Megan Williams case

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 This article documents a current court case.
Information may change rapidly as the case progresses.

The Megan Williams case involves a 20-year-old, African American, West Virginia woman who was kidnapped, raped and tortured by six white residents from Logan County, three of whom are women.[1] Among many other things, the suspects are charged with stabbing Williams, dousing her with hot water, and forcing her to eat rat, dog, and human feces. In addition, the suspects allegedly hurled racial slurs at her while doing so. Some civil rights leaders, some community activists and others have asserted that this fact makes the event subject to prosecution under hate crimes statutes. Authorities did not initially file hate crime charges in the attack, but prosecutors have not completely ruled out such a move down the road. [2] When pressed on the possibility of such charges, they have said that they are focused on crimes with the toughest penalties and note that the maximum sentence for a hate crime is just 10 years.[3]

Contents

[edit] Background

Williams had a "social relationship" with Bobby Ray Brewster, one of the six suspects currently in custody.[4] Brewster was previously arrested on July 18 in connection with a domestic battery charge involving Williams. According to investigators, Williams may have been kidnapped immediately after he was released from jail August 2, when Williams visited his home to see him.[1]

[edit] Megan Williams' account of events

Contradicting earlier press reports, Williams claimed she was set up to be held by the six suspects under the assumption that she was going to a party. "When I first went up there, a girl I knew named Christa, she took me up there, she said we were going to a party. She said she had to make a run and she would be right back. She didn’t come back."[5]

[edit] Megan Williams legal case

Bobby Ray Brewster and five other suspects including his mother, Frankie Lee, 49, Danny Combs, 20, George Messer, 27, Karen Burton, 46, and her daughter Alisha, 23 were all charged with kidnapping, the most serious charge that can carry up to life in prison upon conviction. They were all also charged with at least one count each of first-degree sexual offense, which if convicted, could carry a sentence of up to 35 years in prison.[1] On October 11, charges against Karen Burton were sent to a grand jury. Charges included kidnapping, first degree sexual assault, malicious wounding, assault during the commission of a felony and 13 counts of battery.[6] Charges against the other five suspects are expected to reach the grand jury in January.[6]

In February, Alisha Burton and George Messer both plead guilty to assault and kidnapping and were sentenced to 10 years each.

On March 13, 2008, Karen Burton, one of the women involved in the attack, was given one 10-year sentence for violation of civil rights and two 2-10 year sentences for assault. Frankie Brewster, another perpetrator, received 10-25 years for second-degree sexual assault. They had both pled guilty in exhange for reduced sentences. Carmen Williams, Megan's mother, expressed frustration that they had not received life sentences, which is the maximum penalty for kidnapping. [7]

[edit] Media attention

This case has raised concerns by some media commentators that the race of a victim of violent crime has an impact on media coverage.[8][9] Crystal Boyd, a sophomore at New York University, created the Facebook group Students Against the Rape of Megan Williams and the Media that Ignores Her, which quickly claimed more than 250,000 members.[10] CNN contributor Roland S. Martin questioned why this case had not been a source of greater outrage for the public and in media.[11] Shaquita Howard of The Reflector writes that the lack of national media attention for this case is a reflection of racism in the United States.[12] Megan Williams, her mother, and Crystal Boyd were featured and intervewed on the Montel Williams show on March 4, 2008.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Michaels, Cash. "WEST VIRGINIA VICTIM WAS CAPTIVE FOR A MONTH, AUTHORITIES SAY, WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 20-26, 2007", The Wilmington Journal, September 26, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-03. 
  2. ^ Breen, Tom; SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER. "Torture Case Shows W.Va. Racial Tensions", Associated Press, September 30, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-03. 
  3. ^ Breen, Tom; Shaya Tayefe Mohajer. "More Charges Filed in W.Va. Torture Case", Associated Press, The Guardian, September 19, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-03. 
  4. ^ Roberts, Jim. "Megan Williams Tortured: Black Woman Held, Abused by Six Whites", The National Ledger, September 13, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-08. 
  5. ^ "One-on-One Interview with West Virginia Race Torture Victim Megan Williams", Final Call News, October 09, 2007. 
  6. ^ a b Mohajer, Shaya. "Alleged Torture Case Sent to Grand Jury", The Associated Press, October 4, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-08. 
  7. ^ Victim's mom: Maximum sentence not enough - CNN.com
  8. ^ Is it because she isn't white?
  9. ^ News for the rich Ayesha Awan, IDS, 10/3/2007
  10. ^ NYU student leads Facebook group to support torture victim by Jake Stump. Charleston Daily Mail
  11. ^ Commentary: Where is the outrage when humans are abused?
  12. ^ Howard, Shaquita. "Who gets noticed?", Opinions, Reflector, September 28, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-03. 


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