Duke Lacrosse Accuser Crystal Mangum May Face Murder Charges

The woman who falsely accused members of the Duke University lacrosse team of raping her may face murder charges in the stabbing death of her boyfriend, police say.

Police in Durham, N.C., say Crystal Mangum, whose sensational allegations against three Duke lacrosse players inflamed racial tensions across the country in 2006, stabbed Reginald Daye multiple times during a fight in the couple's apartment April 3.

Daye, 46, died from his wounds Wednesday evening at Duke University Hospital. Mangum, 32, is already being held on charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury.

Pictured in this file photo from August 2010, Crystal Mangum.

Chuck Liddy, Raleigh News & Observer / MCT

Crystal Mangum, shown here in August 2010, could face murder charges in the stabbing death of her boyfriend.

"I would anticipate she may face murder charges," her attorney, Woody Vann, told AOL News today. Durham Police Department Chief Jose Lopez Sr., who did not immediately return a request for comment today, told The Herald-Sun that murder charges in the case were likely.

Mangum, who is black, was working for an escort service in March 2006 when she claimed three white members of the Duke University lacrosse team who had hired her to strip for a party dragged her into a bathroom and took turns brutally raping and assaulting her.

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The allegations, which were later found to be false, sparked racial tensions, nearly destroyed the lives of three young men and led to the disbarring of Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, who was accused of misconduct in the case.

In February 2010, Mangum was arrested and charged with attempted murder, child abuse and arson for allegedly trying to stab her boyfriend at the time and lighting his clothes on fire in the bathtub while her children were inside the home. She was convicted of child abuse.

Vann said Mangum, who is being held at the Durham County Jail, is "pretty subdued." He added that her children are staying with a friend.

Durham District Attorney Tracey Kline told the Raleigh, N.C., News & Observer that prosecutors could make a decision on whether to upgrade the charges as soon as today.