Disabled Ga. Girl Gang-Raped

M A R I E T T A, Ga., Nov. 2, 2000 -- The suspects accused of raping andmolesting a 13-year-old mentally disabled girl videotaped part ofthe crime, authorities said.

District Attorney Pat Head would not say what the videotaperevealed, but said he did not plan to show it to the grand jury.

Up to 25 males — ages 12 to 25 — raped and molested the girl for12 hours after luring her off of a bicycle and into an apartmentbuilding, police said Wednesday.

Eight suspects have been arrested and warrants were issued forthree others sought in the Oct. 13-14 attack, Cobb County policespokesman Dana Pierce said.

Lured, Then Attacked RepeatedlyPolice said four men leaving a high school football game met thegirl on her bicycle and persuaded her to accompany them to anapartment. They raped the girl and then took her to an abandonedapartment in the same complex, where as many as 20 males attackedher, police said.

The girl returned home about 4 a.m. on Oct. 14, her mother toldpolice.

“She told her mother she knew something had happened to herthat shouldn’t have,” Pierce said. The victim’s mother took her toa hospital, where she was treated and released.

Arrested were Christopher Wyatt, 24; Cornell Lyons, 17; JamonAiken, 17; and Charles Grant, 19, all of Marietta; Taurean Green,17; and Isaac Anthony Cummings, 18, both of Smyrna, and twojuveniles. Police have issued warrants for two others, and a12-year-old boy also is being sought on a juvenile complaint.

Police are seeking the names of the rest of the suspects allegedly involved in the attack.

“We’re hoping toidentify the rest of those 20 to 25 so we can get names on themand hopefully get warrants on them,” Cobb County policespokesman Brody Staud said.

Because of the girl’s mental condition, investigators said theyhave been unable to determine how the teen knew the men. They wouldnot say what led them to the suspects.

Disabled Attacks UnderreportedTenants at the apartment complex said they are scared of youngmen who hang out around the complex.

Maria Capiz, 18, said she does not let her son play outside formore than 30 minutes a day.

“I don’t trust it here,” Capiz said. “I don’t want whathappened to that little girl happening to me or to my niece or myson.”

“If somebody can do such a horrible thing to a child — only 13years old — then what next?” added Shataquia Lewis.

Sexual assaults against the disabled are probably underreportedbecause victims are unable to explain what happened or areperceived as unreliable witnesses, said Jennifer Bivins, a victimadvocate at the Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center inJonesboro.

“I think it’s probably more common than people realize,” shesaid.