KBR Iraq rape allegation reaction

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A young Houston woman talked exclusively with Eyewitness News about what she says happened to her in Iraq, a violent gang-rape committed by her former coworkers.

It's a story we've been digging into all week concerning accusations of a rape cover-up at KBR facilities in Iraq two years ago.

Next week, Jamie Leigh Jones will tell her story to members of Congress, but the Westfield High graduate explains to Eyewitness News why she went public and how she hopes her story will end. She says she has wanted to share it since that life changing day in July of 2005.

"I didn't wait two years to come forward," Jones told us. "I have tried to jump through hoops to get people to listen to my story and get a criminal prosecution."

Jamie says she was drugged and brutally gang raped by several KBR firefighters while working for the same company in Iraq.

"I remember looking down and seeing the bruises between my inner thighs, at that moment my heart sank," she said.

Jamie's mother remembers the phone call and knew a much different daughter would come home to her.

"As a mother, I felt very helpless because all I wanted to do is reach out and hug my daughter," Breanna Morgan said. "I couldn't at that moment and I knew right then she needed me."

"There are people out there who would say this about money, this is about attention," Jones said. "It's absolutely not. I will put my hand on the Bible in court and say under oath that every cent I get from this lawsuit I will put towards the Jamie Leigh Foundation and it will go towards other victims."

KBR says allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior are taken seriously.

A memo from the CEO of KBR to employees says:

"While the allegations raised by Ms. Jones are serious, after a review of the case KBR noted inaccuracies in the accounts of the incident in question, and disputes portions of Ms. Jones' version of the facts."

Jamie is fighting back.

"This did happen, they can deny it all they want to," Jones said.

In what her Houston attorney Todd Kelly admits is a David vs. Goliath battle.

"I'm a sole practitioner, I'm facing Halliburton," Kelly said. "Financially I can't touch them. The army of lawyers they are capable hiring to drown me in paper, I can't touch. But I have one thing that will prevail and that is the truth."

Jamie says she never thought she'd trust a man again until she met Callan Daigle, a Conroe man serving in the US Navy. The couple married last year.

Jones says sharing her story is a way of healing her soul. Next week she'll speak before Congress in Washington.

She remains hopeful that journey will ultimately lead to her day in court.

"My anger keeps me strong, I intend to get justice for myself and hopefully others will follow suit," Jones said.

Jones says what happened to her in Iraq will always be a part of her. She says she's made a life commitment to help victims through her foundation, the Jamie Leigh Foundation.

KBR declined our request for an on camera interview but issued a written statement. They say after Jones made the claims they initiated an investigation. Then it was taken over by the US government.

You can read those statements here.

Get more Local »

local, christine dobbyn

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•