Former The Bachelorette star Katie Thurston has revealed she was raped and believes the justice system let her down.

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Katie took to Instagram on Saturday and posted a carousel of images with personal and graphic details about how she had reported her case of sexual assault to police but never felt legally vindicated. She also shared resources for other rape survivors.

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"The justice system continues to let down victims every day," Katie wrote. "I refuse to feel defeated in the strength it took to be an advocate for myself. I hope my experience will help those feel the strength and support they need."

She added, "While I'm not ready to share my story, I want to share the valuable resources that saved my life."

Katie went on to write that she had called 911 following the alleged rape incident and they sent a police officer to take her statement and transport her to a special medical center for a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) exam.

"I had two women with me. One was the nurse and the other my advocate. They were kind, nurturing [and] patient," Katie wrote.

"I felt like a small lost child who was vulnerable and scared. They thoroughly explained the process, asking for consent along the way, and allowing me to decline or change my mind at any time."

The Bachelorette alum then had her blood drawn to check for "STDs, drugs, and blood alcohol concentration."

Katie recalled, "I was given Plan B, Rocephin (a shot for bacterial infections), Azithromycin (to treat possible STI's), and Truvada and nPEP for a month (to treat possible HIV. This was all completed to me at no cost, regardless if I had insurance or not."

Katie's rape kit -- including the process of "collecting DNA evidence, sending it to the lab, and then back to law enforcement" -- took four months to complete, and so in the meantime, she sought mental health support.

Katie was apparently assigned a therapist who specialized in victims of sexual assault as well as an advocate whom she could contact any time with questions or concerns.

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The Bachelor alum also gave a shout-out to resources that helped her through the difficult time: The Center for Community Solutions, CA Victims of Crime Board, and the book Know My Name by Chanel Miller.

"This is where I would submit any financial reimbursement related to crime," Katie explained.

"This could be loss of income, moving expenses, medical bills, therapy, and more. I was thankful for this as one of my medications would cost me $1,000 out of pocket."

Katie's post appeared to suggest authorities decided not to pursue charges against her alleged rapist after completing their investigation.

"I did everything I should have done as a victim of rape," Katie wrote in one of her slides.

"'Here are my texts, my calls, my photos, my videos, names, witnesses, locations, social media, time stamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my body,'" Katie recalled.

"The warning 'a guilty verdict is hard in criminal court' echoed throughout the months, like an annoying parrot you were forced to keep. And as much as I heard it, I still wasn't ready to be stopped. And yet, without warning, I was."

She continued, "This is not a loss to me. I am safe. I am loved. I am supported. No, this is yet another loss in a broken system. Change happens in failure. And the justice system failed me. And continues to fail thousands every single day. But do not give up."

Katie, who shared that she plans to focus on the positive, reminded her followers that they are valued and strong.

"Be your biggest advocate... I believe you," Katie concluded.

In a subsequent statement to Us Weekly, Katie appeared to also reveal the alleged rape occurred late last year.

"I've had ample support from my community which allowed me to stay strong over these past seven months," Katie told the magazine on June 29.

"While the outcome is disappointing, I am at peace and turning any pain into purpose and hope to help other survivors of sexual assault."

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Katie received a lot of support and well wishes from Bachelor Nation.

"Katie, I am so so sorry this happened and the justice failed you," Susie Evans wrote. "You are so loved and we support you. Thank you for sharing to help others not feel as alone."

"Standing with you if you need anything. You are loved and you are supported," commented Tayshia Adams.

"I know we have talked offline but just wanted to let you know that sharing this online matters," Kaitlyn Bristowe wrote. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I love you."

"You are so strong," Cassie Randolph said. "Thank you for sharing this. You are so so loved and supported."

After Katie competed for Matt James' heart on The Bachelor's 25th, she starred on The Bachelorette's seventeenth season, which aired in Summer 2021.

During a group date on Katie's season, she opened up about how she had been sexually assaulted on New Year's Eve about a decade prior to filming The Bachelorette.

Katie explained to her group of bachelors how she had been "involved in a situation where there wasn't consent" at a party, where she had been drinking alcohol.

"For a long time I felt responsible for being too drunk, too irresponsible, too stupid," Katie lamented on the episode. "But it's not my fault because consent is important and I did not give it that night."

Katie told the men how she had come a long way since then and it's important to give consent, have thorough communication, "not guilt trip somebody for not having enough sex with them," and not guilt trip a person "for not having sex with them in general."

Given it appears Katie recently pursued legal action against her alleged rapist, it would seem that the offense described in her June 29 post was separate from the assault over a decade ago.

Katie got engaged to Blake Moynes at the end of her The Bachelorette season, which aired in August 2021, but they announced their split only a couple of months later in October 2021.

Katie then went public with her romance with John, whom she had eliminated during Week 2 of her The Bachelorette journey, in November 2021. She was accused of moving on from Blake quickly with "a rebound" and emotionally cheating on her ex-fiance.

Katie and John split after less than one year together in June 2022, and Katie expressed on numerous occasions how John had dumped her after she allegedly gave the relationship everything she had. She apparently felt like she was never enough for him.

After ending her relationship with John, Katie decided to look for love on FBoy Island because she thought it was a unique opportunity.

Katie is now happily dating fellow stand-up comedian Jeff Arcuri.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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