A mentally disabled man was tied to a tree, savagely beaten over 2 days and dragged, said officials [View All]

By ABBY SIMONS and MARY LYNN SMITH, Star Tribune

What has happened to this country that people would do this......:cry: :cry: :cry:

Authorities say four men lured a 24-year-old mentally disabled man from his Lakeville home to a remote Dakota County area, where they tortured him for hours on two days last weekend. Criminal complaints say the torture included tying him to a tree, beating him and burning him with cigarette lighters. His mother said she was told he also was tied to a motorcycle and dragged for 200 feet.

The torture ended after he was knocked unconscious and left for dead on the second day.

The four were charged Tuesday in connection with the incidents and were being held in the Dakota County jail. One of those charged is employed by a Northfield organization that works with disabled adults. Authorities say the motive for the assault may involve a 16-year-old girl whom the disabled man had recently befriended.

As Justin Hamilton recovers at home under close medical monitoring, his mother, Carolyn Hamilton, said his body is entirely black and blue. He may lose sight in one eye and has broken ribs and possible kidney damage. But it's the emotional effects on her son, who has fetal alcohol syndrome, that may stay with him the rest of his life, she said.

Full article: http://www.startribune.com/local/south/30970669.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs