Four Massachusetts residents accused of tying up and torturing a 16-year-old from New Jersey have been indicted by a grand jury in their home state, MassLive.com reported.
The four have been held in jail since Dec. 27, when Auburn, Massachusetts police say they rescued the girl from the basement of a home with no running water or heat.
The girl told police she was tormented for hours and had her head shaved by four people who suspected she had orchestrated a home invasion at the house that day.
Auburn Police Sgt. Scott Mills said the girl, who described herself as a runaway, hails from Sicklerville but was in Massachusetts for a job training program that is an alternative to traditional schooling.
The newspaper reported Krystal Lugo was also indicted on charges of intimidation of a witness, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon and Torres-Abee was indicted on charges of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The newspaper reported Krystal Lugo was also indicted on charges of intimidation of a witness, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon and Torres-Abee was indicted on charges of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon.
MassLive.com reported that Auburn Police Department Officer George Vranos fought back tears when he testified in district court Jan. 3, describing the room as a “torture chamber.”
Attorneys for the defendants argued unsuccessfully that they should be released on bail and denied some parts of the girl’s story, MassLive reported.
The indictments mean the defendants’ cases will move from Central District Court to Worcester Superior Court, where they will be arraigned again.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
