Aunt of Ooltewah victim starts petition, wants perpetrators charged as adults

The aunt of the 15-year-old Ooltewah High School student allegedly raped and assaulted by his teammates started an online petition Friday asking that the three juveniles in this case be charged as adults.

"What they did was premeditated and malicious," the aunt wrote on the petitions's website. "We are asking that justice be served and that the attackers be charged as adults."

The aunt will not be identified by the Times Free Press in order to protect the victim's identity.

In the petition's description, the aunt writes that her nephew was abused by three teammates on Dec. 22, while the team was at a basketball tournament in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Ooltewah High School sign

She said her nephew was targeted, because he resisted the initial abuse, and after the coach was notified of the abuse was retaliated against in this assault. Other sources have also told the Times Free Press this same story.

"My nephew could have died, if he did not receive proper medical care," the aunt writes on the petition's website.

She said her nephew is now home recovering which is expected to take two to three months. She and several other sources previously told the Time Free Press both his colon and bladder were ruptured during the assault.

Three former members of Ooltewah's basketball team are charged with aggravated assault and aggravated rape in this case. The aunt said one of the boys received bond, though the Times Free Press has not been able to confirm that since the boys are juveniles are their court records are currently being protected.

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at Kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.comor 423-757-6592