HATE HOAX? Police find no evidence after woman claims she was set on fire by ‘racists’

Bernstein, an 18-year-old woman who identifies as biracial reported to police that she was attacked by four white men while she was sitting in her car at a red light at around 1 a.m. on June 24. According to the police report, she heard someone call out a racist term. Then, she said, one of the men sprayed her with lighter fluid and threw a flaming lighter at her.

She claimed to have then driven away, put out the flames, and went to an area hospital for treatment.

However, detectives were unable to "locate evidence consistent with what was reported," said Vic Wahl, Madison's acting Chief of Police.

The full report of the investigation is over 150 pages long and goes into every possible detail. Federal, state and local officers cooperated on aspects of it.

In the report, it is noted that footage from surveillance and traffic cameras clearly show that Bernstein only stopped once at the time of the alleged attack, and that nobody approached her car at any time. It's also clear in the footage that her window was never open, as she had claimed when going to police.

A canine unit found no trace of a lighter or other flame-producing device of any kind in her car. In addition, no group of four white men could be found on any of the camera footage anywhere. As a result, the investigation has been closed.

The alleged attack occurred in the middle of a night of violent protests. That same night, two statues were toppled, a state senator was attacked, and numerous other incidents of violence and vandalism occurred.

"Althea Bernstein and her family appreciate the detailed investigative efforts by all involved this case,” said a statement issued by Bernstein's family. "Althea’s injuries are healing and the support of our community has been invaluable in that regard. We continue to maintain our family privacy and will not be granting interviews at this time."