Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

Allison Huguet and Beau Donaldson grow up together in Missoula, Montana. They attend the same schools, share a deep friendship, and excel in sports. Donaldson becomes a celebrated football player at the University of Montana, while Huguet attends Eastern Oregon University on a track scholarship. Their bond remains strong despite their separate college paths.

On the night of September 24, 2010, Huguet and her friend, Keely Williams, attend a party at Donaldson’s house. What begins as a reunion of childhood friends turns into a nightmare when Huguet, after falling asleep on a couch, wakes to find Donaldson raping her. Terrified, Huguet pretends to be asleep until Donaldson finishes and flees the house. Huguet herself then escapes and calls her mother; she believes that Donaldson might kill her. Williams blames herself for leaving Huguet alone at the party.

After being picked up by her mother, Huguet is taken to the emergency room, where she undergoes a traumatic forensic examination at the First Step Resource Center. Despite the care shown by the medical staff, the process feels like a second violation to Huguet, deepening her emotional trauma.

Huguet’s relationship with her father, Kevin, becomes strained as she struggles to conceal her distress during a Griz football game the day after the assault. During the game, Huguet confides in Keely Williams, who reveals her own experience of being raped while in college. Their shared trauma fosters a deeper connection between them.

In the final part of the chapter, Huguet and her mother confront Donaldson in an attempt to force him to acknowledge his crime. Donaldson eventually confesses, but his admission is fraught with excuses and emotional manipulation.

Initially overwhelmed by what she has experienced, Huguet decides to stay home in Missoula and take her college classes online, seeking comfort in her family. However, rumors begin to spread that she had consensual sex with Donaldson, leading Huguet to confront him via text. Donaldson’s seemingly contrite response provides her with a false sense of control, allowing her to push the trauma aside. As time passes, Huguet’s attempt to bury the incident leads to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including alcohol misuse and risky behavior. A pivotal moment occurs when she unexpectedly encounters Donaldson in a bar, triggering a flood of buried emotions. This encounter leads Huguet to reach out to Detective Guy Baker, though she remains hesitant about officially reporting the assault. The chapter concludes with Huguet’s growing realization that the trauma is profoundly affecting her, which ultimately prompts her to consider taking legal action against Donaldson despite the emotional toll it will inevitably bring.

Huguet continues to grapple with the decision to pursue legal action against Donaldson despite having a digital recording of his confession and physical evidence from her rape kit. The recording proves inadmissible as evidence, and Huguet worries that due to the time that has elapsed, her rape kit will have been destroyed. Moreover, she anticipates intense scrutiny from the community if she proceeds with the case. Concurrently, the media begins reporting on a separate gang rape incident involving University of Montana (UM) football players, which influences Huguet’s decision to file a formal statement. This public exposure also prompts another survivor, Kelsey Belnap, to come forward about her gang rape by UM football players in December 2010. Despite overwhelming evidence, including injuries and a rape kit, Belnap’s case is dismissed due to insufficient corroboration. Nevertheless, Huguet decides to proceed with her case against Donaldson, determined to prevent further assaults and seek justice.