Victoria Lindsay

Guide Note

On March 30, 2008, in Lakeland, Florida, 16-year-old Victoria Lindsay was reportedly attacked by six teenage girls, who videotaped the incident intending to post it on YouTube and MySpace.

Fast Facts

1. The mother of one of the accused teens claims that Lindsay provoked the attack by threatening the girls on MySpace
2. Accused teens were laughing and egging each other on
3. Beating reportedly lasted about 30 minutes
4. Several videos reportedly exist
5. All attend Mulberry High School in Lakeland, Florida
6. Lindsay will now be home-schooled
7. Attorney: Gloria Allred

The attack reportedly took place when Lindsay arrived at the house of a friend, Mercades Nichols, at which she was reportedly staying following an argument with her parents.

Lindsay suffered a concussion, bruises, and injuries to her left eye and ear, and was allegedly forced into a car where she was driven around Lakeland. According to her father, she was beaten so badly that he did not recognize her when he saw her in the hospital's emergency room.

The teens accused of attacking Lindsay were identified as 17-year-olds Mercades Nichols, Brittini Hardcastle, and Britney Mayes, 16-year-old Cara Murphy, 15-year-old Kayla Hassell, and 14-year-old April Cooper. Zachary Ashley, 17, and Stephen Schumaker, 18, were the two alleged lookouts. All were arrested and charged as adults with felony battery and false imprisonment.

Nichols was allegedly angry that Lindsay had borrowed a razor and a hairbrush without permission. She had also sent Lindsay many text messages while Lindsay was out, asking that Lindsay pay back $4 Nichols had lent her for gas. Nichols allegedly kicked Lindsay out when Lindsay returned to the house. Lindsay remained at the house to make some calls and find another place to stay, which is when the beating occurred.

On April 14, local news reported that Lindsay's father had hired attorney Gloria Allred to represent his daughter in the trial. Allred had "no comment" as to whether the report was true or not.

While a gag order was in effect for all participants in the case, an interview with the Lindsay family was published in the April 18 issue of People Magazine. The family claims that the interview does not violate the gag order because they did not discuss the beating.

During the discovery portion of the trial, which was held on April 24, 2008, various statements were released, including the account of a neighbor who witnessed events leading up to the beating and reports filed by law enforcement agents involved in the case.

On May 16, 2008, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office released new images and video of the attack on Lindsay. The video footage shows a heated argument between April Cooper and Lindsay just before the attack happened.