Indiana 12-year-olds arrested for torturing girl of same age with lit cigarettes at sleepover
LOGANSPORT, INDIANA: A minor girl was attacked at a sleepover by two 12-year-old girls, who tortured her by burning her with cigarettes, shaving her head, and sitting on top of her to prevent her from breathing. The victim is also 12 years old. Last week, she was dropped off for a sleepover with the other two girls in Logansport between 4:30 pm and 5 pm. The two minor girls have been arrested.
The victim's family said that part of the brutal attack was captured on camera and shared on social media. The names of the suspects and the victim have not been revealed due to their age. "From the stuff that I’ve learned at this point during the investigation, it is very sensitive. It is what I would consider severe,” police Sgt Dan Frye told Fox 59. “What the juveniles have been arrested for at this point are different charges related to battery, and anything that you could look at that goes along with that.” Frye added, “It’s very significant, very severe. It’s a little bit heart-wrenching to watch the videos and to hear what has been alleged at this point.”
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The victim's family members said that she was invited to what was supposed to be a sleepover with her friends. “Over the weekend, she was tortured, beaten, confined. Two juvenile females sat on top of her for two hours so she could not breathe, they burned her with cigarette lighters. It goes on and on,” said Renita Contreras, the victim’s aunt.
“No child should be scared of another child, an adult, nobody,” said Contreras. “Grandparent, aunt, uncle, you have to watch who your kids are around 24/7. A friend may not be a friend, a family member may not be a family member. It’s scary out here that our kids are subject to this,” she added.
The victim also allegedly received cuts to her face with a sharp object. Part of her hair was shaved. “They didn’t bully her. They tortured her,” said Jaimie Tribbett, the victim’s mother. “Mentally, physically tortured my daughter and it’s not right," she added.
Police have said that the case goes beyond just bullying. Preliminary investigation led to the two girls' arrest. “My heart goes out for the young lady. We apologize to that young lady for what she is dealing with at a young age. Our investigation is ongoing. We have received emails as late as yesterday,” said Frye.
Frye, who assured that Logansport police are looking into the case very seriously, said that he has worked on many cases involving juvenile victims, but this one stands out. “Those are not enjoyable calls for anyone in law enforcement and this one, in particular, goes to the extreme with the alleged suspects being juveniles as well,” said Frye. “More times than not we deal with adults victimizing juveniles and this one was a little bit different.”
According to Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, one of the suspects was charged in juvenile court and was ordered detained by a circuit court judge. She has been charged with the juvenile equivalents of criminal confinement resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 3 felony, intimidation with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony, and battery resulting in serious bodily injury, also a level 5 felony.
“Officers will continue to investigate the other incidents that are alleged and we’re going to continue to investigate this one in particular. There’s still information coming in, there’s things that we’re going to do in conjunction with the prosecutor’s office, for instance, search warrants and whatnot,” said Frye. “We’re going to continue to work on that case in particular, and also another one that we continue to get emails about and things that we were able to further investigate.”