Megan Williams' hate crime claims were a hoax?

A woman's talk of rape and torture may have been a hoax, not a hate crime.

In 2007 Megan Williams said she had been raped and tortured by a group of white supremacists in West Virginia.

Her attackers have been sent to prison, but on Wednesday Williams, who has since moved to Columbus, recanted her story.

During a press conference that was on-again, off-again, Williams' attorney, Byron Potts said his client was coming forward to recant her story because she no longer wants to live a lie.

Potts had called for a news conference early on Wednesday but when reporters showed up around 4 p.m. Potts called off the meeting and Williams left.

Shortly after 5 p.m., Williams returned and the press conference went ahead, but only Potts spoke to reporters.

Potts said Williams fabricated the story to get back at a boyfriend who had beaten her up and encouraged authorities to reexamine the case.

Potts said Williams has received anonymous death threats over the last several days and encouraged West Virginia authorities to re-evaluate the case.

Seven white men and women were convicted in the case and are serving prison time.

Prosecutors in West Virginia have dismissed Williams' claims, and lawyers for the defendants aren't discussing their plans.

Brian Abraham, the former Logan County prosecutor who pursued the cases, expressed skepticism that the story was a lie.

The assaults occurred in September 2007 in a rural area of Logan County, about 50 miles from Charleston.

Williams told authorities in 2007 that she had been beaten, raped, forced to eat animal feces and taunted with racial slurs for days.

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