Woman who perpetrated acid hoax said she suffered from mental illness

BY Kim Shepard  on February 18, 2013 @ 7:17 am (Updated: 7:26 am - 2/18/13 )

It was an unbelievable attack that drew attention and donations from around the world. A young woman from Vancouver, Wash. claimed she was assaulted with liquid acid in 2010.

"Once it hit me, I could actually hear it bubbling and sizzling my skin," said then-28-year-old Bethany Storro, as she sat in a wheelchair with her face wrapped in gauze.

Just two weeks after that press conference, she recanted the entire story. She had not been attacked by a stranger. She had burned herself.

Now, for the first time she is answering questions about the events that summer. She told ABC's Good Morning America she suffered from an undiagnosed case of Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

"In the mirror, I saw a distorted monster," recalled Storro.

She said she wanted to drink the acid in order to kill herself, but when it touched her face she couldn't go through with it.

While she claims she never intended to lie about being attacked, Storro admitted she did enjoy the attention she received once the story got out.

Once her deception was discovered, she plead guilty to lying to police and spent one year at a mental-health treatment facility in Washington.

Now, she's asking for forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry to everybody, I really truly am," cried Storro.

At 30 years old, Storro has a new book out called "Facing the Truth."

Kim Shepard, KIRO Radio Reporter
Kim Shepard is a news anchor and reporter for KIRO Radio and the office optimist. She's energetic, quick to laugh and has a positive outlook on life.
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Comments (10)


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  • po_guy wrote...
    WOW...
    February 18, 2013 8:12 am
    I do believe there is a disorder for everything that people do wrong. No longer is anything called a "sin" against God, just a disorder. Body Dysmorphoic Disorder, huh? How about Bank Robbery Disorder, or Murder Disorder, or Lying Disorder, or Adultery Disorder...on and on can the list go...tell it to the Great Judge when you meet Him!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BikeNazi wrote...
    There is no god
    February 18, 2013 9:14 am
    This isn't a disorder. This biitch is crazy, plain and simple. Stay far, far away.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tyrone DeVille wrote...
    NOW, Storro Just Suffers from Greed!
    February 18, 2013 9:16 am
    !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Whatever...
    February 18, 2013 9:17 am
    NEXT!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    how much did the investigstion
    February 18, 2013 11:23 am
    looking for the black non existant purp cost taxpayers? how much did her police sketch cost? is she now legally allowed to profit from her crimes?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    good point!!!
    February 18, 2013 1:23 pm
    what kind of message does it send if she's allowed to make $$ of it all...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • pepsi freak wrote...
    toldya is correct!!
    February 18, 2013 2:54 pm
    that's what cheeses me off more than anything, that she is going to make money off of this!! ugh, very annoying! i hope she doesn't make one red cent from this book, but that is highly unlikely.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ChartryC wrote...
    AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
    February 18, 2013 4:23 pm
    And people wonder why we are the way we are! And wonder what kind of a person will buy that book. Can you say insane
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    this came out during election GOP called it
    February 18, 2013 10:38 pm
    Black person Dysmorphic Disorder.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }