Evan Rachel Wood Releases Statement After 4-Year Marilyn Manson Investigation Ends Without Charges: “Endlessly Proud Of All Survivors”

deadline.com:

Evan Rachel Wood has released a statement following the decision by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office to not level sexual abuse charges on Marilyn Manson, citing statute of limitations.

The three-time Emmy nominee said she is “grateful” for authorities’ four-year investigation into the matter and “endlessly proud” of the more than dozen survivors who have spoken up, adding that the case’s resolution is “evidence” that “violent crimes should not have an expiration date.” “My lawyer and I were advised by the Deputy District Attorneys and the Sheriff deputies who investigated the case that there was compelling evidence to support our claims, but that the statute of limitations prevents many of those crimes from being prosecuted,” Wood wrote on her private Instagram, per People. “We always knew that the statute of limitations would be a barrier, which is why we created the Phoenix Act so that other victims wouldn’t have to experience this outcome.” The Phoenix Act came to fruition from a collaboration with former California assembly member Eduardo Garcia and Sen.

Susan Rubio, and was passed unanimously in 2020 to extend the statute of limitations in domestic violence cases to five years.

Wood testified in front of the State Senate in April 2019 to support the bill. “Unfortunately, the Phoenix Act cannot help in cases which occurred before it was passed, but I hope this shines a light on why it’s so important to advocate for better laws,” Wood continued. “Evidence of violent crimes should not have an expiration date.