Tuesday, September 11, 2007

West Virginia Woman Kidnapped and Tortured - Possible Hate Crime


Hat tip:Prometheus 6

FBI enters case of ghastly abuse

From staff, wire reports

Police are looking for two more people in the torture, beating and sexual assault of a Charleston woman, and the Logan County prosecutor said he believes the woman first met one of her abductors over the Internet.

The two people being sought by police are believed to have picked up 23-year-old Megan Williams from Charleston and transported her to Big Creek, where she was held captive in a home for at least a week.

Police have arrested six people already. The FBI has entered the case because it is a possible federal hate crime, authorities said.

The victim is black and the alleged assailants are white.

Prosecutor Brian Abraham said he heard from one of the arresting officers that Williams met a Logan County man on an Internet site.

Abraham could not verify whether that person was already in custody or one of the suspects still sought by police.

“I think she may have met an individual on the Internet and he agreed to pick her up in Kanawha County and take her to Logan County,” Abraham said. “That individual may have befriended her and at some point turned her over to these people.”

Abraham, who has served eight years as prosecutor, said he has never witnessed or imagined a case of this proportion.

“We’re up to our eyeballs in murder cases in Logan County, but nothing quite like this,” he said. “We have typical homicides motivated by jealously, passion and theft. This seems like outright malice. It’s something you’d see in a horror movie.”

Magistrate Leonard Codispoti told The Logan Banner, “It was the worst case of human abuse I have seen since I have been a magistrate.

“Something like this is so horrifying it makes you want to puke. They got this girl out of Charleston and took her to Big Creek, threw her in a shack, raped and stabbed her, put a rope around her neck, made her eat animal feces and did other horrifying things to her.”

It's not over. Seems as if there are two more ' alleged' suspects still wandering out there. This poor woman. Seems like it's Open Season on Black folk, doesn't it? Reminds me of that famous Vernon Johns sermon.

Now, if it walks like a hate crime, talks like a hate crime, smells like a hate crime....what is it - oatmeal? They just didn't 'happen' upon this victim, they searched her out, which, for me, is the pure definition of a hate crime.


________________________________

UPDATE IN THE MEGAN WILLIAMS CASE - See Here

(scroll through the comments section below to see my thoughts)

22 comments:

Brian said...

I heard about this case a few hours ago... sick stuff.

Obviously they didn't want money, etc.. The motive here was to torture the victim.

I immediately thought of Dunbar...

Hopefully they will get the maximum punishment that the law allows... if they are found guilty.
And for some reason... I would rather see this case tried in Federal Court rather than the State Court. I'm not too confident that the State Court would handle the case properly. Jurisdiction will be determined by the FBI investigation.

But the country has to stop being hypocritical about the way justice is handed out. I understand the hate crime laws, etc...and I believe they are needed... but there needs to be just as much focus on Black on Black crimes that are just as gruesome and evil. It seems that when its Black on Black...the media hardly mentions it. Dunbar barely got any coverage.... The protests after the fact got more coverage than the crime itself.

Maybe it's just me... perhaps that's my slightly Conservative side coming out.

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely sick....and every woman's worst nightmare. That poor girl; I hope everyone will remember to pray for her as she recovers.

May God have mercy on the souls of those sadistic pigs because there won't be any mercy once they're all put in the clink for life. Wanna see racial "hate crimes"....they're about to experience it first hand in prison once general population learns about it. What goes around comes around - and I do hope they're punished for their actions....in one way or another.

I can't get over that these racial crimes continue.....you'd think we'd have evolved after 40-50 years...I just hope this doesn't create reprisal attacks in the community.

Anonymous said...

oh by the way - I do agree w/the first poster....

Why is there less attention on every-day "hate" crimes even when it involves people of the same color.

The issue is hatred in itself - regardless of skin color or ethnicity.

The only saving grace that can heal hatred is God.... and learning love and forgiveness - which is the only way to end the cycle of hatred.

Anonymous said...

What is it about West Virginia "coalfield" hamlets that tend to breed potential sadistic torturers? Wasn't notorious (AbuGhraib) Lynndie England from this region?? And her male friend as well, I think his name was Graner? What if these six had been MP's at a place like that? They would have been paid to do exactly what it is they did here.

So, something in the water there, or what?? Just kidding... mostly.

Anyway, this is a nauseating case... the details are even worse. The victim Megan Williams was caught in a nightmare like something out of a Rob Zombie crossed with "Texas Chainsaw Massacre"-type film. I feel they would have (eventually) killed her had they not been caught.

I also wonder where the outcry is from the far Right about this case. They usually tend to shout and stomp when potential hate crimes do not receive the national publicity they evidently feel all hate crimes deserve. Such as when the "Wichita Massacre" was not covered nationally, or at least not covered enough for Pat Buchanan to think it was fair. Or the Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom case. The Right was up at arms about that not being covered enough "nationally" as well. "Where's Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton NOW?", they asked indignantly.

Well, the Megan Williams case has been treated similarly as those, as far as I can see. I have only read about it here on the Internet. It has not received the national attention and international "outcry" they claimed "any white-on-black" hate crime would automatically receive. Oh well....must be the liberal Leftist Jew-owned media...

Anonymous said...

This is so sick. I used to be a "forgive them for they know not what they do" person, but not any more. These persons are sub-human. They are even sub-animal. Animals act from instinct. These monsters act out of some kind of perverse thought. I would like to see them receive punishment where they get what they gave. Make them eat feces. Make them drink from the toilet. Abuse them, call them names, then throw them into a cell full of angry Black women. And after they're dead, no honorable funeral for them. Just leave them for the turkey vultures. And as far as this beautiful young girl victim goes, I can only hope she recovers and moves beyond this horrible incident and doesn't give these perps power over her life by letting it ruin her.

Anonymous said...

this is soooooooooooooooo SICK!!! i can't believe women were involed in this!! what about their daughters, sisters, neices, mothers, etc. how would they feel if it was one on their own people? all the sick f*$kers they've caught all look GUILTY!!! sick sick sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

erin said...

ths is front page news.....if she was white, i wonder if it would get more attention. I hope they get full punishment. And she has a strong family to help her recovery.

Brian said...

Nero... I don't know. Although a crime like this could have occurred anywhere, such crimes do seem to be more frequent in the old south.

This has not gotten quite the wall to wall coverage as Anna Nicole Smith or any similar story.

And you are correct about the right wing Conservative media. They want to highlight the Black on White incidents to prove the point that we don't need hate crimes laws or that Whites are being mistreated by the laws, are not being served by the laws, etc.
Their real aim is to discredit the suffering of the victims of these crimes. To O'Reilly, Hannity, etc... and their supporters, a case like this is no big deal.

In fact, they are probably of the opinion (and share it with one another away from the cameras and when no Blacks are in the room) that she deserved what she got.

Brian said...

The F.B.I. has decided not to get involved...so it will not be a Federal Hate crimes case afterall.

The case will be handled by the State of West Virginia... Hmmm.

This is definitely a case that deserves watching.

Apparently the victim may have had a relationship with one of her assailants. I support the victim and am not blaming her...but I will say that young women have to be a better judge of the company they keep.

I recall seeing a clip from "The View" over the past weekend where the one of the new co-hosts was talking (in the context of the Jennifer Hudlin celebrity ignorance) about how the situation with Hudlin was no big deal because she used to send pictures of herself to her boyfriend in Prison.... And she said it as if it was something to be proud of. This also happened to be the only African American woman on the View panel. I don't watch the show... all of the shows like this are nonsensical to me. But it is still embarrassing to me as a Black man to see the only Black woman on a national TV show put her stamp of approval on that behavior...as if it were a virtue. Too many young women are taught to adore certain kinds of men....or they believe that certain kinds of men are acceptable for them. It has become an endless cycle.

Anonymous said...

I am totally outraged that this has happened to this beautiful young girl who made a bad decision. There is no excuse for these people and as far as I'm concerned, they put sick dogs to sleep ....these lowlife's are no better. Why spend time and money trying them and being careful of their "rights". Put them down like the animals they are!!! I am a older white mother, by the way, and feel so bad for the girl AND her family. Where is Jessie Jackson on this one???

Brian said...

To the Anonymous Mom...

Those of us in the Minority blogosphere (although I consider myself as part of both the Black blogosphere and the wider blogosphere).... we have been asking that question for a long time...on several different issues.

I'm sure Jesse or Rev. Al will show up at some point. Whether they get involved in an issue or not often depends on how many cameras are focused on the situation. They seem to be just as concerned about boosting their image as they are about whatever issue they are involved in.

Both are becoming more and more irrelevant. They don't always represent most Black people in this country... They definitely don't speak for me.

I am tired of the race politics anyway. Observers should be just as outraged no matter what the racial background of the victim/suspect happens to be.

Anonymous said...

I want to see someone address that relatively LOW BAIL that these assailants have received. Something isn't right about that: only $100,000 for kidnap, torture, and rape?

Anonymous said...

I wonder what their sentence will be with comparison to the Jena 6 where some received maximum sentence for beating up a kid in school. Granted, I don't condone them beating up someone who was already unconscious, but to get 40 years and a sentence of attempted murder? Not quite seeing how justince is doing a fair job. That was a hate crime...it wasn't as heinous, but it was implied. I hate to say that I'm not surprised by this and saddened that not much has changed.

Anonymous said...

It just goes to show how much America pays attention to hate crimes. People try to sweep it under the rug as if it does not exist anymore.What ythey did to her reminded me of slavery, but what really makes me mad is that you barely hear about this incident on the news or being televised by the mediaYet the media can televise the Vick incident 24/7 which life is more inmportant human or animal. Yet these 6 people get 100,000 bond a piece, but yet you want to be harsh on Vick. please stuff like this being going on for years the media just dont acknowledge it as they do other crimes. Now would it have been any different if the victim was white and the 6 people were black? How fast do you think they would prosecute those 6 black men and would they have even let them post bail? We just have to face it our justice system is screwed up and it shows favortism to people that commit crimes. The color of your skin decides your fate.

Anonymous said...

I have been purposely watching cable news to see if this story gets the media attention it deserves on such media outlets as "Nancy grace", "On
The Record w/Greta Van Sustern" and "Bill O'Riley" and not to my surprise it is not. If the racial dynamics were reversed we would not be albe to turn on local news, cable news or even log into our favorite news website w/out being consumed by this story however, seeing as how the victim is African American media coverage is almost non existent. But you can count on reading or seeing someone weigh in on Britney Spears VMA performance. What's really going on America?

angryandhungry said...

are you kidding me! I just barely heard about this today. I have been searching around a bit and "found" this article. It is a shame that in 2007 people are still targeted and destroyed as something worse than an animal! to be made into a thing that is no longer human, but an object in which to take out their hate on another individual! God only knows when this woman was going to rescued! We will see if "justice" prevails. Sadly, this country is slowly and surely showing it's true colors.... you're right! these colors don't run...they kidnap and torture instead....

Brian said...

Angry and Hungry... and everyone else...

It gets worse.

Apparently West Virginia authorities have decided to arrest the victim, Megan Williams, on unrelated charges.
Follow Link

It's unusual for authorities to go after a victim of such a horrific crime, because of warrants on unrelated charges...charges that are minor by comparison. Usually they will give the person a summons to appear in court.

By arresting the victim now, (after she has just been the victim of a sexual assault that has not yet proceeded to trial) it may negatively impact her case. It will weaken her credibility in court (in the rape case). This provides defense attorneys for the 6 suspects a way to attack her character and will provide a problem for any potential jury. I question the ethics of this decision. If Megan were not poor and Black... I am not so sure that authorities would have acted in the same manner.

Remember what I said early on about not being comfortable with this case being handled by local and State authorities in West Virginia???? This is exactly what I was talking about. It looks like I called it right.

One of the disparities in law enforcement has to do with the way that victims are handled. I studied some of this in college... One of my CJ Professors was a protege of a researcher/author by the name of Samuel Walker. If you are not familiar with Walker... read some of his books regarding racial disparities in the Criminal Justice system.

Anyway... he has examined how victims are treated differently based on race and social class. For example, when a White victim reports a crime... officers (as expected) respond, show concern and file a report. But researchers have found that when officers respond to calls from Black victims, the attitudes of the officers are often different. Black victims are often treated like criminals... having their records checked for warrants, etc... (when they are the victims on a call). This is also somewhat of a pattern that I have seen first hand.

This research was from the Mid-late 1990's... and i'm sure there have been updated follow-up studies...

But it's just fascinating to see the things that you suspect...actually confirmed.

Anonymous said...

I think the whole situation is extremely disturbing, but throwing color and geography into just makes the situation worse. It has nothing to do with the color or location. My best friends house was broke into when he was 5. He and his father were tied up at gunpoint. Then his mother was raped in front of them. She later became pregnant. By the way my friend is white and the attacker was black. Also the crime took place in South Jersey, right outside of Philly. The point is the experiences are terrible and while this poor girl will probably have to have mental theraphy for the rest of her life we are sitting around talking about the color of her skin which probably is the last thing on her mind right now.

Unknown said...

There are too many of these racially motivated attacks by both Black and white antagonists. I recall that George W. Bush was going to be a president working to UNITE our country. He failed miserably. I think only Obama has a chance to unite us and bring an end to nonsense like this in West Virginia.

Anonymous said...

So much has happened in this case. The hate crime charges won't fly, they may donw the line. They don;t carry enough weight. The punishment is only 10 years. Kidnapping charges have been filed and they carry life sentences.

Megan was missing since August 2nd, which means she was a hostage for over one month (they found her on 9/8/07) As she had a social relationship with Bobby Brewster, he was jailed for domestic battery charges against her and was released from jail on August 2nd. It's reported he had "her so-called friend" bring her to his house. I think it was all planned and he sat in jail and thought about how he would get even with her. They are very sick people. The Uncle of Megan Williams said they used a butcher knife to cut straight through her leg.

As for Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton, I'm certain they are following the case. The Prosecutors in WV are doing a great job in getting this case to stick. They will all be going before the Grand Jury here in the next few weeks. Personally, they should just bypass all that and send them straight to the electric chair, but we have to follow the justice system. Please keep this young woman in your prayers.

Anonymous said...

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/the-megan-williams-case.html

MAKE A DIFFERENCE! SPREAD THE LOVE & SIGN THE PETITION FOR MEGAN!

Anonymous said...

Tears From Logan


there’s a chill up on the mountains
it’s a West Virginia breeze
there’s a chill in the wilderness
brought a woman to her knees
there’s a chill upon her conscious
begging if you please
“I don’t know what I’ve done and to what degree,
but I’m crying from soul won’t you save my dignity”
My dignity

It’s a story of the ages
a story seldom told
between the lines of the pages
in blood ink red and old
it’s a story full of power
of young innocence sold
it doesn’t matter what she’s done and to what degree
you can hear her cryin’ weeping, “Won’t you please set me free”
Set me free


how could it be possible?
this here tragic fall
in a country full of liberty
where we’ve shed blood for it all
in the struggle for equality
somebody dropped the ball
now she’s scared all of her life no one knows to what degree
sentenced without a jury condemned without a plea
Without a plea


up in a West Virginia hallow
it happened between the trees
surrounded by beer cans
in the stench of old debris
a full week of home grown torture
from a cruel enemy
“This is what we do to niggers down hear”
Pursue it as a hate-crime? The question burns my ears
Burns my ears

let the history tell the story
let the history ring true
for years into the future
of what evil people do
this can’t just be a headline
that’s gone with the news
it’s impossible to know, I can’t even speculate
Let the story warn people of people full of hate
Full of hate



By Eric LaMont © 2007