Wayne Treacy Charged with Attempted Murder in 'Text Rage' Beating that Left Josie Ratley in a Coma

Josie Lou Ratley makes first public appearance



By Joe Cavaretta
Sun Sentinel
Updated: 7:55 p.m. Sunday, June 27, 2010

DEERFIELD BEACH — Walking with a slightly wobbly gait but beaming a grin, Josie Lou Ratley made her first public appearance Sunday since the March 17 beating that left her in a coma.

Steadied by her mother, Ratley, 15, acknowledged cheers and applause from the crowd as she appeared briefly outdoors at the Let's Break the Cycle...A Ride for Josie fundraiser at the Cove Restaurant in Deerfield Beach.

Wearing a black fedora-style hat, a bright red blouse and matching red hoop earrings, a black knee-length skirt and sandals, Ratley clasped hands with her mother, Hilda Gotay Ratley, as they briefly met with the media inside the restaurant.

The teen flashed her now-famous smile as her mother thanked the community.

"Big thanks and lots of hugs and kisses for giving lots of support to my daughter. She wants to thank you too, but of course she can't say it very well. She's doing wonderfully and she's got a long ways to go.

"My daughter, she's walking as you see, she's moving her right arm, but she can't actually grip anything with it, she can't write with it or anything like that. She can't read and her memory is not very good. She would have to start over. She can't read the ABCs," Gotay Ratley said, breaking down.

The news conference ended with Deerfield Beach Mayor Peggy Noland comforting her.

About 350 bicyclists took part in the ride along State Road A1A, including Jacqueline Munoz, a trauma center nurse from Boynton Beach. She said she rode because she is familiar with "how devastating trauma injuries can be to the family and to the patient."

Josie Ratley spent several minutes looking over a signed copy of this year's Deerfield Middle School yearbook presented to her by some of her classmates.

Noland said she was overwhelmed by the turnout. "I pulled into this parking lot this morning and I got a chill and the hair on my arms stood up. It was so heartwarming to see the community come together like this to support this young girl in the long recovery she has to go through."

Ratley suffered brain damage when she was stomped in the head with steel-toed boots in the March 17 attack. Wayne Treacy, 15, has been charged as an adult with first-degree attempted murder.

Joe Hillner, a businessman and one of the event organizers, said Deerfield Beach has suffered some bad publicity over the past year. "Deerfield was in the national media spotlight because of this case and the Michael Brewer case," he said, referring to the 15-year-old who suffered serious burns in an attack on Oct. 12.

"And they seemed to ask the question, is there something wrong with Deerfield Beach?" Hillner said.

"So not only did we want to raise money for Josie's rehab and her medical bills, shed some light on the issue of bullying and school violence, but we also want to show that Deerfield Beach is a great community to live and work in."

Hillner said he and a group of like-minded businessmen and community organizers hope to turn the ride into an annual event to support anti-youth violence groups such as the Broward Sheriff's Office Police Athletic League.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/josie-lou-ratley-makes-first-public-appearance-772584.html

Wayne Treacy's lawyers appeal bail ruling in school beating case

Teen accused of beating Josie Lou Ratley deserves a reasonable bail, lawyers argue

By Rafael A. Olmeda
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Updated: 11:19 a.m. Saturday, July 17, 2010



Lawyers for the Pompano Beach teenager accused of trying to kill a Deerfield Beach Middle School student in March are going to an appeals court to argue that their client is entitled to a bail hearing.

In a motion filed Friday with the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach, attorneys for 15-year-old Wayne Treacy challenged a recent ruling by Broward Circuit Judge David Haimes, who found Treacy is still being charged with a life felony even though, as a minor, Treacy cannot be sentenced to life in prison.

The appeal cites the Florida Constitution's provision that anyone charged with a crime is entitled to bail unless charged with an offense "punishable by life imprisonment."

Prosecutors successfully argued on July 1 in the lower court that the law is concerned with the seriousness of the crime, which remains the same regardless of the fact that Treacy was underage when it was committed.

Treacy is accused of trying to kill Josie Lou Ratley, 15, by severely beating and kicking her at a Deerfield Beach Middle School bus stop on March 17. Treacy is at the Broward Main Jail, charged as an adult with first-degree attempted murder.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/wayne-treacys-lawyers-appeal-bail-ruling-in-school-808234.html

Teen beating victim can write her name, but otherwise struggles with life

By Sofia Santana, Sun Sentinel
9:57 p.m. EDT, July 26, 2010

 

FORT LAUDERDALE —
Five months after a near-fatal beating at Deerfield Beach Middle School, Josie Lou Ratley can write her first and last name — but not much else.

Unable to speak clearly, she doesn't like to talk, said Jowharah Sanders, head of a local nonprofit group that has been working to help rehabilitate the teen.

Once an artist who penned anime portraits, the 15-year-old now seems to have no interest in art and does not recall creating many of her works, Sanders said.

Read more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/deerfield/fl-josie-ratley-video-release-20100726,0,7822886.story

Oh, that is just beyond heartbreaking.........

That is very sad.

Appeals court denies bail hearing for Wayne Treacy, charged with beating Deeerfield girl

Suspect to remain jailed until trial on charges of beating Josie Lou Ratley

By Tory Malmer and Rafael A. Olmeda
Sun Sentinel
July 28, 2010

WEST PALM BEACH — The Pompano Beach teenager accused of trying to kill Josie Lou Ratley by stomping on her head at a middle school bus stop last March will have to stay in jail, an appeals court has decided.

Read more: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blotter/appeals-court-denies-bail-hearing-for-wayne-treacy-828117.html

Internet group rallies for Deerfield Beach beating suspect Wayne Treacy

By Rafael A. Olmeda, Sun Sentinel
7:14 p.m. EDT, September 7, 2010

"Monster."

That's how Wayne Treacy described himself just hours after he pummeled Deerfield Beach Middle School student Josie Lou Ratley and stomped on her head during a March 17 beating from which doctors say she will never fully recover.

But not everyone sees him that way.

Some see Treacy as patient who needs treatment. They see a frightened, troubled 15-year-old boy who overreacted to a heartless taunt and, in a very different way, may never fully recover.

Almost 100 of them have found each other on the "Wayne Treacy Support Group" on Facebook. Most have never met Treacy and don't live in South Florida, although some identify themselves as classmates at Deerfield Beach High School. Women in the group outnumber men about 2 to 1.

Read more: http://southflorida.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-treacy-support-20100907,0,6928210.story

His intent was to kill her.......he didn't just beat her up.

Josie Ratley Speaking for First Time in Public

Teen beating victim talking six months after attack

By BRIAN HAMACHER
Updated 10:04 AM EDT, Mon, Sep 13, 2010



Nearly six months after a brutal attack left Josie Lou Ratley with severe brain damage, the public is finally getting to hear the South Florida teen speak.

The 15-year-old, who spent over 40 days in a medically-induced coma and couldn't speak when she awoke, was seen joking with her mother and chatting with her therapist in a Monday morning "Today Show" segment.

"She looks wonderful but the inside is still healing," mother Hilda Gotay said of her daughter's progress. "I would love to see her the way she was, she has a lot to learn. Physically, she's great, she's beautiful, but the inside of her brain is not good."

Ratley, who underwent three brain surgeries and had a part of her damaged brain removed, is still in the process of relearning nearly everything, from her ABC's and 123's to physical activities like brushing her teeth and taking a shower.

Read more: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Josie-Ratley-Speaking-for-First-Time-102768569.html

Teen Charged In School Beating Faces 50 Years In Prison

16-Year-Old Accused Of Beating Girl While Waiting For Her Bus In Deerfield Beach

POSTED: 2:34 pm EST January 6, 2011

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A South Florida teenager accused of severely beating a girl who was waiting for her bus outside Deerfield Beach Middle School faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.

Prosecutor Maria Schneider agreed Thursday to cap the maximum sentence for Wayne Treacy when he stands trial as an adult on an attempted murder charge.

Read more: http://www.wpbf.com/news/26391258/detail.html

Some are concerned that Treacy, who over-reacted, may never "fully recover".
How about they consider his victim, who "may never fully recover" from the brutal attack. Josie Ratley had some of her life stolen from her, lost some of her brain, due to a monster wearing steel-toed boots.

Josie Ratley Goes to D.C. to Fight Bullying

Deerfield teen takes part in national anti-bullying campaign

By Brian Hamacher
Monday, Jun 6, 2011
Updated 8:29 AM EDT

The South Florida teen who made national news after she was brutally beaten outside her Deerfield Beach school took her story to Washington Sunday to help fight bullying.

Josie Lou Ratley and mother Hilda Gotay were in the nation's capital to raise awareness for the "Not on My Watch" anti-bullying campaign along with celebrities and congressional leaders.

Read more: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Josie-Ratley-Goes-to-DC-to-Fight-Bullying-123217963.html

Wayne Treacy to Use Insanity Defense in Attack on Josie Ratley

Attorney for Wayne Treacy files motion to use temporary insanity defense

By Ari Odzer and Brian Hamacher
Wednesday, Oct 5, 2011
Updated 2:49 PM EDT

The attorney for the Deerfield Beach teen accused of beating classmate Josie Lou Ratley nearly to death will be using a temporary insanity defense after a judge granted his motion during a status hearing Wednesday.

Defense attorney Russell Williams said 16-year-old Wayne Treacy was not in control of what he was doing when he kicked and beat Ratley during the March 17, 2010 attack.

At the status hearing, attended by Treacy's parents, Broward Circuit Judge David Haimes granted Williams' request to use the insanity defense for Treacy, who has been charged as an adult with attempted murder.

Read more: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Wayne-Treacy-to-Use-Insanity-Plea-in-Attack-on-Josie-Ratley-131140383.html

Judge Denies Wayne Treacy's Motion to Reconsider Bond

Teen charged in brutal beating of classmate was denied a motion to reconsider bond

By Brian Hamacher and Sharon Lawson
Thursday, Nov 17, 2011

View more videos at: http://nbcmiami.com.

A judge denied a motion to reconsider bond for the South Florida teen facing attempted murder charges for nearly beating another teen to death outside Deerfield Beach Middle School.

The judge said 17-year-old Wayne Treacy's attorney will have to take his order to the the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Treacy's trial is set to start in February, but no specific date has been scheduled.

Read more: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/134037548.html