Michael Brewer, the boy set on fire by bullies was released from the hospital Tuesday. In October, Michael Brewer was set on fire by five classmates, ages 13-15, who were charged with the burning. The family headed to an undisclosed location and requested privacy. Valerie, Michael Brewer’s mother is expected to speak to the press on Wednesday.
Michael owed one of the boys $40 for a video game, and when he didn’t pay one of the boys tried to steal Michael’s father’s bike that was worth $500, then Michael called the police.
Sheriff Al Lambert said, "This group of kids thought that because the kid may have snitched him out, and turned him in because they were trying to steal his dad's bike, they felt in their mind, it was OK to set him on fire," the Today Show reported. For the original story of what happened to Michael Brewer, click here.
The boys covered Michael Brewer with rubbing alcohol and lit him on fire. Michael jumped into a pool, but the flames were not put out until a man with a fire extinguisher put them out. Police said that the boys were laughing when they told authorities about it. Michael Brewer, 15 has burns on 65% of his body, and is recovering in a local hospital.
Michael still has several major surgeries, rehabilitation and therapy to do on his long road to recovery.
Three of the teens that were charged, Denver Jarvis, 15, Matthew Bent, 15, and Jesus Mendez, 16, were charged as adults with one count of attempted murder. The teens pled not guilty, but if convicted they would each face up to 30 years in prison. For more on that story, click here.
Mendez admitted that he helped to set Brewer on fire, and said he made a "bad decision."
A Utah group called Bullying is Bull goes to junior and high schools to speak to students about why bullying is bad. Another Utah company, called Report Bullying has speakers who come out to local schools to speak about the problem.
Source: CNN
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Comments
The kids who did this are monsters and deserve the death penalty.
This is absolutley the most horrific thing, I can not imagine how kids can be this cruel to other kids it is so disheartning to know children are raised with no morals, and have no remorse, the parents of those horrible kids need to be taken to jail as well and never be allowed to raise kids again! and for the boys who did this let them ROT there whole lives in Jail, because the poor boy isnt going to get a second chance at a normal life why should they!
I could not listen to the complete 911 calls involving Michael Brewer. His screaming and pleas for help are gut wrenching. This boy is going to suffer for a long time and his scars will be with him for life. The young men involved in this crime earned the right to have the full weight of the law come down upon them. They do NOT deserve any leniency what so ever.
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