Two teenagers were accused of gang raping a woman and forcing her 12-year-old son to join in the assault, who was then beaten and had cleaning solution poured into his eyes, police said Friday.
Avion Lawson, 14, and Nathan Walker, 16, were jailed without bail on suspicion of armed sexual battery by multiple perpetrators, sexual performance by a child, armed home invasion and aggravated battery. Both were arrested this week. Formal charges had not yet been filed.
"Any rape case is horrible but this takes it to another level, something you can't think of even in your worst dreams," West Palm Beach police spokesman Ted White said.
Authorities allege the boys were among a group of up to 10 masked suspects who forced their way into the woman's home the night of June 18.According to the police report, a man knocked on the woman's door at about 9 p.m. and told her he had a flat tire. The mother and son, whom police have not identified, went outside and were ambushed by a group of gun-wielding masked suspects.
The victims told police they were forced back into the house and beaten and sexually assaulted. According to authorities, the men raped, sodomized and beat the woman, then forced her 12-year-old son to participate in the assault at gunpoint, making him have sex with his mother in front of them.
The boy was then beaten and had numerous household cleaning liquids poured into his eyes, according to the police report.
White said robbery might have been a motive. He said the suspects stole a few hundred dollars worth of cash and jewelry.White said more arrests were expected, but he would not say if authorities had identified additional suspects. The teens in custody were not cooperating, but Lawson allegedly confessed to participating, police said. Walker denied involvement.
But investigators say they found a palm print belonging to Walker at the scene. DNA evidence in a condom found in the victims' home also linked Lawson to the crime, police said.
Prosecutors have 21 days from the time a suspect is arrested to formally file charges. Lawson was arrested Tuesday. Walker was arrested Thursday. Authorities said the two would be charged as adults.
Walker made a first court appearance on Friday, after which his father, also named Nathan Walker, spoke briefly.
"My son has a good heart," the elder Walker said outside court. "I can't believe my son would do something like this. I don't teach my son violence so I don't understand."
The victims did not suffer life-threatening injuries and have since been released from the hospital, White said.
"They're going through the county victim services for counseling," he said.
Lawson lived in the hard-scrabble, crime-ridden housing project where the attack occurred. Walker was apparently visiting a friend there, White said.
Authorities believe the suspects all knew each other from the neighborhood, but they don't think they knew the victims directly.
