CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston Police Sgt. Autumn Davis said the investigation into an alleged rape at Capital High School is ongoing, but no arrests have been made nor any charges filed.

Earlier this month, a 14-year-old ninth-grader at Capital High School told a school counselor that she was grabbed from behind, dragged about 40 feet and raped in the school's south courtyard in some tall ornamental grass. The girl says the assault occurred around Nov. 20.

The male assailant allegedly placed a piece of cloth the girl believed to be a hoodie over her face, and she did not get a look at him, Capital Principal Clinton Giles and the girl's mother have said.

The girl's mother said she has enrolled her daughter in a new high school and the girl is seeing a therapist.

Giles has said that the path the girl took that day -- on her way from a fifth-period lunch to her sixth-period class -- is a heavily traveled shortcut for students who walk between classes. The area does not have surveillance cameras because it is an uncovered, visible area, he has said. Giles also has said he recalls the day of Nov. 20 as a bright, sunny day.

The school's prevention resource officer, Charleston Police Cpl. Kevin Smailes, was involved in the investigation from the outset, Giles has said.

The girl waited about two weeks, until Dec. 4, to first tell a school counselor about the alleged rape. Her mother said the girl did not provide police with any physical evidence because she showered, bathed and washed laundry without thinking about evidence because at the time she was so upset.

The girl's mother, a South Charleston resident, asked to remain anonymous because she does not want her daughter to be identified.

On Thursday evening, the girl's mother said she hadn't heard anything new about the case, but planned to speak with police detectives early next week.             

Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1254.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston Police Sgt. Autumn Davis said the investigation into an alleged rape at Capital High School is ongoing, but no arrests have been made nor any charges filed.

Earlier this month, a 14-year-old ninth-grader at Capital High School told a school counselor that she was grabbed from behind, dragged about 40 feet and raped in the school's south courtyard in some tall ornamental grass. The girl says the assault occurred around Nov. 20.

The male assailant allegedly placed a piece of cloth the girl believed to be a hoodie over her face, and she did not get a look at him, Capital Principal Clinton Giles and the girl's mother have said.

The girl's mother said she has enrolled her daughter in a new high school and the girl is seeing a therapist.

Giles has said that the path the girl took that day -- on her way from a fifth-period lunch to her sixth-period class -- is a heavily traveled shortcut for students who walk between classes. The area does not have surveillance cameras because it is an uncovered, visible area, he has said. Giles also has said he recalls the day of Nov. 20 as a bright, sunny day.

The school's prevention resource officer, Charleston Police Cpl. Kevin Smailes, was involved in the investigation from the outset, Giles has said.

The girl waited about two weeks, until Dec. 4, to first tell a school counselor about the alleged rape. Her mother said the girl did not provide police with any physical evidence because she showered, bathed and washed laundry without thinking about evidence because at the time she was so upset.

The girl's mother, a South Charleston resident, asked to remain anonymous because she does not want her daughter to be identified.

On Thursday evening, the girl's mother said she hadn't heard anything new about the case, but planned to speak with police detectives early next week.             

Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1254.