Girl Beaten Severely, Video Shown on YouTube

By Pamela Mortimer

Eight teenagers have been charged with third degree felonies for battery and false imprisonment for an attack that took place on a 16 year old girl. The purpose of the attack – to be able to post a video of the beating on YouTube.

On the video, a group of girls can be heard yelling and threatening the 16-year-old as punches were thrown. Victoria Lindsay, the victim, was repeatedly hit over the head, thrown against a wall, and eventually knocked unconscious. The beatings continued when Victoria woke up. Later, Victoria was removed from the scene and was threatened with a more severe beating if she contacted police.

"She just didn't deserve to be beat down like a dog," said Patrick Lindsay, the victim's father.

"When you see your daughter, who's not striking back to defend herself, and someone keeps coming at you like that -- it's just, it's a horrible thing," added Talisa Lindsay, Victoria's mother.

Authorities stated that the teens attacked Lindsay in retaliation for comments posted on MySpace page. They proceeded to threaten Lindsay, saying they would post a video of the attack the Internet.

Victoria’s parents believe that the whole thing was a set up and there is proof that someone hacked into the girl’s MySpace account.

"For whatever reason, this MySpace, this YouTube, it's gone too far. And what it's doing to our kids, it's just too much," Talisa Lindsay continued.

Of the eight teenagers charged with third-degree felonies, one is an adult. Stephen Schumaker, 18, was among those involved in the attack.

"I don't see how I'm getting charged as a look out and this and that. It's just, I don't see why I'm even in this situation, you know," he told FOX 13.

Authorities claim that Schumaker served as a lookout during the beatings but Schumaker denies it.

"That's messed up, to videotape it and then go and say we beat this girl up, hahahaha. It's a bunch of little girl stuff, really," he added.

The victim’s parents have a decidedly different view of the situation. According to the Lindsays, Victoria, who was an honor roll student and a cheerleader, now bears scars that will not heal easily.

"She's having nightmares over it. She's emotionally upset still about it because there's a lot of talk," Talisa Lindsay said.

"She's scared. Scared to go back to school, scared to go out in public because she's afraid of repercussions that may happen," Patrick Lindsay added.