St. Joseph county police are handing over evidence from the alleged rape of a Notre Dame 20-year-old female student to a state crime lab, Sheriff Richard Seniff said Friday morning at a press conference.

The sheriff said the suspects in the alleged rape are one former and three current Notre Dame football players. Police on Wednesday searched the house of one of the suspects, located within one mile east of the University.

"The fact that the suspects are Notre Dame football players will have little effect on how we aggressively pursue the investigation," said Seniff.

Police have been investigating the rape accusation since April 6, when the alleged victim filed a report with the South Bend Police Department claiming that the four men had raped her early March 28. The female also filed a separate report with University authorities on April 10 and will have a hearing with Notre Dame's Office of Residence Life and Housing on Wednesday.

So far, Seniff said police have interviewed one of the suspects, but the remaining three have hired attorneys and would not speak about the case.

"It's a very sensitive case, and we're certainly sensitive to the plaintiff and the suspects," said Seniff.

Still, no charges have been filed, but Maj. Bob Finn, the public information officer of the St. Joe County police, said the investigation would be passed on to the county prosecutor next week.

Seniff said there was no indication of heavy drinking or use of date rape drugs.

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