The Megan Williams case involves a 20-year-old African American woman from West Virginia, who was kidnapped, raped and tortured by six people, including several members of one family[1] in a racist attack.
Among other things, the suspects were charged with stabbing Williams, dousing her with hot water, and forcing her to eat rat, dog, and human feces.
Civil rights leaders, community activists and others asserted that the racial motive made the incident subject to prosecution under hate crimes statutes.
Authorities did not initially file hate crime charges in the attack, but prosecutors did not rule out such a move down the road.
[3] Brewster was previously arrested on July 18, 2008, in connection with a domestic battery charge involving Williams.
[6] In February 2008, Alisha Burton and George Messer both pleaded guilty to assault and kidnapping and were sentenced to 10 years each.
Carmen Williams, Megan's mother, expressed frustration that they had not received life sentences, which is the maximum penalty for kidnapping.