Cops: Who Captured "Bogus As Hell" Beating?
Victim heard screaming "you're burning my head!"
Updated 5:13 PM CST, Mon, Jun 8, 2009
A cell phone camera captured the graphic and violent beating of Mercedes Michaels. She is kicked, her hair is cut off and she is burned with a cigarette lighter in a suburban Sauk Village park Tuesday.
"You're burning my head!" screams Michaels.
Now police want to know who captured the images but did not report it. His voice is heard on video saying "That's bogus as hell," during the attack.
Marcella Castillo, 17, and Sarah Kraft, 17, were charged as adults with aggravated battery and appeared in Markham's Cook County Circuit Court Saturday. The judge set bail at $75,000 for Kraft, who prosecutors say instigated the attack. Castillo's bail was set at $25,000. Two other juveniles will likely be charged in connection with the beating, police said.
"This is senseless," Michael's mother, Cathy Mendez said outside the courthouse. "My daughter's scarred."
Prosecutors didn't explain why Michaels was attacked. Mendez said her daughter borrowed Kraft's car, it ran out of gas and was impounded. Mendez said she offered to pay to get the vehicle back. She also said there was a subsequent argument between Kraft and Michaels over a boy.
The video was first posted Friday on myfoxchicago.com [click to watch].
First Published: Jun 6, 2009 7:12 AM CST
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