly about the incident in ABC’s Mike Tyson: Knockout Documentary.
Former Miss Black America candidate Desiree Washington testified against Mike Tyson in one of the most notorious celebrity trials in American history, accusing him of raping her on July 19, 1991.
Who Is Desiree Washington?
Desiree Washington was born in the Coventry municipality of Rhode Island in 1973.
When the Miss Black America competition took place in Indianapolis in 1991, Desiree, at 18 years old, was the reigning Miss Black, Rhode Island, and a college student.
Washington and her three siblings were all raised in Rhode Island. Donald and Mary Washington were her parents.
She graduated from Coventry with a high school diploma. She was a gregarious, extroverted person who loved modeling from a young age.
At Providence College, where she pursued her study further, she concentrated on psychology.
Desiree’s struggles were made worse by the 1992 separation of her parents, Mary and Donald Washington, who had been married for 17 years.
In addition, Desiree’s ex-boyfriend filed an affidavit accusing her of lying about having been r*ped by him following their consensual encounter when she was 16 years old.
Desiree refuted the charge. In contrast to their prior ranch-style property in a little village south of Providence, it was stated in 1995 that Desiree lived in an apartment in a working-class area of East Providence, Rhode Island.
Desiree was a senior psychology major at Providence College in the city of Providence in March 1995.
She was scheduled to receive her diploma in May of that same year. She was in a committed relationship as of 1995, but it was over soon after she met her boyfriend’s family.
Her present status in a relationship is unknown.
Since Desiree has made the decision to keep her private life secret, little is known about her professional life outside unconfirmed rumors that she is now a teacher.
What Happened To Her?
Washington competed in the 1991 Miss Black America Pageant on behalf of her home state of Rhode Island.
She claimed that Tyson brought her into his room at the Canterbury Hotel on July 19, 1991, where she was assaulted and r*ped. She afterward went to the hospital’s emergency room and told the doctor about being r*ped.
The entire incident was covered by a number of reliable newspapers. The heavyweight champion was punched by the former model, who also made a vain attempt to defend herself, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Tyson’s driver, Virginia Foster, corroborated her story and narrated how Washington was horrified after the terrible tragedy.
After examining her for more than 24 hours following the occurrence, the doctor later confirmed that her genital condition was compatible with r*pe.
He was charged with one crime of r*pe, two charges of deviant s*xual behavior, and one detention offense in September 1991.
The boxer said they had consensual intercourse during the trial.
On February 10, 1992, Mike was convicted guilty of one count of r*pe and two other crimes following a two-week trial. Mike was given a ten-year prison term by Judge Patricia J. Gifford a month after his conviction.
The last four years were suspended to make the punishment period six years. In addition, he was ordered to complete four years of probation after being released.
But after serving three years, he was freed in March 1995.
Desiree sued Mike in June 1992 for assault, battery, false imprisonment, and deliberate and negligent infliction of emotional distress, asking for an undetermined amount in damages.
Mike allegedly caused Washington to go through terrible events like physical pain, mental anguish, and dread on purpose and knowingly.
It has been more than twenty years since the tragedy. Tyson keeps disputing every claim made by the model.
How Was She Affected By The Assault?
She became very well-known after the r*pe incident.
She wrote that the entire incident had a negative impact on her mental health and caused severe anguish for her and her family.
Following this, the former model shunned the spotlight and now appears to be content with her low-key existence.
Because of the criticism she received from numerous individuals, including Tyson’s followers and the media, she ended up being the victim of the incident.
As a result, Washington decided to take part in a 1992 interview with Barbara Walter.
During the conversation, she opened up completely, detailing how the occurrence drastically changed her, turning her from a vibrant, sociable woman to one who would spend the day by herself in her room.
During the interview, she received a lot of attention when she said that she had received a $1 million offer to take back the case.
Desiree Washington discussed her experiences as a r*pe survivor with Barbara Walters on ABC’s 20/20 in 1992, only days after Mike’s conviction.
She said that this would be the only time she addressed the society on the subject.
After being questioned about how she survived the terrifying experience and made it to the Miss Black America pageant, Desiree responded, ‘I was suffering, but I’m no quitter. I had put in six months of labour to get it.’
Desiree made mention of the litigation, as mentioned earlier in the interview. Mike settled the case brought against him in 1995.
The boxer’s attorney declined to say how much, if any, money was paid in the settlement.
Where Is Desiree Washington Now?
Desiree has since vanished from the public eye. ‘For almost four years, Desiree has tried to put her life back together and go on. It has not been simple to do this.’
‘The traumatic trauma has had a deep and long-lasting impact on her life,’ Michael Weisman, Desiree’s lawyer, told the Los Angeles Times in 1995.
Net Worth Of Desiree Washington
According to the sources, The estimated net worth of Desiree Washington in 2022 is $100,000.
Former Miss Black America candidate Desiree Washington testified against Mike Tyson in one of the most notorious celebrity trials in American history, accusing him of r*ping her on July 19, 1991.
Tylor was supposed to pay her $200,000 following the trial to settle the case. However, it is unclear how much he paid her.