Prosecutors say one of four people charged with the Chicago beating of a mentally disabled man demanded $300 from the victim's mother. Prosecutors offered details of the beating during the suspects' court appearance on hate crimes, battery and kidnapping charges.
They say the beating started in a van and continued at a house. Prosecutors say the suspects forced the victim to drink toilet water and kiss the floor. They say the suspects also stuffed a sock into his mouth, taped his mouth shut and bound his hands with a belt. The suspects assaulted the suburban teenager, threatening him with a knife and taunting him with profanities against white people and President-elect Donald Trump.
Authorities say the victim suffers from schizophrenia and attention deficit disorder. Prosecutors say the suspects each face two hate crimes counts, one because of the victim's race and the other because of his disabilities.
The four appeared before Cook County Associate Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil who denied bond, calling the suspects a danger to themselves and society. She also asked them "Where was your sense of decency?"
The suspects include Brittany Covington and Tesfaye Cooper, both of Chicago, and Jordan Hill, of suburban Carpentersville. All are 18. A fourth suspect was identified as Covington's 24-year-old sister, Tanishia Covington, also of Chicago.
Video of the incident was captured on a cellphone by one of the alleged assailants and viewed by millions on social media.
