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Steubenville suspect's text messages paint disturbing picture
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/highschool--steubenville-suspects--text-messages-paint-disturbing-picture-of-night-of-alleged-rape--according-to-prosecutors-053236470.html
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – Across a remarkable couple of hours Thursday, JoAnn Gibb, a slight but tough-minded forensic specialist for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, sat on a witness stand in a small, third-floor courtroom here and read the contents of hundreds of teenage text messages – explicit and vulgar, at times celebratory and at other moments desperate and pathetically sad.
They were culled from the cell phones of 17 kids, seized in the investigation that led to two Steubenville High School football players being charged with the August 2012 rape of a 16-year-old West Virginia girl after a night of partying. It is one of the largest cell phone culls in the state's history, and the contents of those messages intensified the trial in this football-mad, aging steel town.
"It was an extraordinary level of evidence and detail," said Katie Hanna of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Assault and a veteran observer of sexual assault cases. "I've never heard of anything like it."
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – Across a remarkable couple of hours Thursday, JoAnn Gibb, a slight but tough-minded forensic specialist for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, sat on a witness stand in a small, third-floor courtroom here and read the contents of hundreds of teenage text messages – explicit and vulgar, at times celebratory and at other moments desperate and pathetically sad.
They were culled from the cell phones of 17 kids, seized in the investigation that led to two Steubenville High School football players being charged with the August 2012 rape of a 16-year-old West Virginia girl after a night of partying. It is one of the largest cell phone culls in the state's history, and the contents of those messages intensified the trial in this football-mad, aging steel town.
"It was an extraordinary level of evidence and detail," said Katie Hanna of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Assault and a veteran observer of sexual assault cases. "I've never heard of anything like it."
I heard about this and I just finally read the whole article..These foolish boys have forever ruined their lives and the girl. I pray my son is NEVER this stupid in his decision making in life..I know these charges are "alleged" but there are 3 more witness that are testifying for the prosecution including the rape victim herself..The text messages are so graphic..I would tear my son a new one...I don't know how they cannot find them guilty...We'll see...
I don't even know what to say about the fact that this girl was in this situation..I think I'll feel out the thread first before I make any comments on that...
I don't even know what to say about the fact that this girl was in this situation..I think I'll feel out the thread first before I make any comments on that...
This is disgusting and there is no real contrition here. Had they not been caught they would still be laughing about it it.
There is an upside to these idiots having cell phones, they documented the case for the D.A.
Btw, nice to see you back, Mrs.p, I really missed you.
There is an upside to these idiots having cell phones, they documented the case for the D.A.
Btw, nice to see you back, Mrs.p, I really missed you.
I hadn't heard about this until now. It's disgusting beyond words.
I'm not sure about the girl, either. I have to wonder how she came to get so drunk (if she was, in fact, drunk). How did she come to be sprawled in the middle of the street in just shorts and a bra? I wonder if that will come out in her testimony.
Of course, that's beside the point; those boys knew exactly what they were doing and they knew it was wrong.
Such a tragedy that young lives have been destroyed so needlessly.
I'm not sure about the girl, either. I have to wonder how she came to get so drunk (if she was, in fact, drunk). How did she come to be sprawled in the middle of the street in just shorts and a bra? I wonder if that will come out in her testimony.
Of course, that's beside the point; those boys knew exactly what they were doing and they knew it was wrong.
Such a tragedy that young lives have been destroyed so needlessly.
If a drug was mixed in her drink, it is easy to see how she ended up that way. I know of more than one young woman who was given something unknowingly and woke up undressed with no memory of what happened. They call it a date rape drug, fairly common on the street or among teens.
I have to admit to being somewhat naive when it comes to drugs because I've never used them and to my knowledge, my daughter didn't either (oh, yeah, she did some marijuana a while back).
According to the article, the girl didn't have an inkling of what happened until the next day, when she was texting her friend. ...... wouldn't she have known if she'd been drinking? I've heard of the date rape drug; is that what you would suppose this to be?
If there was a drug put in her drink (the drink doesn't have to be alcoholic, does it?), wouldn't that show up in blood tests? The article doesn't mention any tests being done.
According to the article, the girl didn't have an inkling of what happened until the next day, when she was texting her friend. ...... wouldn't she have known if she'd been drinking? I've heard of the date rape drug; is that what you would suppose this to be?
If there was a drug put in her drink (the drink doesn't have to be alcoholic, does it?), wouldn't that show up in blood tests? The article doesn't mention any tests being done.
I doubt she went to the hospital and had blood drawn. She kept asking the guy "What happened?"
This happened to a student of mine and to a close relative as well. She and her girlfriend woke up undressed. The boys they were with were long gone, they were undressed and had some signs of intercourse but remembered only sitting on the couch with the guys and having a few beers the night before.
They were groggy and confused (and probably ashamed) and never did go to the hospital to get checked.
This happened to a student of mine and to a close relative as well. She and her girlfriend woke up undressed. The boys they were with were long gone, they were undressed and had some signs of intercourse but remembered only sitting on the couch with the guys and having a few beers the night before.
They were groggy and confused (and probably ashamed) and never did go to the hospital to get checked.
I have to think about this.... I'm off for tonight.
Hmmm, I don't know...
That story sickens me, really.
I know of a couple of girls and one in particular that this happened to in college. Now, I doubt she was slipped anything as she was a BIG partier and tended to be that girl who brought guys back to her dorm room. But she got drunk, passed out and was later told that several guys, in turn, had sex with her. I was sad for her. In her case, lifestyle definately played a role in the risks she took. but none the less, she was a victim of something really horrible. I guess it is a good thing that she doesn't remember it. She had bruises and clear physical signs that it had happened. She never told anyone at the school. I knew as she lived a couple of doors down from me and confided in me.
But when I have read the information about the situation in Stuebenville, I'm so disgusted with these guys who did it. The way they joked about it was disgusting. These were highschool students! I hope they get the smack down from the court system, I really do.
There is a college football player that has started something really cool. He has a pledge for highschool football coaches to take courses in identifying sexual abuse and to intervene if it is suspected--- I think it was within 48 hours, 40,000 football coaches around the country signed this pledge.
Anyway, sad situation for this girl. I've been to Steubenville by the way. Gross little town. Grocery store right by a strip joint, I kid you not. Redneck all the way. Not trying to be rude, but it's no cute, quaint little town. It's rough.
I know of a couple of girls and one in particular that this happened to in college. Now, I doubt she was slipped anything as she was a BIG partier and tended to be that girl who brought guys back to her dorm room. But she got drunk, passed out and was later told that several guys, in turn, had sex with her. I was sad for her. In her case, lifestyle definately played a role in the risks she took. but none the less, she was a victim of something really horrible. I guess it is a good thing that she doesn't remember it. She had bruises and clear physical signs that it had happened. She never told anyone at the school. I knew as she lived a couple of doors down from me and confided in me.
But when I have read the information about the situation in Stuebenville, I'm so disgusted with these guys who did it. The way they joked about it was disgusting. These were highschool students! I hope they get the smack down from the court system, I really do.
There is a college football player that has started something really cool. He has a pledge for highschool football coaches to take courses in identifying sexual abuse and to intervene if it is suspected--- I think it was within 48 hours, 40,000 football coaches around the country signed this pledge.
Anyway, sad situation for this girl. I've been to Steubenville by the way. Gross little town. Grocery store right by a strip joint, I kid you not. Redneck all the way. Not trying to be rude, but it's no cute, quaint little town. It's rough.
Okay, Mrs.P and barb, just what do you not get or have to think about??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_rape_drug
http://www.medicinenet.com/date_rape_drugs/page2.htm
http://earthops.org/rohypnol.
I may be misreading you guys but it seems like you don't quite believe this can happen. I personally saw the after effects of this drug in two young women.
Besides the drug that is commonly used in these scenarios it is also possible for a person to get so drunk they lose consciousness and wake later to find they have been raped.
I once intervened in a gang rape in the 70's of a girl who was dead drunk. I was working across the street and saw her dragged into the bushes. I got some friends and we broke it up.
The guys were really young punks w/o a clue (15 years old) and they ran off. She was so out of it she didn't even know what was happening. Maybe the next day she did, but at the time she didn't.
Anyway it is an easy way to incapacitate people and it is used far more than it is reported.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_rape_drug
http://www.medicinenet.com/date_rape_drugs/page2.htm
http://earthops.org/rohypnol.
I may be misreading you guys but it seems like you don't quite believe this can happen. I personally saw the after effects of this drug in two young women.
Besides the drug that is commonly used in these scenarios it is also possible for a person to get so drunk they lose consciousness and wake later to find they have been raped.
I once intervened in a gang rape in the 70's of a girl who was dead drunk. I was working across the street and saw her dragged into the bushes. I got some friends and we broke it up.
The guys were really young punks w/o a clue (15 years old) and they ran off. She was so out of it she didn't even know what was happening. Maybe the next day she did, but at the time she didn't.
Anyway it is an easy way to incapacitate people and it is used far more than it is reported.
I hate hearing or seeing stories like this. They always make me take a look at my own kids, their friends, and I hope that they would not be capable of something like this. I don't even know where the thought of something like this comes from....
I've been guilty of doing some incredibly stupid things, but man.... I don't know what I'd do if I found either of my kids in this situation.
I've been guilty of doing some incredibly stupid things, but man.... I don't know what I'd do if I found either of my kids in this situation.
The 2 boys have been found guilty.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/17/steubenville-rape-trial-verdict_n_2895541.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D284894
rivil
Please don't get the idea that I don't think this could happen, because I know it can. I find myself astounded that people could behave in such a callous manner as these boys did. Bad enough to do it, worse yet to flaunt it all over cyberspace.
I also wonder at a young girl out drinking so much that she doesn't remember what happened. Don't get me wrong; I'm not blaming her or holding her responsible in any way. I just think young people need to be more mindful of their actions.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/17/steubenville-rape-trial-verdict_n_2895541.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D284894
rivil
Please don't get the idea that I don't think this could happen, because I know it can. I find myself astounded that people could behave in such a callous manner as these boys did. Bad enough to do it, worse yet to flaunt it all over cyberspace.
I also wonder at a young girl out drinking so much that she doesn't remember what happened. Don't get me wrong; I'm not blaming her or holding her responsible in any way. I just think young people need to be more mindful of their actions.
Perfect storm.....
Ri,
I def believe this could happen..I mean it does all the time. from reading the guilty verdict story it clearly seems like she was drugged. She said herself that she couldn't see being so intoxicated. Lie SM said, there are those girls that put themselves in these kind of situations all the time. I was def not blaming her because no matter the "character" of someone, they do NOT deserve to be violated and passed around like she was.
In regards to the verdict, I'm very happy it happened and they were found guilty. Hopefully, this shows other "football star" punks and their coaches that try to cover it up that they are NOT above the law. Rape is a CRIME....
I def believe this could happen..I mean it does all the time. from reading the guilty verdict story it clearly seems like she was drugged. She said herself that she couldn't see being so intoxicated. Lie SM said, there are those girls that put themselves in these kind of situations all the time. I was def not blaming her because no matter the "character" of someone, they do NOT deserve to be violated and passed around like she was.
In regards to the verdict, I'm very happy it happened and they were found guilty. Hopefully, this shows other "football star" punks and their coaches that try to cover it up that they are NOT above the law. Rape is a CRIME....
"Lie SM said, there are those girls that put themselves in these kind of situations all the time."
The sad thing is that it happens to girls who do not put themselves in these situations as well. We can be smart when we go out and not leave ourselves vulnerable as she did, but there are many many girls who unless they stayed locked up at home, are still at risk for being raped or exploited.
I know you weren't blaming the victim but I always feel a need to point out that bad things happen to ppl who do not put themselves at risk too.
I read the article and saw the pics. of the boys crying. I do truly feel bad for them. They were intoxicated with raging hormones-not an excuse at all, but stupid, stupid boys being led by their sex.
As juveniles they will have a sealed record and will be able to truly reform their lives as I believe they will.
The sad thing is that it happens to girls who do not put themselves in these situations as well. We can be smart when we go out and not leave ourselves vulnerable as she did, but there are many many girls who unless they stayed locked up at home, are still at risk for being raped or exploited.
I know you weren't blaming the victim but I always feel a need to point out that bad things happen to ppl who do not put themselves at risk too.
I read the article and saw the pics. of the boys crying. I do truly feel bad for them. They were intoxicated with raging hormones-not an excuse at all, but stupid, stupid boys being led by their sex.
As juveniles they will have a sealed record and will be able to truly reform their lives as I believe they will.
"As juveniles they will have a sealed record and will be able to truly reform their lives as I believe they will." With all the publicity they've garnered over this, I can't see a sealed record doing them a bit of good.
Yes, bad things can happen to anyone, but people who put themselves in those positions are the most vulnerable.
Yes, bad things can happen to anyone, but people who put themselves in those positions are the most vulnerable.
Yes, bad things can happen to anyone, but people who put themselves in those positions are the most vulnerable.
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That goes without saying.
My point is that most young women go out with friends and drink. The assumption is that these friends are trustworthy. It is more of a case of betrayal of "friends" than it is a case of carelessness, in most situations.
With all the publicity they've garnered over this, I can't see a sealed record doing them a bit of good.
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True enough though in time, if they move out of State and behave themselves
they still have a chance at making a decent life.
She was in highschool. To me, I caution young women about making those choices. I don't do things that take me out of my right frame of mind because . . . you never know what can happen. Doesn't mean anyone deserves bad things to happen, but you are taking a risk.
Granted, some can drop something in your coke when out.
I honestly knew girls in college that put themselves in danger . . . every single time they went out. dumb. When I was in my later years and a resident assistent in the dorm--- we'd hold meetings for girls to talk about this.
So, on that end of things I do wish women made wiser decisions and young men too.
I will also say that I have not one ounce of empathy for these boys. Not one. I absolutely hope this haunts them for their entire life. Life is about choices and they did somthing that not every guy would do and then worse, joked about it afterwards. That's an issue of lack of inner character.
Granted, some can drop something in your coke when out.
I honestly knew girls in college that put themselves in danger . . . every single time they went out. dumb. When I was in my later years and a resident assistent in the dorm--- we'd hold meetings for girls to talk about this.
So, on that end of things I do wish women made wiser decisions and young men too.
I will also say that I have not one ounce of empathy for these boys. Not one. I absolutely hope this haunts them for their entire life. Life is about choices and they did somthing that not every guy would do and then worse, joked about it afterwards. That's an issue of lack of inner character.
*assistant.
We feel like we have control over things when we can say that people put themselves in high risk situations.
Of course that is true, no one questions that.
At least I am not, but my point is that in the real world girls go out with friends, they may or may not drink, but they may be taken advantage of...that is because those friends betrayed and hurt them, not because they went out.
Walking out the door is putting oneself at risk, but we do it everyday because we must and because we have faith in the goodness of people. When "friends" fail, it is not the fault of the one who trusted them.
I do get your point and I want to make sure you get mine as well.
About the boys, they really didn't get much of a punishment, like I said, their lives can go on after that year and they can make good. I do hope there is some serious counseling done or some sort of educational process that will drive home to them the absolute baseness of their actions so that their tears will one day be of remorse rather than for being punished.
Of course that is true, no one questions that.
At least I am not, but my point is that in the real world girls go out with friends, they may or may not drink, but they may be taken advantage of...that is because those friends betrayed and hurt them, not because they went out.
Walking out the door is putting oneself at risk, but we do it everyday because we must and because we have faith in the goodness of people. When "friends" fail, it is not the fault of the one who trusted them.
I do get your point and I want to make sure you get mine as well.
About the boys, they really didn't get much of a punishment, like I said, their lives can go on after that year and they can make good. I do hope there is some serious counseling done or some sort of educational process that will drive home to them the absolute baseness of their actions so that their tears will one day be of remorse rather than for being punished.
"I know you weren't blaming the victim but I always feel a need to point out that bad things happen to ppl who do not put themselves at risk too."
Agreed:)...
"I will also say that I have not one ounce of empathy for these boys. Not one. I absolutely hope this haunts them for their entire life. Life is about choices and they did somthing that not every guy would do and then worse, joked about it afterwards. That's an issue of lack of inner character."
DITTO!
I have to add that there were plenty of other kids their who chose NOT to participate and they came forward and did the right thing..Life is about choices. they knew it was bad, they knew they shouldn't have done it but they did. They did it when she was completely out of it so that makes them even more scumbags...Young or not. I will break my son in half if he EVER treated a girl this way. We teach him to respect EVERYONE especially girls/women.
Agreed:)...
"I will also say that I have not one ounce of empathy for these boys. Not one. I absolutely hope this haunts them for their entire life. Life is about choices and they did somthing that not every guy would do and then worse, joked about it afterwards. That's an issue of lack of inner character."
DITTO!
I have to add that there were plenty of other kids their who chose NOT to participate and they came forward and did the right thing..Life is about choices. they knew it was bad, they knew they shouldn't have done it but they did. They did it when she was completely out of it so that makes them even more scumbags...Young or not. I will break my son in half if he EVER treated a girl this way. We teach him to respect EVERYONE especially girls/women.
I want to know where the parents were in all of this? The girl said she remembered having three drinks. I dont remember what each was but I do remember thinking when they named them that oh no, they aint gonna mix. She threw up and evidently blacked out and then the boys had their fun with her. She didnt go to the hospital and when it was posted on a social site, the charges were decided upon at that time. They brought it on themselves. And I do have empathy for all of them. One stupid night of trying to act big and impress one another is gonna cost them big. Unfortunately if they had not been caught, would they be feeling remorse? Doubtful.
And I do have empathy for all of them. One stupid night of trying to act big and impress one another is gonna cost them big. Unfortunately if they had not been caught, would they be feeling remorse? Doubtful.
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So right on Teko.
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So right on Teko.
"I want to know where the parents were in all of this?"
No idea where the girl's parents were; she was actually from WV and this took place in OH, so maybe she was visiting relatives, on vacation? How would she know a lot of people in another state to be going out drinking with? Her mother was in court, but of course, they didn't show her in order to protect the girl's identity.
Ma'Lik Richmond's father was interviewed after the sentencing and I felt like he kind of "excused" his son, because he hadn't "been there for him" during his growing years. Maybe he wasn't there for him, but that's not an excuse for raping a young girl.
I didn't see anything about the other boy's family/background, but I haven't watched news this evening either.
Let's face it - all of these kids were underage and should not even have had access to alcohol. Wouldn't there have to be someone old enough to buy alcohol involved? Or did they get it from a parent's liquor cabinet?
Yeah, teko, we really have to ask where the parents were...
No idea where the girl's parents were; she was actually from WV and this took place in OH, so maybe she was visiting relatives, on vacation? How would she know a lot of people in another state to be going out drinking with? Her mother was in court, but of course, they didn't show her in order to protect the girl's identity.
Ma'Lik Richmond's father was interviewed after the sentencing and I felt like he kind of "excused" his son, because he hadn't "been there for him" during his growing years. Maybe he wasn't there for him, but that's not an excuse for raping a young girl.
I didn't see anything about the other boy's family/background, but I haven't watched news this evening either.
Let's face it - all of these kids were underage and should not even have had access to alcohol. Wouldn't there have to be someone old enough to buy alcohol involved? Or did they get it from a parent's liquor cabinet?
Yeah, teko, we really have to ask where the parents were...
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