Friday, July 6, 2007

It's Stories Like This That Make Me Question Humanity

I just read about this, and it made me sick to my stomach. Of course it happened here, in Florida. Grrrreat. That kid will never, ever be the same.

WTF Are People Thinking?!?

Police: Woman forced into sex with son

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

"WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Two teenagers were accused of gang raping a woman and forcing her to have sex with her 12-year-old son, who police say was then beaten and had cleaning solution poured into his eyes.

Authorities allege Avion Lawson, 14, and Nathan Walker, 16,

were among a group of about 10 masked suspects who forced their way into the woman's apartment in a crime-ridden housing project the night of June 18.

The two were being held without bail Friday on suspicion of armed sexual battery by multiple perpetrators, sexual performance by a child, armed home invasion and aggravated battery. Both were arrested this week, but formal charges had not been filed.

"Any rape case is horrible but this takes it to another level, something you can't think of even in your worst dreams," police spokesman Ted White said.

According to the police report, a man knocked on the woman's door at about 9 p.m. and told her he had a flat tire. The mother and son, whom police have not identified, went outside and were ambushed by a group of gun-wielding suspects.

The victims told police they were forced back into their home and beaten and sexually assaulted. According to authorities, the men raped, sodomized and beat the woman, then forced her 12-year-old son to participate in the assault at gunpoint, making him have sex with his mother in front of them.

The boy was then beaten and had numerous household cleaning liquids poured into his eyes, according to the police report.

The suspects also stole a few hundred dollars worth of cash and jewelry, White said.

White said more arrests were pending, but he would not say if authorities had identified additional suspects. The teens in custody were not cooperating and both have denied involvement, police said.

But DNA evidence in a condom found in the victims' home linked Lawson to the crime, police said. Investigators also say they found a palm print belonging to Walker at the scene.

The victims did not suffer life-threatening injuries and have been released from the hospital, White said.

"They're going through the county victim services for counseling," he said.

Lawson lived in Dunbar Village, the hardscrabble project where the attack occurred. Walker was apparently visiting a friend there, White said.

Authorities believe the suspects all knew each other from the neighborhood, but they don't think they knew the victims directly.

A call to Lawson's public defender was not immediately returned. It was not known if Walker has an attorney.

(This version CORRECTS a version that said the teens had been charged; they have been arrested but not formally charged.)"


Combine that with the dramatic increase in crime in Orlando, FL(the nearest "big city"), and it makes me consider moving out of this state in the near future.

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