News release from Alton Police
Alton – Last night, 11/24/09, at approximately 8:30, a female resident on William St. in Alton was attacked while she was walking to her residence. Our victim had just arrived home, parked her car and was walking to her house. When she approached her front porch, she was grabbed from behind and placed in a choke hold.
Her attackers were three juveniles, ranging in ages of 14-16, who were residents of the juvenile living facility on State St. in Alton. While choking her, they demanded to know if anyone was in her house. Her answers agitated them and they began to strike her.
They then took her purse, found her keys and forcibly took her to the trunk area of her car. After opening the car doors and trunk, one of the juveniles, sat in the driver's seat and was trying to start the car, while the other two juveniles were attempting to place the victim in the trunk.
They had the victim half way into the trunk, with only her legs hanging out when she was able to grab a camera tripod and struck the juveniles until she was able to get out of the trunk. Our victim continued to struggle and scream until she was knocked unconscious.
Neighbors who had been alerted by the screaming, came out to provide aid, while stating that the police were on their way. The juveniles then fled. Our victim suffered head trauma and contusions about her face and body. All three juveniles were apprehended within a short distance of the crime scene and later admitted to the Madison County Detention Home to be prosecuted through the Madison County States Attorney's Office.
The three offenders had just a short time earlier been reported as runaways from their living facilities. These juveniles had only been placed in Alton within the past few months. Two are from Chicago and on probation for felony offenses, while the the third is from Centreville.
