Acid Attack Victim Admits to Hoax, Says She Suffers From Mental Disorder
Bethany Storro gained international attention when she came forward with her story of being an acid attack victim. However, since then, she has recanted her story and admitted that she poured acid on her own face because she was mentally ill.
"In the mirror, I saw a distorted monster. It was like my eyes were gouging out, my face was just, it was just terrible," she said during an interview on "Good Morning America." At the time, Storro was suffering from an undiagnosed case of body dysmorphic disorder, which causes sufferers to have an obsession with their bodies.
She attempted to end her life by pouring acid on her face but then went through the street asking for help and received the help she desperately needed, both physically and psychologically.
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"I just held it (the acid) up to my face and I could feel it burning through my skin. Like, melting into my face. And I was just, I was so happy," she said. But that happiness quickly turned to immense pain.
"So I'm freaking out, like, 'This isn't working. What am I going to do now?'" Storro said, and she took off seeking help.
Once police got involved, Storro made up a story of an attack by an African-American woman and police immediately began looking for the suspect. She enjoyed the attention, she explained, and felt special. Plus, her story was attracting the attention of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey.
She eventually realized she had to tell the truth and, after two weeks, confessed to lying. Storro was charged with three counts of second-degree theft after using funds meant for her medical bills on a shopping spree and lying to police. She then spent one year at a mental-health facility, receiving the treatment she needed for body dysmorphia.
"I hope that people forgive me and give me a chance because I'm, I'm a good person. I promise that I am," Storro said. She has a new book, "Facing the Truth" that she's co-written with Mona Krueger to help bring awareness to the devastating effects of body dysmorphia.
According to Dr. Katharine Phillips, approximately 5 million Americans may suffer from the disorder but go through the pain alone because it can be seen as a "shameful" disorder.
People "are worried if they talk about their fear … people are going to think they're vain. And the reality is, BDD is not vanity. It's a very secret disorder," Phillips told ABC News.
