Three teens, ages 16 and 17, face a list of felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly briefly imprisoning and terrorizing a 19-year-old autistic and developmentally disabled woman in a car in a W-Section cul de sac in Palm Coast.
“I will never understand why some teens think this is proper behavior,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement.
The incident took place the afternoon of Feb. 17, starting in the cul-de-sac at Willard Place in Palm Coast. The alleged victim was in a black Dodge Charger with A.H. and M.Z., both 17-year-old girls, and J.F., a boy two weeks shy of 17. The Dodge was his. The victim and A.H. “typically do not get along as she calls the victim demeaning names,” the teens’ arrest reports state. J.F. and A.H. were also upset with the 19-year-old woman for supposedly damaging the car.
The woman asked J.F. to drive her home.
“You’ll see where we’re gonna take you and you’ll see what’s gonna happen to you,” J.F. and A.H. told her. M.Z. then allegedly produced a pocket knife, handed it to A.H. and said: ‘You know what to do.” Instead, A.H. allegedly produced a stun gun, handing the knife back to the other girl. She activated the stun gun. The victim thought the girl was going to strike her with the weapon and tried calling 911, only for all three of the other teens to take her phone and backpack away.
A 15-year-old boy who happened to be in his driveway, waiting for a ride from his youth pastor, saw the 19-year-old woman try to get out of the Dodge from a rear door, but the passengers inside forcibly restrained her, one of them striking the car door against her. A scuffle followed, with the victim struggling to get away, one of the car’s occupants attempting to stun her with the stun gun and another allegedly punching her and beating her up, according to the witness. The witness said “the victim did attempt to defend herself, but [was] unsuccessful as [A.H.] punched her in the head numerous times and grabbed her to prevent the victim from getting away.”
Eventually the 19-year-old woman was able to get away, with J.F. ordering the others to get in the car so they could leave, which they did–with the woman’s possessions. The backpack was later located at a neighborhood intersection, with neither the woman’s wallet nor her cell phone.
“It should be noted that the victim is diagnosed with Autism,” the arrest reports conclude, a fact the three alleged assailants were well aware of. “Further upon meeting the victim, based on my training and experience,” the deputy reporting on the incident continued, “I immediately observed that she appeared to have a developmental disorder due to her displaying significant deficits in communication and social interaction. It subsequently took an extended amount of time to interview the victim in our attempt to ascertain what transpired.”
On March 4, detectives received arrest orders from the State Attorney’s Office for the three teens, who were located and arrested within hours. “The suspects were later independently interviewed by the detectives and confessions were obtained,” according to a sheriff’s release.
M.Z. and A.H. were each charged with Robbery with a Weapon, False Imprisonment, Tampering with a Victim Preventing Communication to Law Enforcement, Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon and Battery. M.Z. was additionally charged with possession of Fentanyl, Marijuana and Methamphetamine, along with Obstruction, at the time of her arrest. J.F. was charged with Robbery with Weapon and Tampering with a Victim Preventing Communication to Law Enforcement. All three suspects were turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Daytona Beach.
“I hope the suspects get the help they need to get on a positive track to be kind, respectful, and productive members of our community,” the sheriff said.
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Duncan says
“I will never understand why some teens think this is proper behavior,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement.””
Why would you think the teens think this is proper behavior? Sounds like a few scumbag teens that need to be held accountable for knowingly tormenting a disadvantaged person.
Deborah Coffey says
More drugs, more cruelty. What IS becoming of this country?
Phyllis Robbins Scheffler says
I would have liked from Sheriff Staley more of a concern for the autistic victim. His hope for help for the three assailants doesn’t quite register with me. As teenagers they’ve certainly managed to accumulate enough paraphernalia and drugs which are costly. From whence did funds come to afford them the ability to amass these destructive materials? Further, did not the Sheriff’s report state that the car owner was the teenager shy of 17 years? Who was this teenager’s benefactor that enabled him to be the owner of a car?
flaglerbear says
I like the Sheriff, I really do; and I understand his need to make these hopeful comments for the future of the suspects, wanting them to eventually be “kind, respectful, and productive members of our community.” Unfortunately, I’ve become a bit cynical in my old age; and after looking at the charges lodged against them, I’m a bit more concerned about the well being of the victim right now then the future of the suspects, who knew right from wrong. I’m sure this is not the first time they’ve ventured on the wrong side of the law and hurt others and it may not be the last. Some of the crimes we are seeing juveniles commit these days are not kiddie crimes. They are grown up crimes. This is the kind of crime that can put in adult in prison for many years. I’m not advocating throwing the key away, but they should also not be treated with “kid gloves.” Adult crimes should carry adult consequences. Let them get counseling…IN HOUSE.
The Geode says
COME ON, MAN! It’s a shame we can’t just ship some people off to a “penal island” to separate them from society and people just trying to get through the day without being terrorized by animals raised by “savages”.
Yes. There are some people who PROUDLY call themselves “savages”…
Just sayin' says
This is what happens when parents dont punish their kids at a young age . too late for them now. They are in the system and will never get out.
Steve says
Well isnt that special taking advantage of an Autistic Individual all in the name of being a horrible group of people. Low lifes in themaking for sure. Feeling that Power and Control over someone else gives you that warm and fuzzy because you are sick twisted soon to be young Adults. Your Guardians must be so proud. I have an Idea get a life and leave others alone. Not surprised there in FPC Its Teens gone Wild. The fact you all carried this out and thought that you could get away with it makes it worse. Probably not. Anyway bullying to the enth degree IMO. Hope the victim gets the help she deserves the others should rot in Hell
Appalled and Disgusted says
Who are the parents of these monsters? I think their names should be published so they could be properly shamed for their abusive behavior. If this isn’t stopped right here and right now…we are looking at a lifetime of this kind of behavior from these three. By all means, let’s not leave out the parents either. Sounds like the parents are MIA from any real parenting. This is not normal behavior.
Robin says
This is beyond horrible. These teens haven’t learned any basic decency.
Disgusting says
These sick “individuals” will never be productive citizens. Attacking a young woman with autism. I hope the parents of these criminals sleep well at night
Concerned Citizen says
@ The Teens Involved.
Age or not why don’t you try that shit you just pulled on a fully cognetive adult. Who has tons of self defense training and carries? I bet you get one swing in and I’ll make you regret the day you were born. Come on tough people care for a rematch?
Ya’ll are a real bad ass ganging up on someone like that. I hope you try to pull it again . And I hope it takes the police a bit to catch up and get you out of that situation.
Nothing makes my blood boil more than abuse against a woman. And even more so a special needs individual. I have autistic family members and friends. And life is tough enough as it is
@ Our Sheriff
Way to go Staly, You showed more compassion for the perps than the victim. Where is your heart at? Where are the Federal charges for kidnapping.
@ The Victim and Family
I am sorry this happened. And hope you get the help you need to cope with it.
HammockBear says
What did the kids learn from their parent or parents at home? It surely was not treat others the way you want them to treat you. Mandatory counseling for each offender and include their parents in counseling. Also Community Service for the offenders and their parents. Just maybe, they will learn Respect of self and others. This was a sickening act of mean hearted kids. How could they be so cruel?
Land of no turn signals says says
Welcome to the new norm.You reap what you sow.
Victim Supporter says
I would love a follow-up story. I believe they will be signed over to their parents. If I was a parent, I would keep them there. It would be a quick lesson for them. However, parents now a days turn the fault onto the victim so they can protect their child. It’s disgusting. If my do the crime you better be able to do the time!
Exit 81 says
I think these three Knuckleheads
Should be sentenced to 2 weeks in
a home for the “Developmentally challenged .” A good chance to
learn how what they did is not
acceptable on any level.
Brian says
Several comments speak of derelict parentS. I would wager that parentS does not apply here – probably a single mother or grandmother, if even that. And therein lies the problem.
Trailer Bob says
Disgusting idiots, free to roam the County.
Extremely violent acts on a person with a disability.
Parents must be proud.
The Geode says
I blame the GOVERNMENT for rewarding these people to breed the monsters that plague our society. If it wasn’t for entitlements, MOST of these people wouldn’t exist…
Blerbfivefamily says
In no way do I condone what these teenage monsters did but sometimes the parents can do everything they can to teach their kids right from wrong but the little shit heads just do not care and do what they want. I was a good kid growing up I guess because I understood what was expected of me and probably because my parents had no problem giving me a smack to get my attention.
born and raised here says
Some teens have that distinct that they believe they are special, and can not be held accountable. A typical belief for today’s milliineums. It time we as a society take control of this nonsense and charge these punks as adults, and bury them under ther jail house. This kinda of behavior can not be tolerated.
You are sleeping says
The teens think it is acceptable behavior because this attitude is what they see at home and from other adults in our community and elsewhere. Understand now?!
Just ugh says
Wow the time y’all take to write this shit is comical like y’all really have nothing better to do you do not know the teens or anything about there home life how do you know there lives aren’t as bad or worse as the main victim in the case why is everyone only focusing on one victims there are many of them here all the children you just throw away and forget about like they are children they make mistakes do dumb things without thinking have you not been there age none of us are innocent and you people playing like you are are more of a monster then these teens you need a wake up call at that point your just delirious.
Just ugh says
Like has no one sat there to think maybe this was self defense like if your friend was being attacked by someone no matter who it is you would jump in right? Same situation here they were trying to help there friend and things got out of hand that’s what happens sometimes everyone needs to look at both sides of the story of your going to speak on it
Deborah Coffey says
And, it’s philosophies like yours that cannot delineate between right and wrong that are exactly the problem with this country. I bet you found both sides with the 800 insurrectionists that stormed our Capitol, too. According to you (and Trump) Nazis “on the other side” are good people, too.
Steve says
Your argument is lame Its the difference between right and wrong period. They have no right to do what they did. No right to harass her to recant either. Their situation at home is mute at the instant they made a badchoice Deal with it. They will.