VANCOUVER -- An investigation indicated that the reported acid attack on Bethany Storro was self-inflicted, Vancouver Police said Thursday.
They called the incident a hoax during a press conference. They said the results of the investigation will now be turned over to the county prosecutor's office.
Chief Clifford Cook said discrepancies started to appear as detectives started to investigate the case.
This morning, police served a search warrant, then interviewed Storro, who said the attack was a self-inflicted hoax.
A remarkably upbeat and candid Storro, 28, sat in front of reporters a week ago at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and described how a woman threw acid on her face.
She spoke for about 20 minutes, sometimes laughing, sometime crying, using a tissue to dab at her eyes or nose, the only part of her face not covered in bandages.
Storro said she held the press conference to draw attention to efforts to find the attacker, but also to talk about her faith.
"I'm here today because of Jesus Christ," she said.
The strength of her faith will allow her to move forward, Storro said, though several times she said that the attacker coming forward to admit what she had done would be an enriching part of that.
"I have no enemies," she said, "In time I'm going to forgive her. Then I can move on."
Storro said she wonders what could have gone through the attacker's mind as she prepared the acidic mixture to throw randomly on a stranger.
Her attacker was very non-descript as far as a potential suspect, she said, and fit in with the usual passersby of the Esther Park area of downtown Vancouver. At the moment of throwing the acid, she appeared to be in a rage.
That Monday, Storro said she had just picked up a paycheck and decided to buy a pair of sunglasses, even though she doesn't favor wearing them.
"For some reason I had this feeling that I needed to go buy some sunglasses," she said. They ultimately saved the vision of a woman who has been partially deaf since childhood. "That's Jesus for sure," she said.
"To be hard of hearing and blind. That would drive them crazy," she said, laughing while motioning to her parents on either side of her.
Doctors have told her it's too early to tell how her recovery will go. The portions of her face that appear green in photographs were the most damaged and may result in scar tissue, or possibly need grafts from the skin on her leg.
Her surgery was basically one massive face peel, she said. She could have waited for the skin to heal more, or have it done right away.
She has been in a great deal of pain, both physically and emotionally. Her family and hospital staff have been kind and supportive. As she would become frustrated, she realized "there's nobody to get mad at. Everyone is so nice to me."
Support via emails and letters have come from all over the world, Storro said, dabbing her eyes as she described how she would move along in life.
"It's not about looks," Storro said.
