On the night of May 8, 1981, Alice Sebold, who had just completed her freshman year at Syracuse University, was brutally raped while walking home through a park. Several months later, Anthony Broadwater was arrested and convicted of the assault. He spent 16 years in prison, repeatedly denied parole because he refused to admit guilt, and upon his release in 1998, was required to register as a sex offender.

Forty years after the assault, a court vacated Broadwater’s conviction after the Syracuse district attorney joined a motion to clear him, stating in court that Broadwater should never have been prosecuted. Despite this exoneration and a multimillion-dollar settlement from New York state, Broadwater said the stigma of being a convicted rapist remains difficult to overcome. “I’m still embarrassed that I was convicted and sent to prison for rape for 16 and a half years,” he said.

The case also revealed systemic issues at Syracuse University. A former detective involved in the investigation testified in a 2025 deposition that police reports labeled “NO PRESS” indicated the university’s directive to suppress media coverage of crimes such as rape, robbery, and burglary near campus. This designation was reportedly common at the time.

A spokesperson for Syracuse University stated they are not in a position to comment on prior administrations' actions but emphasized that the university now has comprehensive policies and support structures aimed at preventing sexual and relationship violence and assisting survivors.

Questions about the case’s handling remain. A producer involved in a related documentary noted unresolved issues, including whether the right person was arrested and the reliability of Sebold as a witness. The producer said efforts to film the documentary ultimately fell through.

This case sheds light on a buried rape crisis in Syracuse and underscores the long-term impact of wrongful convictions and institutional secrecy on survivors and the accused alike.

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