Humans have a natural response when faced with unwanted, possibly dangerous situations. It’s called fight or flight. One former University of Utah diver found himself in hot water and chose the latter.
Benjamin Smyth, a Canadian college student studying in the States, was charged on Monday, May 8, 2023, with forcible sexual abuse, rape, and forcible sodomy. All of his charges are felonies. When police arrived at his dorm room to arrest him, they found he had already moved out.
The alleged rape took place in December 2022. According to authorities, Smyth met a young woman in a common area on campus. He approached her with his buddies and got her number. Later that night he sent a text and asked if she was alone.
Per the allegations, Smyth, 19, came over to her dorm. He attempted "several sexual activities" but was rejected. That is when he allegedly forced himself on her.
According to police, the victim said that “she didn’t want to have sex.” This allegedly did not stop him. She told police that he pushed her down to the floor and ignored her requests for him to stop.
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The victim did not report this until February 2023. When police initially questioned Smyth, he denied knowing her. He quickly changed his story, claiming they had consensual sex.
Upon arriving at Smyth's dorm room to arrest him, officers were faced with an empty half of a room. His roommate said Smyth had "cleaned out all his belongings and moved out." A private detective tipped off the police that Smyth had fled to Canada after learning he was being investigated.
The university issued a statement regarding the incident, as Smyth was a member of the diving team. “On February 16 we were made aware of a serious allegation involving a member of our men’s swimming and diving program,” it began. “Upon being notified by the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity of a pending investigation, Ben Smyth was immediately suspended on Feb. 20 from all team activities. We take matters of this type very seriously, and have continued to monitor the situation.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
