University of Utah diver Benjamin Smyth may have fled the country due to an investigation into rape allegations, according to reports.
The 19-year-old student, who was a member of the school’s men’s swimming and diving team, is believed to have fled the country to Canada where he is a citizen. He reportedly did so after learning he was being investigated for an incident that took place in August 2022.
According to Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office court documents, Smyth approached a woman in her dorm building and exchanged contact information. He then allegedly went to the woman’s dorm soon after. The documents then say that he began kissing her despite her refusal to do so before allegedly forcing her to do various sexual acts and then raping her.
Smyth denied knowing the victim at first before eventually telling investigators that he “had sex with her when he first met her.”
When police tried to serve Smyth with a temporary protective order a few days later, they learned that he had returned to Canada “after learning that he was being investigated for the rape.”
The university released a statement to say that Smyth had been suspended once the school learned of the police investigation in February.
“On February 16 we were made aware of a serious allegation involving a member of our men’s swimming and diving program,” the school said in a statement. “Upon being notified by the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) of a pending investigation, Ben Smyth was immediately suspended on Feb. 20 from all team activities. We take matters of this type very seriously and have continued to monitor the situation. We will not have further comment as this matter proceeds through the legal process.”
An arrest warrant has been issued for the diver, who is currently wanted on rape, forcible sodomy, and forcible sexual abuse charges.
