On Aug. 9, 2022, Jennifer Gries, a Neighborhood Housing Service Center Supervisor at Stanford, told county sexual assault forensic exam nurses that she had been attacked by an unknown black man in a campus garage.
According to the DA’s Office, Gries said she did not want law enforcement to contact her at that time. She did, however, sign a consent form, thus acknowledging the nurse attending her as a mandated reporter who was obliged to notify law enforcement.
Stanford Reacts
Given the perceived public safety risk, Stanford’s Department of Public Safety continued its investigation into the two alleged sexual assaults. The investigation revealed that Gries had made a sexual harassment complaint against a coworker earlier that year—a young black man who fit the description of the alleged rapist.The investigation also revealed that Gries had told an acquaintance that she was in a relationship with the man, who she had named. She claimed that she had been sexually assaulted by him, becoming pregnant with twins. Gries allegedly claimed to have suffered a miscarriage, but the DA’s investigation revealed that she was not pregnant at that time.
The lab results from both of Gries’ sexual assault examination kits also proved to be inconsistent with her story. The DA’s investigation eventually found that Gries had made up the stories to take revenge on a co-worker.
The DA also stated that Gries twice applied for monetary support from the California Victim of Crimes Board, attesting that she was sexually assaulted.
“This is a rare and deeply destructive crime,” DA Rosen said. “Our hearts go out to the falsely accused. Our hearts go out to students who had to look over their shoulders on their way to class. Our hearts go out to legitimate sexual assault victims who wonder if they will be believed.”
Gries is booked at Santa Clara jail, and her initial bail is set at $25,000.