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A jury found a south Florida teenager guilty of attempted murder on Monday for the severe beating of a middle-school girl in 2010 that left her with permanent brain damage, rejecting his claim of insanity.
Wayne Treacy, 17, faces up to 50 years in prison for the attack on then-15-year-old Josie Lou Ratley near Deerfield Beach Middle School.
Jurors reached the decision after about four hours of deliberations.
Ratley, who was stomped in the head, underwent multiple surgeries to relieve pressure on her brain and spent more than 40 days in intensive care at a Broward County hospital after the assault.
The big question was whether the jury would believe Treacy, then 15, was not aware of his actions at the time of the assault.
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Prosecutor Maria Schneider argued the defendant knew what he was doing and presented evidence that Treacy sought out Ratley and threatened to kill her.
"I'm satisfied because justice was done but this is another one of those cases where it's very difficult to be joyful under any circumstances," Schneider said, according to NBCMiami.com. "We have a young lady whose life will never be the same, will never be normal, and we have a young man who has some serious issues who clearly is facing a very very significant and serious sentence."
Treacy's defense attorney, Russell Williams, argued for support of a claim of insanity, saying Treacy was in a dissociative episode during the attack.
"Obviously I'm disappointed, I think a key piece of evidence didn't come into evidence, which was the video interrogation, and I'm hoping that on appeal the appellate court sees that and the conviction gets reversed and we do this again," Williams said, NBCMiami.com reported.
The video, Williams said, could shed more light on Treacy's troubled state of mind about two hours after the attack. Early in the video, Treacy calls himself a "monster" and says he could not remember committing the attack.
Williams said he plans to appeal the verdict.
Read original story on NBCMiami.com
Authorities say Ratley had sent Treacy text messages about the suicide of his brother.
The defense told jurors Treacy was treated for five months after seeing his brother's body hanging from a tree, and that the messages sent him into a state where he couldn't control his actions, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
"But you know what, again, there are millions and millions of people who experience horrific things, one horrific thing, and don’t go out and kill others," Schneider told jurors.
Experts on both sides agreed Treacy has PTSD. But prosecution psychiatrists testified that Treacy clearly knew right from wrong and understood the consequences of his actions.
Schneider said Treacy sent text messages to his friends saying he was going to kill the girl by snapping her neck and stomping on her skull. Treacy wrote out a will before the attack, the prosecutor said.
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The Sun-Sentinel reported Treacy attacked Ratley at a bus stop near the school, knocking her to the ground, smashing her head on the concrete and stomping on her with steel-toe boots.
The assault ended when a teacher tackled him.
Kayla Manson, 13 at the time, was arrested for pointing Ratley out to Treacy. She will stand trail in August for being an accessory to attempted murder, The Associated Press reported.
Treacy has been held without bond since his arrest.
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Aw I'm sure he was just "standing his ground," right? I can't wait to see the Florida Zimmerbots try to rally support around this thug too.
Funny thing about insanity claims. They usually don't work if you only act like you are crazy AFTER the crime is committed. The fact that all of his actions before the crime show that he was lucid and planning all of this is a clear case of premeditation. Even if the kid stripped naked and spread feces on the walls of his cell it doesn't mean he was crazy during the time of the crime.
The girl didn't have a gun, so this thug didn't get shot.
I think the distinction between insanity and premeditation is a curious one: you mean if you plan a murder of someone you aren't crazy? Really?? Isn't anyone who plans to take another life just plain crazy in the first place? That said, I am not excusing this kid either way. He deserves to be put away for these terrible actions, whether or not he was provoked.
The other point I want to raise is, while I dont think it's fair to blame parents for everything their offspring do, one has to wonder - what kind of parents did this kid have that raise one kid who kills himself by hanging and the other stomps a girls head in? You have to wonder what was going on behind the scenes in that family??
You're comparing this to the Martin case? You have just proven....beyond a shadow of a doubt.. that you and those who think like you are brain dead idiots.
It'a actually scary to think you and those who think like you walk among us. Get a brain fool.
Some of his pictures looks like an evil Harry Potter.
Eventually it will be realized that if parents could be held accountable and responsible, the relatively newer practice of convicting minors in adult courts would never have happened. (The first conflicting posts will be lectures about how he is already 17 years old. It just so happens that this country agreed upon a universal adult age of 18 years old. If you think this is too old, then what? My statement is still valid wherever the age of consent falls, but many 'cans of worms will be opened if that age is set much lower . . .)
Too f'in bad....execute little turd!
fgh-1038628
The parents are responsible but, too many these days refuse to accept and honor that responsibility, leading to incidences like this.
They should get the same sentence as the their child.
Sane @ 17 --
Kayla Manson was Treacy's new girlfriend at the time, and she had borrowed Josie's phone and sent him a text earlier in the day and the incident escalated from there.
In older news reports, it is claimed that Treacy had sent text messages to his friends saying he was going to find who sent him the text about his deceased brother and "snap her neck and stomp on her head". By the time he found Manson at the Middle School, I can only imagine he was in a rage, and she probably realized he was going to hurt Josie when she pointed her out at the bus stop.
Holding parents responsible to the extent of prosecution again plays into the typical anti-personal responsibility attitude in this country. Unless the parents ordered the kid to do what he did, or knew what he was going to do and did nothing to intervene, this kid alone must answer for his deeds. My mother was psychologically troubled, neglectful, and drug dependent. My home life was chaotic. I still knew what was right and wrong. My home life didn't prepare me as well as a good home would have to make the best choices in matters concerning friends, education & career path, etc, but I still had a clear understanding of the basics of right and wrong - and the consequences for failing to do what is right. This kid has no excuse, and his parents, no matter how competent or incompetent, were not there beating this girl nearly to death.
Up until the 1960's, parents WERE legally liable for the actions of their children - not so much in a literal sense, but in a legal sense. In those days, children were treated by the courts as children until they reached the age of 21. They were held accountable for their actions in a manner that society accepted as reasonable and logical - in the juvenile court. It was well known in legal circles, as well as in scientific circles, that a child could not truly fathom the consequences of what they were doing, nor could they process their emotions in a completely rational and logical way. Therefore, they were held accountable in the same manner that a mentally retarded adult was held responsible - NOT in the same manner a crazy adult was treated. They were still held accountable for their actions - as juveniles and they were punished as children until they became adults.
Sometime in the 50's or 60's, people lost sight of the idea that children were children and should be treated as such. Especially in Florida. The state of Florida has tried more children under the age of 14 as adults than all the other states combined, I would guess. Sadly, this goes against every grain of a civilized society's being.
Ask yourself, at 15 how much were you really aware of in your life other than how others treated you, how you looked, and who your boyfriend/girlfriend was?? We all seem to forget the difficult passage into adulthood that MOST of us had, and while we may have made it through without an event such as this, we also did not have the proliferation of influences encouraging us to take adult-like actions and views on life as a whole. And we had the influence of our parents - usually both of them - who would tolerate little BS or misbehaving. If we got into a fight, it was a fist-fight and nobody brought guns or knives. If we got our butts kicked, we didn't go home and get a gun or a big brother - we dealt with our loss. We learned pretty early on that our parents would stand beside us if we were in the right, and behind us with a belt if we were in the wrong - that they would let us experience life and learn so long as the parties involved were all playing on the same level.
This is not an attempt to justify the boy's criminal actions. It is simply my own way of asking, "Where did we go so wrong???"
But hold the parents accountable??? God forbid!! We took the ultimate say and control of children out of their parents' hands when we as a society decided to let the government raise our children - so who is responsible and accountable in the end?? You are. I am. We all are.
Sane--you have more sense than either the prosecutor or most of the commenters here. BTW the first requirement of a prosecutor is that you must be a moron and see everything in black and white absolutes. Look at Nancy Grace...a perfect example of human detritus if ever there was one.
"was not aware of his actions at the time of the assault."
Seriously, at 15 and not aware.
" argued for support of a claim of insanity, saying Treacy was in a dissociative episode during the attack. "
Dissociative episode is now justified for beating up people, and a chick in this incident. Really? He needs to be locked up, and Lockup the parents too.
He needs to fry, period.
For the good of society, kill this kid, before he reproduces or kills again.
Remember, these children are our future.
Then our future looks pretty dim!
If these kids our are future, I think I'm going to invest accordingly....in a remote cabin in the woods, some seeds, about two tons of rice, a shotgun, and as many shells as I can fit in the trunk of my car.
What is the point of the juvenile system if it is never utilized? Why is a 15 year old charged as an adult? I don't agree with what he did, but I also do not feel sorry for the female. She triggered him, she instigated it. Either way, both parties lose here. Sad.
Bet you think rape is a womans fault....you disgusting waste of human DNA.
No, I don't, phaggot. I clearly said what he did was not justified. BUT, I am saying that if the little brat had not triggered him, this would have never happened. Is that too difficult for you to comprehend?
Eric: All it said in this news article was that she sent him text messages about the suicide. Not once did it say what those text messages were; either good or bad. So she deserves to get her head stomped in, and have permanent brain damage. Sorry, you don't feel sorry that she got her head stomped in and has brain damage.
Also, he's charged as an adult because he attempted murder. That's clearly obvious; adult actions deserve adult consequences. At the age of 15 you know what is right and what is wrong; on top of that texting your friends that you are going to "snap her neck and stomp her skull in" shows pre-meditation.
Please don't comment on a story you don't know any-phucking-thing about. A number of the texts she sent to him were released to the public. Go ahead and do a little searching on Google and you'll find them. What she texted him would have pushed most people over the edge.
i guess eric believes in the boogey man too if he believes everything he reads on line
groucheeoleman, EricH432, you're each suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
...
Amanda018, note that rule.
ADULT ACTIONS - are exactly that - the actions of a mature adult. In every sense of the word, an adult is a person who has reached the age of accountability - or the age of majority (18 in most states). A teenager may take great pride in ACTING and looking like an adult, but is NOT an adult, and therefore should not be treated as an adult who has had the advantage of years more experience, is more stable emotionally, etc. etc. etc.
A 15 year-old boy has a great deal of testosterone - as well as other hormones - surging through his body - and not by his choice. That alone would be enough to make him incapable of controlling his emotions - and thus, his actions - fully as an adult is expected to do.
There are a lot of 15 year-olds (and younger) who try to act like adults in other ways - like drinking, doing dope, getting pregnant, etc. etc. etc. - are you saying they should all be charged as adults???
@Dean: Last time I checked, getting pregnant wasn't a criminal offense. You'd be charging a pregnant girl under 18 for what exactly? However, attempting to kill someone is a criminal offense in this country. Your logic is a bit faulty.
EricH432 So by saying what said it is a good thing I am not near you, otherwise you would have triggered a beat down like you have never experienced in your life and by your own words it would be your fault. You as well this other waste of flesh both need your heads examined them held underwater for 5 minutes.
How about I come stomp your brains out for being a retard and then I just claim that your post angered me to the point of insanity. Then on that news report somebody as ignorant as you will say that you had it coming.
@ ready2change: In every instance, a teenage pregnancy is proof positive of sexual activity - whether or not that activity was lawful (consensual and legal). Most states have set an "age of consent" at which a person may lawfully have consensual sex. If a teenager becomes pregnant prior to that marker, it is evidence of unlawful sexual activity - whether on the part of the impregnator or the pregnant party, or both. Faulty logic overlooks the unlawful act by which the teenager became pregnant and looks only at the end result... What crime would you charge a pregnant girl with? No, it is not a crime to BE pregnant, but logic dictates that to become pregnant, one must participate - willingly or unwillingly - in sexual intercourse. If that pregnancy results from willful sexual activity prior to the age of consent in one's state, then it was a crime for that person to BECOME pregnant. It would be wholly within the law for that person to be charged with unlawful sexual activity, among other things.
At 15 - I think you can stop blaming the parents - he thought he was a bad a** - now he is going to find out.
There is a point you just can not control them anymore...because they know more than you do...and as a parent you do your best and hope they grow out of the stupidity...some don't...they just become Bubba's best friend...and the kids today are way out of whack from when I was a kid...sure there were fights...bloody noses...scuffed knuckle’s...black eyes…
But no killing…no beatings till the other one couldn’t move…that’s the difference…and most of the time you can’t tell which kid it will be – until it is too late.
But at 15 – you know better…I would think even a few years before that…unless you have been conditioned to be that way…and most of the time – that’s just not the case…most of the time – it’s just a bad seed that didn’t grow right…
He ain't my friend so I wish you would stop picking on bubba's we are not all in prison. A lot of Bubba's work hard every day, we don't rape, kill or molest kids, you sick pig, why don't you invent youself a brain, take RESPECT 101. We also take care of our families. I bet inventors are stuck in basement playing with themselves while looking at kiddy porn, like it!!!!
Wow Bubba - nothing personal...
I like Bubba Watson!
You'r right nothing personal! It's just a name see???? Ha! Ha! got ya!!!!
The point where his parents could no longer control him was likely about the same time he started in pre-school and his teachers began to tell him what his parents could and could not do to discipline him. By kindergarten or first grade, he most likely reached the point where he told his parents if they ever disciplined (spanked, grounded, etc) him again, he would tell his teachers they had beat him with a ball bat. He was probably running the streets by the age of 8, staying out as late as he wanted, because he knew no matter what he did, his parents couldn't touch him. He would be no different than a large number of urban kids his age, if the above is true. The same kids who join gangs, make videos of other kids getting beaten up, and the like. Show me a 12 year-old urban kid who respects their parents today and I'll show you the next super-duper sensational hit actor/actress in Hollywood.
Problem is, they are still kids until they reach the age of majority - and even then, their minds are still not fully developed until about the age of 25. You know a lot of things at the age of 15 - in fact, you think you know everything at that age - it's only when you're older and you look back that you realize just how dumb and immature you were at 15. Too bad we don't give everyone the same benefit of doubt.
Cut off his balls and hang this muther effer from the highest tree, nothing else needs to be discussed here.
I really don't think the 13 year old girl should be facing accessory charges. That's just ridiculous. Just for pointing the other girl out? How would she know that this kid would be capable of doing what he did? No matter what he said. Because kids say a lot of crazy things and never carry them out. I know I did. Nothing like that, but still. I've also heard a lot of crazy things that were said and never carried out.
I remember instigators, like this 13 year old. They would get fights started, and stand back and watch. She helped and now must pay the piper.
I don't think that a 13 year old could fathom what was going to happen and I didn't read anywhere that she instigated it. It said she just pointed the other girl out. Fights at school are a common occurrence and mainly consist of pushing. If she should be held responsible then so should all the other kids that were no doubt gathered around probably yelling and taunting as well.
But you think a 15 year old could commit attempted murder? Dont see your reasoning gibson.
Mr. Burns. I personally don't believe he should be tried as an adult for the simple fact the law mandates you're not an adult until you're 18, but that being said There is a huge maturity gap between 13 and 15. I know I was much different between 13 and 15. I had a part time job at 15 and was driving my family around when I got my permit and let me pose a question to you. Let's say hypothetically you had a 15 year old and a 13 year old child and you left them home alone, who would be the one looking after the other?
Typical American violence, kill what you can get away with because it is *cool*
The appropriate punishment would be a sentence where this young man would have to serve (under close supervision) as this girl caregiver for the rest of her life and upon her death he would be remanded to serve a life sentence in a prison.
All this IM/texting/social networking BS. Young peoples' lives were so much simpler when all they could do was pass notes.
I blame Al Gore, the inventor of the internet (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA), that demon Bill Gates, Lucifer Mark Suckerberg and Satan himself who invented the cell phone.
Bubba Watson will win the British Open.
Wayne looks rather wimpy. I wonder if Waynie (rhymes with weenie) would have had a "dissociative episode" if Kayla had pointed out a girl built more along the lines of a Serena Williams. hahahaha
He may have to resort to a lot of "dissociating" in prison.
Only 50 years?
I get a kick out of these A-Holes here, saying that it is the parent's fault that this kid did this. To you who think & say that, your full of crap!! As a parent, you try to teach your child from day one what is right & what is wrong. You show them over & over, through out life or however long that they will listen to you. As a parent you hope they choose the right part. But, it is their choice on what path to follow. The good path or the bad path, it's their choice. If they choose the bad path, then it is on their heads & no others, including the parents.
This little turd should fry!
this is the original texts that started this whole thing: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37312533/ns/today-today_news/t/texts-preceded-teen-girls-beating-revealed/
and this one: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/TheLaw/text-rage-leads-alleged-brutal-teen-beating/story?id=10148892#.UAV9MGHRvQI
He isn't little boy blue, he tresspassed on a school property he wasn't a student at wearing steel toed boots.
He found and crushed the skull of another child like an animal attempting to kill her outright, if set free he will continue to kill for any precieved offense possible.
Free him and move your family to another state, or dispose of him now and sleep well knowing this junior nut bar is locked safely behind bars.
I have to agree. That said, what was that little monster of a girl thinking by texting those words to a very vulnerable character. The boy's brother had just killed himself.
This is a dark family either way you look at it.
Most kids at the age of 10 know the diffrence between right and wrong. The juvenile justice sysytem is a joke. Here in Florida anyway. They put these role models of the future in a kids jail for an extended period of time and they learn to be better criminals by the time they get out. Some get the message, but it appears that children today think they're adults by the age of 13 and can do whatever they want with no disipline. More of these children need to be charged as adults for their crimes. They know exactly what they are doing. All the facts are not present to this case, but regardless if the girl did something it surely didn't warrant this boy stomping her head in the ground. There are two sides to every story, and it would be nice if they presented that with this story. Of cousre then we wouldn't have that media bias to debate on.
Holy @!$%#! Are they really going to prosecute a scared 13 year old girl for pointing out someone else when this boy may have beaten her to death as well in his obviously detached state if she had not?! This country is a piece of @!$%#!
What did his parents do to help him following the dead of his brother? While I do not place all the blame on these parents, they should have know that this boy was in trouble and gotten him some help BEFORE this incident. I do not believe that PTSD would be a valid defense in this case...he still knew right from wrong. That said, this boy needs to get some serious jail.
As to the little girl who "helped" by pointing out the victim, there must be more to it than is conveyed in this article. There must be some evidence that she knew what he was going to do, but I believe that they may have a hard time convicting her...people have a hard time convicting 13-15 year old girls for violent crimes where they (the girl) are not the actual person who inflicts the damage.
Eric: UR a certified bird brain. Nothing this girl did justified this kid beating her into a permanent life long vegetable. I certainly hope that he gets the max which because of his young age might be only thirty years. Then, he will be out at 45 and become a drunk and go back in for some other violent crime.
Looks like the wrong family member hung himself. I hope he gets his head bashed in while serving time.
I understand now how lynch mobs are formed and how stuff like the Holocaust happened, because people are violent and vengeful and feel someone else's bad behavior justifies how they act in return. I'm referring to BOTH the teenager AND some of the people posting on here.
Some of the stuff I've read on here. The only thing holding a large part of the American people from being like the Muslim countries where they stone people to death, cut their hands off or shoot women in the back of the head for adultery, is the rule of law.
Sorry for her, but you don't talk sh*t about a kid's dead brother. This kid obviously snapped and the idea of prosecuting this case as an adult crime is ludicrous. Obviously the girl should not have had to suffer a near death attack for her heartless putdown, but this kid was clearly in an agitated state and her comment amounted to throwing a lit match into a full tank of gas. Predictably, he exploded.