Local News

Anniversary of teen beaten at school

Posted: 03/17/11 at 7:45 am EDT      Last Updated: 03/17/11 at 10:14 am EDT
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DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Today marks the one-year anniversary of a day when a South Florida teen nearly lost her life after a brutal beating in front of her school.

A year ago, on March 17, Deerfield Beach Middle School student Josie Lou Ratley was thrown to the ground by a classmate she barely knew.

Wayne Treacy allegedly kicked the 15-year-old girl and stomped on her head with steel toed boots. The beating was reportedly provoked by a few text messages.

The attack left Ratley brain-damaged, forcing her to re-learn basic skills.

Treacy faces up to 50 years in prison after he was tried as an adult on attempted murder charges.

Ratley's family recently sued the Broward County School District claiming they failed to provide adequate protection for the girl.

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