Miss Puerto Rico sabotage case closed
Beauty queen pepper spray investigation ends due to lack of evidence
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Officials said Friday they have dropped an investigation into a beauty queen's claim that her evening gown was doused with pepper spray, citing a lack of evidence to support criminal charges.
The island's justice secretary, Roberto Sanchez Ramos, said prosecutors determined they could not prove who was responsible for attacking Ingrid Marie Rivera during the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant in November.
Pageant spokesman Harold Rosario said he was satisfied investigators did what they could, but said he still believes Rivera was the victim of a sabotage attempt.
"Ingrid never lied. This happened. We never had any doubt," he told The Associated Press.
The announcement appears to end a drama that captivated this U.S. Caribbean territory for months with speculation over backstage backstabbing.
Rivera, 24, broke out in hives between stage appearances but kept her composure in front of the cameras and judges. She won the crown despite her travails and lodged a complaint days later.
A black evening gown and one of her bathing suits tested positive for pepper spray.
In January, police said that two pageant employees who supported a rival contestant were likely to face assault charges. But the police chief, Pedro Toledo, later said the evidence was not strong enough to support charges.
Rivera will travel to Vietnam for the international Miss Universe competition in July.
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