The actor best known for his role as older brother Buzz McCallister in Home Alone, Devin Ratray, is under investigation for an alleged 2017 rape, CNN reports.
Although victim Lisa Smith filed a police report shortly after the assault, authorities did not pursue her case at the time, under the assumption that Smith would not want to move forward with charges against Ratray. When Ratray was arrested in December 2021 on domestic violence charges, a "devastated" Smith reached out to prosecutors for an update on her case from years prior.
Smith recounted the details of the alleged September 21, 2017 assault, saying she believes she was drugged in Ratray's Manhattan apartment. "I remember waking up and I couldn't move. I couldn't really open my eyes, but I could hear what was happening and I could feel what was happening," she told CNN.
Smith says she realized that her brother and friend, who had previously been drinking with Smith and Ratray, had left. The actor then proceeded to sexual assault her for what she describes as "an eternity."
After the alleged assault, Smith confronted Ratray through text message; though the original messages have been erased, Smith says he denied the assault and attempted to paint the encounter as consensual.
Smith: "I Needed to Do Whatever I Could" to Prevent Ratray from Assaulting Other Women
Following years of frustrating radio silence from the New York Police Department officers on her case, Smith heard about Ratray's arrest from a friend who emailed her news stories about the case. She says that was when she realized she needed to speak up.
"Seeing that he was accused of assaulting someone else made me realize that I needed to do whatever I could to prevent him from hurting even more women," she said. Ratray was arrested in December 2021 and charged with two counts of domestic assault and battery after he allegedly strangled his then-girlfriend. The actor pleaded not guilty to the charges and is expected in court this October.
Following requests for comment on the mishandling of Smith's case, the New York City Police Department shared a statement reading, "The NYPD takes sexual assault and rape extemely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a police report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors."
As of Wednesday, Ratray has not been charged in connection with Smith's accusation, but per CNN, the actor has denied the allegations.