'He could've been killed': Trent Lehrkamp's best friend calls for justice as bullied teen moved out of ICU
BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA: Trent Lehrkamp, the teenager who was dropped off at a hospital barely breathing and with a lethal blood alcohol level, has been moved out of the ICU. His best friend revealed that the 19-year-old is currently onto the next stage in his treatment.
As Lehrkamp recuperates, investigators are trying to piece together what led to his predicament. They believe he has been through this kind of brutal treatment multiple times. Documents from Glynn County Police helped consolidate a timeline of events leading up to last Tuesday, March 21.
ALSO READ
Multiple incidents
According to First Coast News, which obtained the police documents, Lehrkamp needed stitches in early March for a cut over his left eye which his father believes he received while hanging out with the same perpetrators. Then, on March 17, the teenager reportedly came home covered in "WD-40, vomit, paint, glue, egg yolk, and spray paint." Four days later, Lehrkemp was driven by three teenagers to the hospital, barely breathing and with an alcohol level of 0.464. However, the group left before the police arrived. "I'm just glad he survived from this," Lehrkamp's best friend, who wasn't identified, told First Coast News. "He was close. He could've gotten killed. I hope those kids, they get charged."
Suspects identified
Police have identified all the teens spotted in social media footage over the past week. They interviewed the victim and others, as well as obtained a search warrant for the house where the party was held. However, they haven't announced any arrests thus far. During a press conference on Wednesday, March 29, Glynn County Interim Police Chief O'Neal Jackson was asked if the parents of the perpetrators could be charged with crimes. "So we're not taking anything off the table. We're looking at this investigation from a holistic point of view," Jackson responded. "Not only the parents that the home this occurred in, but we're also looking into where the alcohol was obtained from, as well as any type of narcotics."
Vigil and fundraiser
During a vigil for the teen on Monday night, March 27, Glynn County Commissioner Bo Clark said more information is coming. "Bringing our county together, healing our county, and getting answers. That's what people want, and that's what we're going to get in the coming days," Clark said. Meanwhile, Lehrkamp's family has raised more than $110,000 via GoFundMe to cover his medical expenses. His best friend also revealed that they had set up a PO Box with the following address:
Trent Lehrkamp
PO Box 20111
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Happening right now, a crowd is outside of a Brunswick hospital with candles and signs to support Trenton Lehrkamp. Trent is still hospitalized tonight following a brutal beating by teens at a house party on St. Simons Island. #justicefortrent #trentonlehrkamp pic.twitter.com/hRyImrqGrK
— Brittany Kleinpeter (@brittanyreport) March 28, 2023
Police investigation
The District Attorney's Office said the investigation is still active and urged the public not to assume social media posts as facts of the case. Meanwhile, Katie Baasen, spokesperson for Glynn County, said in a release on Monday that the "Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) have conducted interviews with the involved parties and obtained statements to further the investigation based on established facts." The FBI has also joined the investigation.