Chicago Bears defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. has been accused of assaulting Joann "Jodi" Blakney in a North Carolina hotel in 2020. At the time, the Bears were in Charlotte for a game against the Carolina Panthers. Blakney is suing Edwards, the team, and an off-duty Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer. According to Blakney, she and Edwards have known each other for over 10 years and have dated off and on during that time.

The lawsuit alleges that when the pair met up in Charlotte, Edwards Jr. assaulted her in a hotel room after she refused to have intercourse with him. Blakney was pregnant at the time. Afterward, Blakney reported the assault to an off-duty CMPD officer in the lobby, but the officer did not call the police.

Members of the Bears staff were called to the lobby when they offered to have Edwards come to apologize to her. Blakney was taken to the hospital over concern for the baby and diagnosed with a concussion. While she was hospitalized, assault charges were filed against Blakney on Edwards' behalf. Blakney alleges she lost her job and has not been able to find employment due to the charge.

Mario Edwards, Jr. has not been charged in connection with this lawsuit. There has not been a trial and he has not been found guilty.

Joining Nancy Grace Today:

Joann 'Jodie' Blakney - Victim
Arcangela Mazzariello - Attorney at Law, Instagram: @Arcmazzesq, Twitter: @NYStrega
Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy), www.panthermitigation.com, Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology"
John Guard - Chief Deputy – Pitt County Sheriff’s Office (Greenville, NC), Specializes in Investigating Domestic Violence Cases

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