6 Female Teenagers Beat Up 1 Teenage Girl, 2 Guys are looking out Options

[Relentless]

Man, what's wrong with the society today. For some reason, those girls who are ganging up on the girl. Hitting her head on the floor and door? What the f**k is wrong with these girls, f**king juvenile delinquents man. 6 Girls beating her, 2 Guys looking out? What the ^&*%. She got a concussion and she woke up in the couch later, then get another beating..... what the f**k. This seriously pissed me off. Err... I mean what the hell? A publicity stunt possibly? They should be sentenced to Juvenile Hall. I found out by youtube, since there are so many replies against the video over the net.


And stoopidly, you smack someone multiple times, causing a concussion just for shit talking? what the hell. Even a 14 year old was involved!

She NEVER fought back.

BARTOW, Fla. — The video shows 16-year-old Victoria Lindsay curled up on a living room couch, shielding her head from the repeated punches of a teenage girl while other girls scream in the background.

It was March 30, shortly after 8 p.m. Six girls had gathered in a Lakeland house to confront Lindsay about trash-talking about them online, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

But they didn’t stop with words. Lindsay told investigators in a sheriff’s office report that April Cooper, 14, had slammed her head into a bedroom wall, knocking her unconscious. The blows resumed, primarily from 17-year-old Brittni Hardcastle, after Lindsay awoke in the living room, according to the sheriff’s office.

The incident was recorded on video the teens planned to post on MySpace and YouTube as retaliation, the sheriff’s office said.

“Ooh, yeah, baby. Ooh, yeah!” a girl says in the background. The sheriff’s office said the voice was that of 16-year-old Cara Murphy, who was holding the video camera.

Both Lindsay’s family and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on Monday called for legislation against such “shock videos” or for social-networking sites to enact standards to prevent posting this type of material.

These videos are “causing our children to take on a different culture and think this is fun, funny and OK,” Lindsay’s father, Patrick, said in a phone interview.
His daughter, who suffered a concussion, has permanent hearing loss in her left ear and blurred vision in her left eye, he said. She also has nightmares. “She’s scared. She’s upset,” he said.

After releasing Monday a three-minute video segment of the beating, Judd said he didn’t want to fulfill the teens’ aim of publicizing their attack but thought it important “to educate the parents about what their kids are doing.”

“It’s incumbent upon us as a society not to accept this,” Judd said. “This pack mentality is just absolutely absurd. … Regardless of what this victim may or may not have said, there’s no justification for this.”

The sheriff’s office charged eight teenagers in the attack, six girls whom investigators say took turns beating Victoria Lindsay and two boys whom they say acted as lookouts. All are charged with felony battery and felony false imprisonment.

Three girls — Hardcastle, Brittany Mayes, 17, and Mercades Nichols, 17 — also are charged with felony kidnapping, the sheriff’s office said. Judd said the girls drove Lindsay around and threatened to beat her again if she reported what occurred to law enforcement. Then they dropped her off at an intersection.

One of the teens, Stephen Schumaker, 18, of Lakeland, was booked into the Polk County Jail. He is free on $5,000 bail.

Because of their ages, the others are being held at the juvenile assessment center, the sheriff’s office said. Judd said he has asked prosecutors to charge all of them as adults.

All the girls who were arrested attend Mulberry High School, arrest reports say.

‘The Truth Will Come Out’

The attack occurred at the home of Nichols’ grandmother on Calendar Court West, Judd said. The grandmother had allowed Lindsay to stay with her and Nichols over spring break. She was at work during the beating. She was appalled upon learning what had happened, Judd said.

Schumaker’s father, Robert, has denied his son’s involvement, saying neighbors told the Schumakers that Stephen and the other boy, Zachary Ashley, 17, were not at the house acting as lookouts.

Ashley’s family declined to comment. However, Nichols’ mother, Christina Garcia, said Ashley’s mother was trying to obtain surveillance video from a convenience store to prove Ashley was at the store at the time of the beating.

Garcia also denied that Nichols beat Lindsay.

Lindsay “embarrassed these girls,” Garcia told News Channel 8. “She said she was going to kick their you-know-what’s,” and called them “slutty.”

Reached by phone, families of the other teenagers either declined to comment or said more details would be revealed.

“If it happened, it happened. We’ll have to see what takes place,” said Hardcastle’s grandfather, Charles Platt.

“We know what Brittany said and it’s a lot different than what’s being told,” said Mayes’ grandmother, Martha Proctor. “The truth will come out.”

Judd: Lindsay Didn’t Fight Back

Asked about the teens’ claims that they were not involved, sheriff’s spokeswoman Donna Wood said the investigation supported the charges.

Judd added that one of the boys stuck his head in from outside and told the girls to quiet down because neighbors could hear the fight.

Investigators reviewed the video frame-by-frame and found no evidence Lindsay tried to fight back, Judd said.

On the video, Lindsay stands up once Hardcastle stops hitting her and says, “You want me to leave, I’ll go home.”

A girl in a red T-shirt steps forward and punches her.

“No, you’re not leaving,” Hardcastle says, shoving Lindsay against a corner by the front door near glass shelves holding knickknacks.

“Don’t hit the shelves! Don’t hit the shelves!” can be heard in the background; the sheriff said the voice was that of Nichols.

Hardcastle and Kayla Hassell, 15, scream at Lindsay, asking what she doesn’t like about the other girls.

“It’s not fair, Brittni!” Lindsay yells.

“It’s perfectly fair! It’s one-on-one!” someone replies from off-camera.

“You have to fight back. Fight back!” Hardcastle yells, punching her again. “What, you gonna cry like a little girl?”

Someone off-camera — the sheriff’s office says it was Murphy — let the other girls know when the video was about to end.

“Seventeen seconds left,” the girl says as the blows continue. “Make it good.”

VIDEO:
http://www.wftv.com/video/15817645/index.html (Raw Video Footage) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu1SsAvRfCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-YDgAG6tCM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYvuZ7QoeeU (Shows a lot more beating footage)
SOURCE: http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/national/arti...ock_video/8406/

[aaayotiffany]

its disgusting to see how society has turned out.

[synatribe]

ridiculous. period.

[transcendentalis...]

One of my close friends for years did something similar to another girl, but instead of having her friends join in, they just kept the chick from leaving.

They didn't harm her permanently, though. She just skipped school until the bruises and cuts started healing.

imo, totally justified (in my friend's case), but I wouldn't have gone about it that way.

Permanent damage, though? If it doesn't heal, then that's just evidence.

[datass]

^what did the person your friend beat up do? how was it justified?

its f**king myspace, those girls should get over it instead of finding a way to kidnap the girl and beat her up. and why did the girl being beat up let them do that. hit them back, at least.

the criminal whatever woman on the 3rd video was amazing, i can't believe she supports those 8 teenagers for what they have done to the girl. she seems to be saying, unless there is some permanent physical damage, what they did should not have earned them some well deserved time in jail.

[illriginal]

Well they're charged with attempted murder right? Since 3 people or more fighting 1 person is automatically labeled as attempted murder. I wish people would gang up on me =\ I need more practice.



As for the society... what do you expect? America loves gangsters, America loves action, America in general... loves violence.

[mizzkewl06]

this is horrifying and sad. the fact that this happened over someone talking sh!t online is just baffleing.

[Luna5]

I think it was disgusting. I'm glad the girls got caught.

[coconutter]

they deserve a very very long time in prison

that's ridiculous, damaging someone's health for LIFE.

[synatribe]

and to think they did this to get famous off youtube ......

what a shame

[tokyo-rose]

This is completely ridiculous.

MySpace ruins lives.

[illriginal]

This is completely ridiculous.

MySpace ruins lives.

Yeah Myspace was a good invention.... but it seems now that it's one of the worst things that has ever existed in society. Above that, FBI has Myspace under investigation because apparently... there's a drug ring goin on. Deals being made via myspace lol

[synatribe]

Yeah Myspace was a good invention.... but it seems now that it's one of the worst things that has ever existed in society. Above that, FBI has Myspace under investigation because apparently... there's a drug ring goin on. Deals being made via myspace lol

ooo no wonder they are so high on security now

[Be-Faithful]

OMG I CANT BREATH

da girlz realy dont know how to fiiiiiiight

[illriginal]

ooo no wonder they are so high on security now

Yeah to make it worst... it's not even national it's national and international.

[rnicron]

One of my close friends for years did something similar to another girl, but instead of having her friends join in, they just kept the chick from leaving.

They didn't harm her permanently, though. She just skipped school until the bruises and cuts started healing.

imo, totally justified (in my friend's case), but I wouldn't have gone about it that way.

Permanent damage, though? If it doesn't heal, then that's just evidence.

HOW THE FUCK IS THAT JUSTIFIED?

[ChangeofHeart]

Terrible, but this happends all the time. I don't see the big deal.

[foxx]

This might happen all the time, but they don't videotape it and put it on the internet.
they were pretty much guaranteed to get caught.
She got a concussion, blindness in one eye, and partial deafness in one ear?
That is totally wrong. I can't believe it.
And over MYSPACE?
Even worse.
Just, horrible.

[hypnotique]

Yeah Myspace was a good invention.... but it seems now that it's one of the worst things that has ever existed in society. Above that, FBI has Myspace under investigation because apparently... there's a drug ring goin on. Deals being made via myspace lol

I know.
This is what we get when we let stupid 16 year old girls on the f**king internet.

(I know not ALL 16 year old girls are stupid.)

[illriginal]

I know.
This is what we get when we let stupid 16 year old girls on the f**king internet.

(I know not ALL 16 year old girls are stupid.)

Or when thugs and drug dealers get access to the internet. I guess they figured that their phones were tapped and they could make all their deals inside of their home where it's private.

[NismoYo]

its all myspace fault i tell ya...

[liloandstitchx3]

They wanted fame; they got it.

"When we had them in custody at the station, they were laughing about it, saying, 'Well, I guess this spring break we won't go to the beach," Judd told The Early Show. "One of the suspects asked the detective, 'Am I going to get to go to cheerleading practice tomorrow?"

"They showed absolutely no remorse at all," Judd said.

The rest is here.

It's absolutely ridiculous.

[LoveToMySilas]

Thats just really sad. I hope that girl is alright now. I'm glad those girls got caught.

[markmejia]

Those girls are fucked in the head. Permanent hearing loss? That's just awful.

[anzbex]

OMFG as a mother i wanna slap those little b%tches!!! I can't believe that whatever this girl had said over the net could be that bad as to deserve 6 girls ganging up on her!! Guess the old saying "truth hurts" must have really affected them.Nothing as small as teenage gossip deserves this sort of retaliation.Teenage bimbos that wanted to make a tough name for themselves.Omg they can't even fight properly...The chick with the pink pants on is such an easy target,sticking her chin out.lmfao!!!!

[Heathasm]

i hope that they go to jail for a long time . . .

[jesusisthebestth...]

this is really ridiculous. when did things get this bad? im 20 years old, i never had problems with other females in school and even if i did i would never have thought to lock them in a room & beat the crap out of them with 5 of my other friends. im glad they're being charged with false imprisonment...they should get a lot more charges, too.

under no circumstances does any individual have the right to falsely imprison and beat another person. what is society teaching these kids?

[Jinny]

NEWS


8 Teenagers charged as ADULTS < click

ADULTS. ADULTS!

BARTOW - During an appearance in adult court, a judge today set bail for the teenagers charged with beating a Lakeland cheerleader.

Each was held on at least $30,000 bond.

Prosecutors had decided on Thursday to charge seven Polk County teens -- accused of pummeling a 16-year-old and videotaping it for YouTube and MySpace -- as adults. An eighth teen is 18 years old and already is considered an adult under the law.

Today's appearance was held in a small courtroom at the Central County Jail in Bartow and shown on a live video feed to a judge in her courtroom.


During the session, none of the teenagers spoke, although they showed a range of emotions from being upset to laughing and giggling. During her part of the hearing, Brittany Mayes, who faces a kidnapping charge which is punishable by up to life in prison, tilted her head with a somber expression on her face. She also faces charges of battery and tampering with a witness.

All eight face charges of battery and kidnapping, punishable by up to life in prison. They are Mercades Nichols, 17; April Cooper, 14; Brittni Hardcastle, 17; Kayla Hassell, 15; Brittany Mayes, 17; Cara Murphy, 16; Zachary Ashley, 17; and Stephen Schumaker, 18.

Nichols, Hardcastle and Mayes face an additional charge of tampering with a witness, which carries up to a five-year prison term.

All of the teens are from Lakeland except Hassell, who is from Mulberry.

They were laughing?

Well, I'm so happy that they're being charged as ADULTS. I hope they spend their lives in prison.. well, the article says that it can lead up to life in prison

I can't believe one of the girls is only 14. That's even younger than me..

[illriginal]

Did you hear>?!!
Dr. Phil bailed out one of the girls... just for his personal gain by interviewing her.

[clarity]

I heard about this. It's really stupid how far people will go now just because someone talks smack about you.

[illriginal]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvagSgm...D4H8GwD900Q5P00

Dr. Phil' Staff Bails Out Jailed Teen

Edit: Jinny completely beat me to the punch.
Fail again.

[Comptine]

One of my close friends for years did something similar to another girl, but instead of having her friends join in, they just kept the chick from leaving.

They didn't harm her permanently, though. She just skipped school until the bruises and cuts started healing.

imo, totally justified (in my friend's case), but I wouldn't have gone about it that way.

Permanent damage, though? If it doesn't heal, then that's just evidence.

No way can what the girl did be justified for a beating. I'm assuming they are around your age, which means they are teenagers, which means by now (unless they are stupid though from this story they do sound it) they should know that you do not REACT WITH VIOLENCE AT THE LEVEL like that for anything.

I hope those teens get charged as adults and get LONG sentences. They should know better.

[illriginal]

This makes me want to curb stomp every single one of those lil whores.

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&vid=5b...3&GT1=28114

[dustbunny]

I don't quite understand why the girl didn't defend herself. There were times in the video where she was just standing next to that shelf NEAR the door, with one girl yelling at her, occasionally hitting her. Had I been the victim, I would've wreaked as much havoc as possible by throwing things from the shelf. Most importantly though, I seriously would have just hit back, the victim could have just landed one punch into a face and thrown the girl into other people and FLED OUT THE DOOR. she was right next to it.

I really don't get why she didn't retaliate or try harder to get out of there, maybe she was in too much pain or too injured already...

[illriginal]

I don't quite understand why the girl didn't defend herself. There were times in the video where she was just standing next to that shelf NEAR the door, with one girl yelling at her, occasionally hitting her. Had I been the victim, I would've wreaked as much havoc as possible by throwing things from the shelf. Most importantly though, I seriously would have just hit back, the victim could have just landed one punch into a face and thrown the girl into other people and FLED OUT THE DOOR. she was right next to it.

I really don't know why she didn't retaliate or try harder to get out of there, maybe she was in too much pain or too injured already.

I would have picked the weakest link and destroyed her. Regardless of the others beatin on me.

[tokyo-rose]

I'm relieved that the girls are being charged as adults. It's just unbelievable what they did.

[illriginal]

I'm relieved that the girls are being charged as adults. It's just unbelievable what they did.

Yeah but sadly, Dr. Phil bailed one of them out. And they should be tried as adults, that's attempted murder, fawk the bullshit.

[queen]

i lol'ed when i heard on the news that they could face up to life in prison, but then i felt bad 'cause the entire situation is just disheartening.

[transcendentalis...]

you do not REACT WITH VIOLENCE AT THE LEVEL like that for anything.

I think temporary and permanent damage are on completely different levels.

[DoubleJ]

I don't quite understand why the girl didn't defend herself. There were times in the video where she was just standing next to that shelf NEAR the door, with one girl yelling at her, occasionally hitting her. Had I been the victim, I would've wreaked as much havoc as possible by throwing things from the shelf. Most importantly though, I seriously would have just hit back, the victim could have just landed one punch into a face and thrown the girl into other people and FLED OUT THE DOOR. she was right next to it.

I really don't get why she didn't retaliate or try harder to get out of there, maybe she was in too much pain or too injured already...

In the video going around, the girl had just woken up from a concussion. The sheriff said it himself, that people didn't get to see the whole video.

[Relentless]

Oh, that's really good. I'm glad they are being charged as adults, they deserve it for actually damaging that one girl's life. It's so pathetic how they giggle and laugh..

And wtf, Dr. Phil. Why in the hell did he do that for? Does he not know the permanent injuries that caused her, as well as her suffering and pain!?

He's trying to be like Oprah....... -.-"

[sassysissy]

well all i can say is if i would have walked in and caught them myself i would have went to jail cause there is some girls who would have had their asses wiped.. i have a young daughter and this stupid shit scares the hell out of me.. thats exactly why she takes defense classes and will till i feel she can handle herself completely.. i want to see them get the book threw at them totally maybe that will wipe that smug ass smile off their faces.... thank-you for reading sheelah from indiana

[Comptine]

I think temporary and permanent damage are on completely different levels.

No, it's not. Violence is violence. Assault is assault. Just because it didn't scar doesn't mean it's not illegal or stupid.

I don't quite understand why the girl didn't defend herself. There were times in the video where she was just standing next to that shelf NEAR the door, with one girl yelling at her, occasionally hitting her. Had I been the victim, I would've wreaked as much havoc as possible by throwing things from the shelf. Most importantly though, I seriously would have just hit back, the victim could have just landed one punch into a face and thrown the girl into other people and FLED OUT THE DOOR. she was right next to it.

I really don't get why she didn't retaliate or try harder to get out of there, maybe she was in too much pain or too injured already...

She tried to reason with them. She said, "You don't like me, okay. You want me to get out? I'll leave. I'll leave right now."

She did not fight back either because she was disorientated, in pain, or just didn't want to stoop to their level.

Because she didn't fight back at all, the attackers are facing a heavier sentence and they also come off looking like bigger jackasses.

And wtf, Dr. Phil. Why in the hell did he do that for? Does he not know the permanent injuries that caused her, as well as her suffering and pain!?

From what I understand, a producer went down to Florida to track the story and the producer's assistant went off on his on and bailed out the girl without letting the show or network know. The producer's assistant, who's from my university (Boston University), acted without authority and was "rogue". Still, I don't really like Dr. Phil.

[Rachel]

I think temporary and permanent damage are on completely different levels.

Just because physical wounds heal doesn't mean that the emotional ones do.



Betch.

[Sandraaa]

I think temporary and permanent damage are on completely different levels.

WTF? You're f**king out of your mind! I hope someone beats you up which'll lead to you having ONE eye. Dumbf**k.

This is f**king pathetic! What the hell is happening to our world?

[mipadi]

I like how the original post includes links to the footage. Since, you know, spreading the footage all over the Internet was the point of the attack in the first place.

[Elba]

Wow, poor girl. I hope those kids get the punishment they deserve.

[Beatrice47]

My heart sank a bit the day I saw this on the news. Not only is this something that disturbs me deeply, it takes me to a place I used to know. Being picked on as a kid, I could fully understand the context of what this poor, innocent girl endured. It's gut wrenching to actually think about really. I hope these teenagers are faced with life altering decisions after they are placed in prison for a long, long time. They deserve everything they get!