Police in Douglas County, Colorado are saying that two women who claimed to be victims of a hate crime last year are faking it.
Aimee Whitchurch, 37 and Christel Conklin, 29, reported in October of 2011 that the words "Kill the Gay" were spray-painted in red on their Parker condominium's garage door. The next day police were called back to the house after the women claimed someone hung a noose on their front door handle.
But after working on the case with the FBI because of the hate crime element to the incidents, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office has determined that the incidents were false, according to 9News.
Both Whitchurch and Conklin, who are reportedly a lesbian couple, were issued arrest warrants Thursday and charged with criminal mischief and false reporting.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cocha Hedyen told KDVR:
Through the investigation and from witness statements, it was determined that allegations of the incident were false. Detectives were able to determine that the two women involved were responsible for the words that were spray painted on the garage and the placement of the noose on their own front door.
Whitchurch however told 7News that the sheriff's office is wrong to charge them with false reporting. When asked how they sheriff's office could make such a mistake, she said, "The only thing I can think is they didn't like this thing public, I don't know." Whitchurch vowed to fight the allegations.
The women have said that they believe the incidents were in retaliation of issues with their neighbors and their homeowner's association.
$1,000 bonds were issued for both women.