Mercades’ request to go public denied

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Yesterday I posted about how alleged beating ringleader Mercades Nichols requested from a judge to be able to travel to tell the world her story and apologize. That request has been…DENIED!!!

Her house arrest has been partially lifted allowing her to go to school, work, church, etc.

Mercades’ mom chimes in…

After the hearing, Nichols mother said that her daughter wanted to be able to issue an apology, and that’s why she made the request to change her restrictions. She also expressed that she disagrees with the judge’s decision.

“She wanted to get her side out there, and I just think that it’s unfair that everyone else is having to talk about my daughter,” said Christina Garcia, Nichols’ mother.

Oh, I think that we’ve already seen your daughter’s side. And if you didn’t want people to talk about her then she shouldn’t have beaten Victoria Lindsay and had one of her dumbass friends record it. See how that works?

Comments

82 responses to “Mercades’ request to go public denied”

June 3, 2008

mark

Finally, the courts do something right.

Reply
June 3, 2008

Chuck D.

She can’t talk about it? As Jerry Seinfeld would say, “Eh, that’s a shame”…LOL

Reply
June 3, 2008

navigator

Thank you Judge Spoto! This girl and her mother make me sick. She stated she wanted to make a “possible apology” to the victim… They just wanted to make money off of the victims suffering by going on the springer/dr.phill bull**** programs. Mercedes mother just doesn’t know when to shut her mouth… she just keeps digging herself and her daughter into a bigger “white trash” hole. I DON’T want to hear what they have to say.. they are only going to try to degrade the victim. The attorney said “no one is asking about what lead up to this” … who cares… At this point I am beginning to think that what ever she said on myspace was probably true! And the truth hurts but does not condone a beating. AND if they did have a REASON then why didn’t they bring it up in the second video? The only thing they seem to care about is that Tori slept with HER OWN BOYFRIEND and if that is enough to get you beat, then we are ALL in trouble.

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June 3, 2008

Paulo

I almost bought the thing about wanting to apologize, until I read the quote from Mom about “getting her side out there.” I agree that she just wants to make some money by being on TV, and “getting her side out there” probably means somehow defending her actions, not apologizing.

Reply
June 4, 2008

John

Excellent ruling on the part of the judge.

Anyone know if Victoria will be going to college? She’s apparently a senior. She shouldn’t let this stop her life.

Reply
June 5, 2008

Heyyyall

John- Yes Victoria Will be attending College, after she get’s married and Has her baby.

Reply
June 6, 2008

MOMMA

I would like to hear the other side of the story. V Lindsay recently stole my daughters identity and when my daughters license was pulled up after getting pulled Victoria’s picture showed up with my daughters name and birth date. The DMV will not let my daughter get a new license because of this. My daughter also had to apply for a new SS card. But now can’t get on the flight we have already paid for so she can be with my daughter that is having our first granchild and is in the Air Force. She’s trash, pregnant and out dancing at the club in Lakeland, mean while trying to sneak off to Korea to meet a guy under my daughters name. OH the stories I could tell and my daughter only hung around with her a few weeks. Oh but what a little princess poor thing well she is a BULLY and big time crap too I mean big. I have seen the text messages she has sent about how none of us can touch her because she has the best attorney in town. I could go own but the tramp don’t deserve the time.

Reply
June 6, 2008

Trench

If that’s true why aren’t you filing charges for identity theft?

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June 6, 2008

Damon

Hey guess what pregnant Tori is at the club pregnant and drinking tonight, go see her at Gonzos. Everybody thinks she’s a joke.

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June 6, 2008

momma

I can’t file the charges becasue my daughter is 19 and she has to do it. I have left it up to her and she did file identity theft with Tallahasee. But as far as the police well the V. Lindsay gang has sent threats to my daughter which has pushed me to visit with my lawyer. Oh and what a great Tampa attorney he is. These little girls oh my gosh what a group, she has sent text messages to me I won’t repeat at this time and she’s not allowed on my space so she uses her boyfriends account that is away IN KOREA. Slick little shit she can out smart the best of them. Yet she say’s IM STUPID?

Reply
June 6, 2008

Trench

A little proof would be nice.

Reply
June 7, 2008

andy

Is there any video evidence that VLindsay was actually knocked out in that “violent” beating?

Reply
June 7, 2008

Bay

Way to go to the Judge
I applaud him for not allowing Momma and child to take their show on the road. Thank you for sparing the public and thank you for not allowing these two to get anymore than that 15 seconds of fame they already have.

Now can you do us all one more favor Your honor and lock them all up as adults for a few years like maybe 15 to 20.

Reply
June 7, 2008

navigator

Moma, you must be on of the parents of the accused trying to discredit the victim. This girl is graduating early from highschool in the top of her class. She nor her family has mentioned anything about being pregant and if she was out on the town, trust me, the media would know and right away!!! They watch her and the accused like a hawk. You can say all you want but it will never change the fact that the accused beat her… kept her in a house (kidnapping) and they deserve jail time ! If you have issues, you should have resolved them… they are seperate from this case. Keep in mind that the media has already dug up all kinds of stuff on the accused and if there WAS anything on the victim, it would have been dug up as well… NO SUCH THING has been found… unless you have proof, you need to go to the story telling forum.

Reply
June 7, 2008

Chuck D.

I think Momma here could best be described as big on talk, short on evidence.

Reply
June 7, 2008

Trench

The word libel comes to mind.

Reply
June 8, 2008

momma

When my daughter GOT PULLED my daughters name and birthday came up on the computer with THE VICTIMS picture. My daughter got me on the cell phone and I talked to the officer. I don’t know any of thses girls, I have never met either side. Why would you say I am a mother of one of the freaks that beat her. I am just a parent finding out that all these girls involved. BOTH SIDES are nothing but trouble. I never have said that should have happened to her. I never said she was out of town, she didn’t make it. Now my daughter may not get on her flight because of the great one. Matter of fact I never mentioned anything about the beating I DO NOT approve of such a thing! It was awful and this sort of thing has gone on around here for a long time, this is just the first time it has been put on video. But I didn’t come on here to talk about the beating in the first place. Just pissed off because the county angel gets away with everything, she can’t keep going around bulling people, hurting people and causing them hardship just because she was a victim once her self. They are all a bunch of BRATS! When you have suffered through identity theft you might realize, and I have. It takes years to fix and then may never come out right. But let her continue to do these type of things because she can and it will catch up with her. It’s just causing us problems BUT ITS OK RIGHT? Do you think gangs are only the creepy people with chains and inked skin? Ever seen the movie Mean Girls, or Wild Things?

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June 8, 2008

Soobs

She can’t “tell her side” of the story? Uh…isn’t that what a COURTROOM is for?

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June 8, 2008

Hmm…

One: NO ONE IS PERFECT. Not the people who’ve done this to Victoria, And Not Victoria. Shes 17, What teenager isn’t a brat? Come on. As for the Identy Thieft, If you get it sort out, How will it change your life completely? If you say Victoria has done it, And you have complete and honest proof, Then the police or whatnot should have settle it all already. AND, This is NOT the first time this sort or shit has been put on video. go to youtube search fight or whatever you will find ton’s of immature stupid people beating the shit out of someone. THe fact they wouldn’t let her go, and Seriously injured her is alot. Victoria don’t use her boyfriend’s myspace. She has her own. I don’t believe she was banded from it. But she has her own and goes on it. I should know I’m a friend on her myspace. people these days. But just remmeber Momma. NO ONE IS PERFECT.

Reply
June 9, 2008

someone elses mom

your daughter needs her ass beat………….i have a good idea she will get whats commin and hopefully they tape it so we can watch…oh yea i hope they sue the pants off you so you dont have anything left………….you deserve it 🙂

Reply
June 9, 2008

Angry Mom

Are you kidding me? It is no wonder why these kids would do this in the first place. Look at their families making up excuses for them and wanting everyone to play the sorry card for their kids. Maybe if they did a little more parenting this would have never happened!!! One could only hope these kids could get a taste of their own medicine. I’ll bet if the shoe were on the other foot, these parents of these punk kids would feel differently!!! I hope they get what is coming to them.

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June 9, 2008

J

Law enforcement lied &mdash if you look at the sworn statements from the victim and her ride, it is clear that 1) they did NOT &ldquolure&rdquo her into the house, they in fact kicked her out and she was let back in only because her ride insisted on it 2) Two of the girls never hit her 3) it was all impromptu, not planned 4) there is NO evidence against the &ldquolookouts&rdquo.

The supposed lack of remorse is also bull, 3 of the girls apologized soon after the beating and Kayla cried every night in jail.

Tori was probably NEVER uncounscious and the girls probably never even realized she suffered a concussion. The new video directly contradicts the “knocked out” allegations.

The media will NOT teel you the truth about any of this.

Yes the girls have done something very wrong, but it boils down to a *misdemeanor* battery. Now they will become felons for life (it can never be erased).

That&rsquos assuming they will all be still alive when the trial starts trial &mdash there&rsquos been numerous death threats by phone and and innumerable threats against them posted on the Internet. Law enforcement released their home addresses so that any lunatic can find them there under home arrest. And law enforcement then refused to protect them.

All this lying and misinformation in the media may yet get them killed. Judging by the comments here I guess many of you will be very happy then.

Reply
June 9, 2008

Mark

J:
You have got to be kidding right???
This beating went on for over 30 min, we have only been a witness to maybe 4 – 5 min. You sound as though you are close to one of the defendants..I am sorry for this, but you must understand, the courts will make an example of this (I hope) and send a clear message to the nation and everyone else that this type of behavior is wrong, plain and simple. I personally have never seen anything like this in my life. and they filmed it!!! Wow.

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June 9, 2008

Angry Mom

I can’t believe anyone is defending these losers!!!! Come on, it was six against one…How is that fair. There is nothing in the world that justifies what happened to Tori. These kids deserve what they got coming to them!!!!!

Reply
June 9, 2008

nancy grace

alright only 2 beat her
victoria lindsays myspace :http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&ampfriendid=305586258
where she says that shes pregnant and she makes comments that does make her a slut
also it didnt go on for 30 minutes and victoria was not dragged there at all

Reply
June 9, 2008

J

To Mark: You’ve been brainwashed by the media. The two tapes released so far total almost 8 minutes of which only a little over a minute is violence — they mainly argue. The nana of Mercades saw the entire tape and said the sheriff selected the worst part of it. That’s the same nana who, after Tori’s mom called her, confronted Mercades about the video and then gave it to the sheriff.

The sheriff lies and lies, pure and simple. Start with the facts, please stop spreading misinformation and lies.

And you obviously never saw ay girls fights or beatings, the video pales compared to typical girl fights and beatings.

It’s clear at least one girl (hardcaste) hit way too hard, and yes she deserves some jail time. But, without more evidence, making felons for ever out of girls as young as 14 and sending them into adult prison for years is simply insane.

BTW, if “the courts will make an example of this” — and they will — it will be by definition injustice.

Reply
June 9, 2008

J

To Angry Mom: what do you mean by “defending these losers”? When someone points out that law enforcement is lying about the teens, you think it’s wrong? It’s right to pretend lies are true? And when someone points out the girls may get killed because of all the lies, it’s wrong because of what? Because you are so full of hatred you’ll be happy if they get murdered?

Reply
June 9, 2008

navigator

J,

They BETTER get what is coming to them! It is obvious that you are a relative or friend of one of the defendants. You want to discredit the victim to make this look better for them in some way… SORRY… it is on video for the world to see and YES is was premeditated. These girls knew exactly what they were doing and need to pay for it. The questions that are being asked in the latest video were pre-planned and sound rehearsed. “hardcastle just hit her to hard”… DAMN… I hope you don’t breed either!! So you think that it ok to beat someone… as long as you don’t hit them to hard? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD? No wonder these girls have no sense of right or wrong, they have idiots like yourself as role models!! No I don’t hope they get murdered, but they sure came close to murdering Tori… I don’t see you giving a CRAP about that. I don’t see ANY of those girls showing ANY remorse at ALL! They just want to get their little butts out of trouble, and are just waiting for their parents to bail them out of ANOTHER screw up. Whats going to happen the NEXT time they do this … and it turns out a little differently… are you going to say they don’t deserve to go to prison for murder because the person deserved to die? Sadly, you probably will because you are pathetic! I don’t think anyone here HATES them… it is just hard to believe that a girl (Mercedes) and her pathetic mother would stoop so low to think they could go out on a talk show curcuit and make money off of someone elses suffering and SOMEHOW think that the public would give a SH** about what they have to say.

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June 9, 2008

mark

J:
The media really did not have to work very hard on this one it was more of a play by play action, kind of what a sportscaster would do. All they did is watch the video(s) and report.
Now let me see if I have the facts straight based on simple visual and audio observations.
They beat her (Victoria) un-provoked, (please do not tell me she provoked this by saying or writing words) knocked her on the bed and continued beating her (Assault) all the while being cheered on. She ran out of the room and asked for help. NO ONE HELPED (Aiding). Then we see her getting up off the sofa and sucker punched (again)(Aggravated Assault and battery) Then told that she was not allowed to leave, keeping a hand on the only exit, with two boys outside (Kidnapping). Now, you are terrorized, assaulted and kidnapped for 30 seconds, 30 minutes or 30 years, there is no difference.

Then April Cooper had the absolute gull having a tough time keeping a straight face while in front of the judge, that just plain sickens me to no end. They all had a chance to be remorseful WITHOUT speaking, as I am sure they were advised. I saw no remorse whatsoever. These &ldquopeople&rdquo should be removed from society for a very long time.

They are not upset for what they have done they are upset that they got in trouble.
I would hate for anyone to go through what Victoria went through. This was not perpetrated by the media in any way shape or form

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June 9, 2008

J

Navgator, you’re a lier. I never tried to discredit the victim, in fact I pointed out her sworn testimony shows law enforcement is lying. And I never said hitting her was OK.

And you want them to show remorse HOW when they are prohibited from apologizing? You’re such a hypocrit — you got fooled by the sheriff and now you’re too much of a coward to admit it.

And no I’m not related and I do not know any of them at all. And I do want them to be punished — punished justly, that’s all.

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June 9, 2008

J

To mark: you’re a good example of being brainwashed. You SAW on a video tape “two boys outside”?!? Your entire babble is full of such nonsense.

As to reading remorse from the faces of the teens, you just see whatever you want to see. And I know several girls who giggle nervously when they are in a serious situation. April was facing life on prison — real criminals would act like they are full of remorse but she’s a child and has no clue her fate is supposed to be decided by her misreading her facial expressions instead of by a fair and just trial based on facts.

You’re just lying — you do NOT know what each and every girl thinks, you just make it up and spread lies about children as facts. Bloody coward.

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June 9, 2008

mark

ok J,

Your right and the rest of the world is wrong. My guess You did not fair well on the debate team and you are making up for lost time.
Good luck with that.

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June 9, 2008

J

To mark: why don’t you just read the sworn testimonies available at http://www.theledger.com and think a little.

And listen to the audio on the videos. Why does one girl yell 3-4 times at Hardcastle “Let her run away!” Why did April tell Tori to “go” several times? Why did one of the girls tell Tori to leave?

They already made her *leave* with all her things once, she’d be gone if her ride did not insist they let her back in. Mercades went to the ride even after Tori went back in and said Tori needs a place to stay but her ride did not want the burden and so drove away.

There’s no indication of any plans for a 6-1 beating, indeed according to the victim they NEVER attacked her two at the same time. They screamed they wanted her to fight 1 on 1 and Kayla complained Tori promised to beat her ass.

And yes what they did was absolutely wrong and they deserve punishment. They do not, however, deserve to have their lives put in grave danger. And they do not deserve insanely unjust punishments simply because millions of fools believe the media like mindless sheep.

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June 9, 2008

navigator

J,

So you fear for the life of these BRATS, Kinda like Tori probably felt when she was being beatin…. Maybe you should think about HER shoe being on YOUR FOOT! CARMA will get them, no matter what!

Also I am NOT a liar or a hypocrit. They had PLENTY of time before they had a gag order put on them to apologize, but instead, they decided to go on public television and say that Tori DESERVED it…. the parents saying that their kids are “angels” PLEEEEASSE give me a D*** break, they are repeat criminals already, every one of them. You know it, the sheriff knows it and the judge is gonna make it STICK this time…

And yes, Mark… April Cooper with her little smirk made me sick too. I guess to J, that is her way of showing simpathy for the victim.

And by the way, I HAVE read the statements, I know what they say. It states plain as day that she was lured to the house when Mercedes suddenly became “nice” and said to hurry home. And yes, she should have left… BUT SHE WAS LIVING THERE !! She trusted that Mercedes was going to be her friend and let her get her things and find another place to stay… she had know idea this was going to happen to her and any respecting HUMAN would have let her leave with her belongings. This girl was supposed to be her FRIEND.

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June 9, 2008

navigator

Mark,

“Making up for lost time”…lol… she needs to go back and learn more words then liar before trying to debate in this forum.

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June 9, 2008

J

Navigator, you moron, they were in jail all the way until the judge gagged them. And what is the nonsense about them being on TV and about “the parents”? Are you on drugs?

And yes you’re a lier, and lied again, you do NOT know that every one is a repeat criminal, it’s just more lies.

And again you lie about facts. Tori was already on her way home when she got the messages. And Mercades immediately kicked her out when she arrived. The “luring” is a paranoid fantasy on par with saying NASA never put a man on the moon. You should check yourself into a mental facility.

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June 9, 2008

navigator

AAHHH J

I thought I recognized your bull line!! I am a member of the Ledger and live in the area myself… HUMMM… you couldn’t pull the Cr** over their eyes so you thought you’d come here… LOLOLOL…. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. Again, VIDEO… it is on VIDEO and no matter how hard you try, you are NOT going to get people to think your daughter was “innocent” in this. Your not supposed to be talking anyway…

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June 9, 2008

J

And yes Mercades was a rotten friend and was extremely cruel to Tori. And her own mom said she should have called cops and that she should go to jail for not doing so.

None of that justifies law enforcement and idots like you spreading lies about her and the other accused teens. If your daughter does something wrong, people do not have the right to lie about her either.

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June 9, 2008

navigator

The funny thing is… they are NOT lieing about her… wake up!!! She has a criminal record of stabbing her boyfriend and stalking him. April Cooper was on probation for attacking another girl violently. They tried to run another girl off the road with a car….

WHAT PART OF THAT IS LIEING??

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June 9, 2008

navigator

Yes these are teens, but they are acting like HARDENED criminals and need rehabilitaion!!! The Juvi system has not worked for them so far… so now we need to put them in a place that MIGHT keep them from laughing when they get there!!!

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June 9, 2008

J

Navigator, your fantasy mode is in overdrive. And I never said any of the girls are innocent. Raving lunatics like you will probably end up on the jury — and your mind will be well made up ahead and you’ll never listen to the facts. It will be a great victory for justice…

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June 9, 2008

navigator

Exactly, let’s let the facts speak for them selves. Like Mark stated earlier and I think you missed it …

“They beat her (Victoria) un-provoked, (please do not tell me she provoked this by saying or writing words) knocked her on the bed and continued beating her (Assault) all the while being cheered on. She ran out of the room and asked for help. NO ONE HELPED (Aiding). Then we see her getting up off the sofa and sucker punched (again)(Aggravated Assault and battery) Then told that she was not allowed to leave, keeping a hand on the only exit, with two boys outside (Kidnapping). Now, you are terrorized, assaulted and kidnapped for 30 seconds, 30 minutes or 30 years, there is no difference.

Then April Cooper had the absolute gull having a tough time keeping a straight face while in front of the judge, that just plain sickens me to no end. They all had a chance to be remorseful WITHOUT speaking, as I am sure they were advised. I saw no remorse whatsoever. These &ldquopeople&rdquo should be removed from society for a very long time.

They are not upset for what they have done they are upset that they got in trouble. ”

ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!

Reply
June 9, 2008

J

Navigator:
Neither Mercades nor April was convicted of anything as far as I know. And the statement was about *all* the girls, not just two of them. And I never heard any of the girls went to a juvie so again you’re probably just lying, right? Just make up stuff as you go…

HARDENED criminals would NEVER turn over a tape of their crime to law enforcement — but many kids would, because they are naive and think they will be judged fairly and get a fair sentence.

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June 9, 2008

J

I did not miss anything — I already answered mark’s nonsense.

Reply
June 9, 2008

Imayoungmomamiaslut?

so i’m a young mom, and i’ve done wrong thing’s does this make me a slut as well? And another thing. I’ve followed this story since it first came out on the new’s and what not. And I have felt bad for Victoria, and I’ve cried nights thinking about how cruel these kid’s are. And I support Victoria 100% so i hope my next comment will not make anyone think that I’m defendin those girl’s who’ve done this. But look at it this way, People say Victoria brought it on herself, She’s a slut, She started shit. And about her not leaving when she had the chance, that they said for her to leave but she didn’t or her ride wouldn’t take her. I’m not saying she’s a slut, and i’m not saying she started it, I know how teen’s are, I myself am One ((I don’t start shit liket his thuogh)) But I know people run there mouth, sometimes not realizing it. But if Victoria did this, If she did stay at the house, Does that STILL give those girls any right reason to beat the shit out of her for 30 min? No It don’t, EVEN if Vicotoria had started it or what not. ((Not saying she did)) But you get my point. Noone deserves to be treated and beaten like that. I am agasint violence 100% and I think that people are stupid and immature when they beat someone up just so they can look “cool” get fame on youtube and what not. It’s stupid and Immature, and they need to grow the fuck up. It don’t matter if this went on for 5 min or for the full 30 that it did. The problem is 6 girls gained up on one and that’s wrong. There is alot of simular fights out there, But it just so happens that these girls’ were cought. Victoria did the right thing and reported them. And that alone makes her strong. lol some of the comments people left on here are so funny. wow. well I believe those 6 girls got what they deserve and I hope they pay for it.

Reply
June 10, 2008

mark

J, Just curious, you mention over and over that the girls (all 8) deserve “some” jail time. What would that be “in your opinion”. What would you consider fair and just? Please put all your emotions aside when answering. Note: It is obvious that some deserve more time than others.

Reply
June 10, 2008

Angry Mom

J, I think you are missing everyone’s point on here. It doesn’t matter how long this fight went on, who provoked it, or who actually did the hitting. The proof was on Tori’s face and her medical examination after the fact. These other girls in the house could have stepped up and said no this is wrong and could have gotten help, but they didn’t. They chose to stand there and watch, yell in the background “oh yeah baby” and didn’t give a crap that Tori was crying and hurt. Because she doesn’t leave the house when they tell her to, that gives them the right to beat the S*** out of her. I don’t think so. If that is your excuse for what they did, they could have called the cops and had them remove her. Give me a break. Has it come down to defending the guilty? It does not matter what Tori did or what people are saying she is “a slut.” Who the hell cares. This was unfair what they did to her and they will pay for it. Our society does not put up with such bull s***. Perhaps if this happened to one of your family members, you may feel differently about it……

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June 10, 2008

Angry Mom

J, you ask if I would be happy if these kids were killed? I do not support violence, so no that would not make me happy. However, do you think these teens were worried about Tori’s outcome while they were beating on her? Oh yeah, only two of them beat on her, but the rest sure sat back and watched and got a good show out of it didn’t they? These kids don’t care about what they did. They care about themselves and their image and how they look to other people. They are COWARDS!!!! How can someone be remorseful when they witness a fight and cheer it on when the other person isn’t fighting back? That is not remorse..Sorry

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June 10, 2008

Hoodcastle

I fucked mercedes. shes not a good fuck at all she has beef curtains.

aside from that fact shes also a lyin slut who used to suck me and my boy off sometimes when we smoked bowls behind the bball courts. she gave us herpes and lied about how one of us gave it to her.

true story. she was mad cuz tori look betta.

Reply
June 10, 2008

Trench

John P. aka Hoodcastle. Dude, you have some issues and I will keep banning you until you stay banned.

Reply
June 10, 2008

J

To Navigator: as far as I know, only Tori actually has criminal convictions (batteries). I’ve seen no proof that either Mercades or April was ever convicted of any crime.

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June 10, 2008

J

To mark: I did not say *all* the girls deserve jail time — I said Hardcastle deserves some jail time.

Before I give my opinion, there are two issues.

First, regardless of my opinion, the sentences these girls actually get should NOT be out of line with sentences for similar crimes in Florida. And in that case it is clear that NONE of the girls should get any jail time.

Second, with juveniles in particular, the effects of the sentences should be taken into account. Given what is known about Florida jails and prisons, it is doubtful any of the girls would come out without severe and probably permanent injuries. Same goes for juvies. And juvies in particular can also destroy the girl’s education because it tends to be on a primitive level there.

So for now I wil IGNORE the two issues above and pretend this is not Florida and that juvies and jails can keep the girls safe and educated.

In that case, I can *approximate* sentences based on what I know so far, but of course it could change a lot if new info comes up.

In my opinion Hardcastle should do two to three months in jail and have a long probation during which she must go see a psychologist every week. She clearly has sadistic tendencies — and no I do not think psychologists can cure her, but talking about her frustrations on one hand, and being reminded every week of how she screwed up on the other hand, may help keep her out of trouble until she grows up a little.

As for April, I’d send her for two summers and two spring breaks into a juvie, plus 1 year of evening and weekend home arrest and a lot of community service.

For the rest of the gang, it would be home arrests on evenings and weekends plus a lot of community service in proportion to their guilt.

And if I really could have my way, I’d have them undergo painful weekly public corporal punishments as well. These would be semi-voluntary (the girls could chicken out in exchange for a lot of other punishment) and so maybe even legal in some juristictions.

Reply
June 10, 2008

mark

Ok…and you are of course entitled to your opinion. Thank you for that. My question to you would be how would that punishment persuade other teens from similar actions? The law, the way I understand it goes both ways…one as a punishment, the other…a deterrent(not sure of spelling) to others. If you remember, we used to flog prisoners in public as a lesson. Ahhh, I so miss the ol’ days.

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June 10, 2008

momma

I know that no one is perfect, I wish none of this had happened, it really brings out the nasty in people and shows how we aren’t together in nothing. Not even raising our kids right. Not after some of the trash I have heard on this crimespace. No one bands together anymore not even in a small community like ours. So much hate. Who could ever wish someones child would get beat? That’s sick and pathetic! They are our babies no matter what. I’m sure someone will find a way to twist my words seems like that’s what this site is all about. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! This has been! Good Bye see you in the news because they are so great right 🙁 Oh and what great dirty words I have learned now I feel all grown up, all 45 years of me. WOW

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June 10, 2008

mark

J

I honestly do not know how to punish these indivuals, having re-read your answer makes sense, however, these are trying times we live in. Not sure how it would go. Lets all learn from this The best way to help is to pay as much attention to your children as possible, which is what I intend to do now.
Thanks for the debate.

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June 10, 2008

Laurie

J – I agree with you in your viewpoints and outlook on this particular situation. This ‘fight’ is representative of so much that is wrong with us…as someone else said above, we are no longer concerned for each other and we need to turn that around.

I also know that the media takes stories and puts a spin on them. It happens each and every day. Certain stories get reported, others ignored. Certain details get reported, others ignored. Stories can be presented in a way that leads those hearing it to believe the so called facts when the truth can be far from what you heard.

All of these girls will have a long road ahead. Hopefully if we do the right thing and provide the best consequences, they will learn from this, heal, and move on. Otherwise I fear they are already members of that long term group know as inmates and we will be providing them with re-enforcement of bad behavior, enabling them by allowing them to feed off the system instead of paying back to the community with good old fashioned hard work.

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June 10, 2008

momma

Finally 🙂

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June 10, 2008

LawAndOrder

Lock em up and throw away the key.. including the accomplices… state maximum security prison too not some fluffy county jail

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June 10, 2008

LawAndOrder

J:

One of them, April Cooper, was actually LAUGHING at her bond appearance!

Also, Sheriff Judd says they were laughing and joking in the holding cell shortly after arrest.

So yes, NO REMORSE. Remorse that they got caught perhaps…

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June 10, 2008

LawAndOrder

Oh and to further drive home the lack of remorse point.. here are some new (new as in, post-incident) photos of Brittini Hardcastle. She is all smiles. (Look at the datestamp in the pictures)
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseact…

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June 10, 2008

cristine schumaker

remember ya’ll, just cuz its on video dont mean they be guilty… remember the rodney king video?? well the beaters were found NOT GUILTY, the same will happen here… i reckon when the trial thing starts youll here the full story and see that these ppl you all hate so much are actually decent ppl

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June 10, 2008

J

To MOMMA: You wrote “She&rsquos … trying to sneak off to Korea to meet a guy under my daughters name.”

Not sure how she could do that. She would have to
have a *passport* under your daughter’s name, no?
And why couldn’t she just go under her own name to Korea?

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June 12, 2008

mommyof1

Regardless if the girls told her to leave prior to Victoria entering the house, does not mean beat her and do not allow her to exit freely.
No one can say if one of the girls hit Victoria hard or semi-hard, because Victoria was the only one who felt the impact from the hits. Plus, if they did not hit her soft, why would she loose part of her hearing and sight on her left side.
I believe the only reason these girls are willing to apologize, because they are aware of consequences. They knew Victoria was going to go to the local police, or else they would not have threatened her with a worse beating.
Regardless if the two parts of the videos are the worst parts or not, everyone has their own opinion on what is the worse that can happen to you or someone else.
I give credit to the grandmother of Mercedes, because she took action and handed over the videotape to the police, knowing he granddaughter will be charged with a serious crime. As for the mother of Mercedes, the world now knows why she does not have custody of her daughter. For the other girls, I do not care if they are crying in jail. They deserve it. If the judge lets this slid, they will believe they are untouchable.
As a parent, I pray to GOD my son never commits a crime like this. I will continue to teach him to share, and not trust anyone but God.
I hope the girls accept God into their hearts, and grow from their mistake.

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June 12, 2008

navigator

J,

#1. Mercedes criminal background…. follow the link… it is public record and posted on the ledger as well under documents… https://thetrenchcoat.com/2008/04/19/history-of…

#2. It was mentioned by in 2 different articles and in the police reports about the criminal backgrounds of Hardcastle and Cooper. … You can look that up yourself on the Ledger…

#3. AND… in the 911 call the mother of the girl who helped Victoria stated that these girls have tried to run HER daughter off the road in a car.

If you have not been keeping up with this case then you need to stop commenting on it.

And by the way… you want to be WAY to easy on these criminals…

The justice that I see for Tori is that these girls and boys get the correct punishment for what they did… as follows….

Hardcastle: 5 years plus 20 years of probation traveling across this country going, school to school, showing kids what she did and how bad prison was. This will HOPEFULLY stop some of the violence we have seen escalating in our kids today.

Cooper: same as Hardcastle.

Mercedes: Same as Hardcastle. Because if it was NOT for her, non of these girls would have been in this situation, she had every chance to be TORI’S FRIEND and tell these girls that they would have to leave because TORI was coming home. NOT telling Tori that she can not come back to the house were she was LIVING!!!!

Brittnay Maze, Kayla Hassell, Cara Murphy, and the two boys should get 1 year in prison and 20 years of probation traveling across this country going, school to school, showing kids what she did and how bad prison was as well.

The probation will serve 2 purposes. 1. To Educate kids about violence and bullying to prevent some violence in the future and 2. Justice for Tori… these girls wanted to humiliate this girl by placing this video on the web. This probation will be humiliating and humbling to these young people who have proven over and over again that they have ABSOLUTLY NO remorse for this violent act.

I also believe that each of these young people need to care for victims and victims families of violent crimes in some way, so that they can learn compasion, before they are released back into our society.

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June 12, 2008

J

Although you yourself are clearly a psychotic (sending the 14-year-old April to prison for 5 years) and totally lack any objectivity (you simply do NOT know that they have ABSOLUTLY NO remorse), the probation travelling part is an idea that also occured to me but I assumed maniacs like you would scream bloody murder because it would give those girls exposure and perhaps a sense of purpose in their life.

In other words I think having to take part in such an educational effort would be good not only for society, but for the girls as well. Ideally, Tori could join them but she’d be the only one paid for it, of course. 🙂

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June 12, 2008

J

By “exposure” I mean GOOD exposure — an opportunity to show they DO have remorse and that they ARE human and that they are willing to work for something good. May even keep them safe from lunatics who’d otherwise think that harming them would be a public service.

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June 12, 2008

J

And the requirement to care for victims and victims’ families of violent crimes in some way is a great idea, at least for the less violent girls (not sure I’d trust Hardcastle take care of anyone).

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June 13, 2008

navigator

I am NOT a psychotic. This girl has a violent past, she was smiling in the court room, she was on probation when she beat Tori and she has no respect for authority. She needs to learn that this is and every ofther offense that she may commit in the future, is serious. The only way (since she has been through juvi and probation already) IS to put her behind bars for a while – to give her some time to think about what she did and what she needs to do with her future other then BEATING people everytime they say they don’t want to be her friend.

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June 13, 2008

J

Navigator, as far as I know, April was never convicted of anything and she was never sent to a juvenile residential facility. Not just because she was supposedly arrested for a misdemeanor (and how come this info is public if she’s a juvenile?). If you have proof than state it.

And putting a 14-year-old into an adult prison for *misdemeanor* battery for *5 years* IS psychotic. If you hate April so much than write the prosecutor asking him to upgrade the charge to attempted murder. Somehow I doubt the victim would agree, but perhaps you’re not really interested in the opinion of the victim anyway.

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June 13, 2008

J

Also, I never heard before that Hardcastle has any kind of a criminal record. Where did you read that?

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June 13, 2008

LawAndOrder

J:

April is not just being charged with misdemeanor battery. She is also being charged with “felony kidnapping with intent to inflict bodily injury or terrorize” a charge that carries up to a life sentence in a maximum security prison.

I’m pretty sure the warden will have her placed in some sort of administrative segregation until she turns 18, so it’s not as if she’s going to get devoured right as she is incarcerated.

Oh, and if it is found that Tori’s hearing and/or vision loss is permanent by a physician, it is possible that the battery charge could be changed to aggravated assault — a felony.

I think the only defendants who have any chance of beating this are Cara Murphy and Stephen Schumaker. Zach was apparently seen on the unreleased portion of the video popping in to tell them to stay quiet. Stephen was not seen, however. They still must prove that Stephen was there beyond just the victim’s testimony. Cara Murphy, even by the victim’s own testimony, did not hit her and even showed remorse during the incident supposedly.

The rest of the defendants are going to be in for a rude awakening. If they had any sense left they would be turning state’s witness and trying to get a deal.

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June 13, 2008

LawAndOrder

As per the question about Hardcastle’s record. I can tell you that she has no unsealed records in Polk County besides the current case. Note that she previously lived in Kentucky, but I’m not sure which county so I’m unable to obtain records for her possible crime(s) in KY.

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June 13, 2008

J

I’m impressed. You’re actually starting to pay attention to facts. Contrary to what you stated before, you now admit Hardastle may have no criminal record. And that Cara may have shown remorse already during the beating. In fact her lawyer says she tried to stop it several times — not good enough but far better than had she enthusiastically supported the beatings.

As far as the boys go, there is NO evidence so far that they actually stood guard outide or had any idea a beating was going on. That’s just speculation. From what I heard they were at neighbor’s house and it was Zach’s grandma who sent him to tell the girls to quiet down.

And maybe the sheriff did not release the Zach portion of the video simply because it would show Zach did not see Tori and/or Tori did not indicate she needs help. Zach may be an idiot, but he need not be a criminal. We should wait at least for the trial to hear the witnesses.

As to April in adult prisons, Florida has a long tradition of putting children as young as 14 among the general prison population, and that includes murderers in max sec prisons. Even jails are dangerous — recently an inmate was convicted of raping a 15-year-old in jail (and stuff like that is seldom reported, not to mention proven).

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June 13, 2008

navigator

You know J, I am not here to walk you thru this case, again if you have not been keeping up, then you should not be coomenting. Go read through the archives in the ledger and the court documents, it is all right there for you to read. And yes, it does state that Hardcastle and Cooper both have previous records for battery. They may or may not be sealed, but they have been brought up in this case and in the media. Oh, and I know, “don’t believe the media”… but ya see, I also am a member of the ledger blogs and there are people on there that know these girls VERY well… and if you have any patience you can read through all the blogs on there to get your “proof”. I really could give a damn if you think I am lieing or not, because it will all come out in the wash… real soon.

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June 13, 2008

LawAndOrder

J:

Well, actually, I just said that nothing unsealed appears. A lot of juveniles when tried in juvenile court do not get the charges added to public record. It is still possible she has had run ins with the law, it’s just not documented because the records are sealed. She could have all kinds of violent crimes in her juvenile record, but alas most states keep juvenile justice system records sealed.

Based on my observation of Hardcastle’s general demeanor and how she behaved in the video, I still believe her to be extremely dangerous and borderline sociopathic.

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June 13, 2008

lol

i feel for victoria but this is crazy how you guy’s are like grrr into it, get over it. why sit here and be immature and keep fighting over stuff like this? how does that make anything anyone bette?

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June 30, 2008

Rob

That video is going around in the netherlands. I have no words for what happend. I’m glad that the 8 biggest losers in the world don’t live in the netherlands.

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July 13, 2008

To momma

Dear Momma,

1st- We don’t care.
2nd- We don’t care.
3rd- There is no excuse in the world for what you are trying to justify. They were just kids, who mimick what they see. They saw you everyday. But hey, you had bad aprents too. you see, its a cycle. that keeps getting worse in your case.

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July 15, 2008

Donna

I hope and pray that the bitch ringleader{Mercades} and the rest of the maggots involved in this beating get the max sentence the law allows for what they did to Victoria. And hopefully when they do, there will be someone waiting in prison for that ugly jealous bitch Mercades with her death warrant!

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October 26, 2008

ian

look how beautiful victoria lindsay is…i believe jealousy between the girls had alot to do with it. the ones throwing the most punches looked like dogs(mercedes nichols, britanny hardcastle). it seems like they tried to mess her face up enough so she wasn’t so beautiful anymore and it looks like it didn’t work. the parents of the kids involved sound like those , “my kid wouldn’t do that” types and ive dealt with enough of them in my lifetime.

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October 26, 2008

ian

oh yean and mercedes being denied: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

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July 15, 2009

Tasha

SHe does not like to have her daughter talked about? How does she think that Victoria’s Family and parents feel? They didn’t want their daughter beat, but stupid Mercedes and all her jealous friends hurt this poor girl. I think Victoria is a beautiful girl, and I could see how any person coud be jealous because she is so pretty. Also Mercedes, I think was jealous of the attention that Victoria was probably receiving from the boys and maybe she liked a boy that would not give her the time of day but he wanted Victoria. This all boils down to jealous ass ugly fat girls always hate the hott girls. Hell, even Mercedes was in trouble over other charges at the time also, for allegedely ‘stalking’ an ex boyfriend. come on, and then this girls mother gets in trouble for beating her. hhhhh. she is nothing but trouble. she is jealous because the only way her fat pig nose ass can get any attention is by hurting others, and stalking. Victoria is a beautiful girl who did not deserve this, and I was quiet moved when i saw this video. And for Mercedes, she can go to hell the fat bitch. I hate her.

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