Cheryl Araujo, Date of Birth, Date of Death

Cheryl Araujo

American victim of crime, activist

Date of Birth: 28-Mar-1961

Date of Death: 14-Dec-1986

Profession: activist

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Cheryl Ann Araujo (March 28, 1961 – December 14, 1986) was an American woman who survived being raped in New Bedford, Massachusetts and whose case became national news.
She was gang-raped in 1983 at age 21 by four men in a tavern in the town, while other patrons watched but did not intervene.
During the prosecution of the case, the defendants' attorneys cross-examined Araujo to such an extent about her own life and activities that the case became widely seen as a template for "blaming the victim" in rape cases.
Her case was widely known as "Big Dan's rape," after the name of the bar in which the attack occurred.
Ostracized in New Bedford, Araujo moved with her family to Miami, Florida, to make a new life.
Shortly after, on December 14th 1986, she died in a car accident near her home in Miami.Her case prompted national debate at the time over broadcasting of the trial, in which her name was released.
Some states have passed legislation to protect the names of rape victims.
Court cases have attempted to settle issues of newsworthiness, freedom of the press, and state interest, as well as personal privacy.
Her case was the basis of the 1988 feature film The Accused.