Josie Lou Ratley Update: Steel-Toe Stomping Victim Shows Signs of Improvement
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (CBS/AP) Florida middle school student Josie Lou Ratley, who was brutally beaten and kicked in the head by a fellow student wearing steel-toed boots, is starting to show signs of improvement, but remains in a medically induced coma.
Rick Freedman, the lawyer for the 15-year-old girl, says doctors at Broward General Medical Center have begun reducing the coma-inducing medication Ratley has been receiving for the last two weeks.
He says the teen is starting to move slightly in her bed.
Doctors tried weaning Ratley off the drugs last week, but had to administer them again when she developed a high fever.
Ratley was allegedly attacked by 15-year-old Wayne Treacy, March 17 in front of Deerfield Middle School, north of Fort Lauderdale.
According to investigators, the 15-year-old boy punched and stomped on Ratley with steel-toed boots. The attack was sparked by disparaging text messages from Ratley's cell phone to Treacy, according to the Broward County Sheriff's office.
Treacy is being held at a juvenile detention center on a charge of premeditated attempted murder.
Ratley was recently visited by Michael Brewer, a teen from the same school who was set on fire, allegedly by classmates.
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PICTURES: Michael Brewer's Remarkable Recovery: (WARNING: Graphic Content)
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ON CRIMESIDER
March
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Be Severely Beaten?
March
23, 2010 - Hero Teacher Walter Welsh: "Sorry I Didn't Get There
Faster"...but He Rescued Josie Lou Ratley from Steel-Toed Beating
March
22, 2010 - Student Victim of Savage Steel-Toed Stomping In Coma, But
Her Doctors are Optimistic
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19, 2010 - Text Messages Led To Brutal Beating of Teenage Girl, Say
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January
5, 2010 - Michael Brewer, Florida Teen Set on Fire, Back in Hospital
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23, 2009 - Christmas Miracle: Michael Brewer, Teen Set on Fire, Goes
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14, 2009 - Michael Brewer Court Docs: "Pour it On Him," Teen Said
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7, 2009 - Michael Brewer, Boy Burned by Bullies, Gets New Skin Graft
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25, 2009 - Michael Brewer Was "Best Friend" Says Boy Originally Accused
of Helping Set Teen on Fire
November
20, 2009 - Michael Brewer's Parents: Boy Burned by Bullies Still Asks
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