Woman Claims Sexual, Emotional Abuse by Indy Councilor Graves
Woman Claims Sexual, Emotional Abuse by Indy Councilor Keith Graves
INDIANAPOLIS — A woman says she was sexually and emotionally abused by Democratic City-County Councilor Keith Graves during a two-year relationship.
The councilor says the relationship was consensual and denies any wrongdoing, yet, on Friday, the council president said Graves stepped down as leader of the Education Committee.
WISH-TV first sat down with the woman, Laurin Embry, in June.
In 2019, Embry was a volunteer for the Democratic Party. That’s when she met Graves at a party event. She says they began a relationship with each other in 2020.
Embry says the abuse from Graves nearly cost her life.
“I didn’t realize that I was in an abusive relationship until I was on suicide watch and the chaplain told me,” Embry said.
Embry says she initially did not think much of her conversations with Graves. He represents the northeast side of the city. Soon, though, she says, they went from acquaintances to much more, and quickly.
“Within three days, I was waking up at his house,” Embry said.
She says things soon took a violent turn when she did not pick up one of his late-night phone calls.
“He told me that he better not find out that I was seeing other people,” Embry said.
She says the abuse continued, leading to several suicide attempts.
“I survived even contemplating jumping off of an overpass here in the city,” Embry said.
She was admitted into the hospital for a mandatory 72-hour suicide watch.
“After I got out of the hospital, Keith popped up at my apartment, maybe 10, or 11 o’clock one evening, one day,” Embry said. “He then tried to, attempted to, force himself on top of me.”
She says she made it clear she did not want to be near him anymore. Embry says the late-night knocks on the door continued.
“How often would that happen?” I-Team 8 asked Embry.
“At that time, it was, like, it felt like every other day,” Embry said. “He doesn’t take no as an option, especially from women.”
Graves did not agree to an on camera interview, but issued a statement to WISH-TV.
“Unfortunately, the person I was involved with from 2020 to 2022 has chosen to portray our time together inaccurately rather than honestly representing our relationship,” Graves said. “The recent allegations of sexual and emotional abuse are alarming and false. This is the first time I have heard that Ms. Embry believes she experienced abuse. Sexual abuse allegations are not something I take lightly. They are serious and carry criminal consequences. While I regret that there is a story from a past relationship that I am not proud of, no criminal charges were filed.”
Embry did not make any police reports at the time out of fear of retribution.
Embry is telling her story after women came forward to say they experienced harassment, sexual assault, or grooming within Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration, leading to multiple calls for his resignation.
“Regarding my position as a City-County Councilor and that of the administration, no comparisons should be made between me and those of any former or current elected officials or city employees, as the circumstances are entirely unrelated,” Graves said in his statement.
Embry is working to pick up the pieces, now working as a social worker and community advocate. She says the price paid for coming forward is high.
She still sees Graves at community events.
“He knows. I know,” Embry said. “We just try to put on the mask. I fake it like I don’t know him and I keep it pushing.”
Embry tells WISH-TV she is not asking Graves to resign. Her only goal is to help other women.
Democrat Maggie Lewis, the City-County Council majority leader, says she’s committed to confirming the validity of the allegations.
Woman Claims Sexual, Emotional Abuse by Indy Councilor Keith Graves was originally published on wibc.com
