Jury Doesn’t Buy Insanity Defense, Finds Wayne Treacy Guilty Of Attempted Murder

July 18, 2012 at 8:04 am by Morbid  

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL – A Florida jury didn’t buy the insanity defense put up by Wayne Treacy, the 17-year-old accused of using his dead brother’s steel-toed boots to kick the crap out of a teenage girl’s head, and found him guilty of attempted murder.

Here’s a quick recap for those of you not aware of this case. Two years ago, a then 15-year-old Wayne Treacy, attacked 15-year-old Josie Lou Ratley in the bus parking of Deerfield Beach Middle School because he was upset over some texts she had made regarding his dead brother.

Throwing on some of his dead brother’s clothes, Treacy rode his bike to the school, had his 13-year-old girlfriend point out who Ratley was, and then attempted to kick and stomp Ratley’s brains out of her head. Another teacher at the school intervened and Treacy was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Treacy’s lawyer went for the Hail Mary of defenses, trying to claim that Treacy was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at the time he attacked Ratley, stemming from his older brother’s suicide. Treacy’s brother was found hanging from a tree in front of a church five months earlier and Treacy reportedly saw the body before he was cut down. His lawyer said Treacy snapped over the comment Ratley made about his older brother, and was no longer in his right mind when he attacked her, unable to distinguish between right and wrong.

The jury didn’t buy this, probably because it was quite clear that Treacy did know right from wrong, before and after he tried turning Ratley’s brains into wine. After the heated text exchange and before he went to the school to confront Ratley, he told some friends he was about to kill someone and was going to prison. Also, in his initial interviews with police after his arrest, he clearly knows what he did was wrong and calls himself a monster.

Treacy looked stunned as he was cuffed immediately after the guilty verdict was read on Monday, his lawyer saying his client is shocked at the jury’s conclusion. The Ratley family say they are happy justice was finally served.

“On behalf of Josie and her family, we want to thank the jury for seeing the truth and doing justice. It is not a day to rejoice, however. This is a tragedy for all involved. Thank you to the jury for having the courage to make the right decision. It is one more step on the road to moving on with our lives as best we can. Thank you to Maria Schneider for her hard work, compassion and dedication,” said attorney Sean Domnick who represents the Ratley family.

Prosecutor Maria Schneider says she is also satisfied with the verdict.“I’m satisfied because justice was done but this is one of those cases where it’s very difficult to be joyful under any circumstances when you have a young lady whose life will never be the same and will never be normal and a young man who has some serious issues and who clearly is facing very significant and very serious sentence.”

She went on to add that it is a bitter-sweet victory because, at the end of the day, two young people’s lives are practically ruined. She’s also right about Ratley’s life never being the same. She has no memory of the attack and suffered some permanent brain damage. Reportedly, Ratley is unable to read, write, or speak fluently and may need care for the rest of her life.

Circuit Judge David Haimes set a status hearing for Aug. 29, at which time a sentencing date would be scheduled. Treacy could be looking at 50 years in prison.

Here’s the text messages between Ratley and Treacy. The argument started because Ratley, who didn’t know Treacy, did not approve of him dating her 13-year-old friend, Kayla Manson. Ratley had let the girl use her cell phone earlier so she could talk to Treacy, but had gotten it back when Treacy texted back later in the day.

Ratley: Kayla don’t want 2 talk 2 u. Pt.
Treacy: F— you. She does.
Ratley: Lol rapest
Treacy: Stop being stupid.
Ratley: Y do u like lil girls?
Treacy: Why are you trying to get urself killed?
Ratley: Go suck t—–’s p—-!
Treacy: Your ass is getting f—-d up. Wait for it. I will find you, I will mess you up. You will regret crossing me.
Ratley: Ok 9th grader lmao its oka rapest. Ur sick. Threat me alllll u want i think its funni.
Treacy: 1 grade higher um a rapist? When we ain’t done s—? Go f— urself u lil c—. Um sorry ur father abused u, but u shouldn’t take out on others u pitiful little s—.
Ratley: Mi dads dead bitch? N yeah cus Kayla jus a lil girl.
Treacy: Like I give a s—. How does talking to a girl that’s 1 grade below me make me a rapist? Ur a dumb f—.
Ratley: Stop txtn mi phone rapest n if u dont care jus stop tryin me k. N jus go visit ur dead brother.
Treacy: UR F—ING DEAD! I SWEAR TO GOD I’M GONNA KILL YOU! I’LL F—ING FIND YOU! YOUR ASS IS COLD, DEAD MEAT MUTHERF—–!
Ratley: K u make me giggle.
Treacy: watch how much you laugh when I strangle the life outta you!! You’re f—ed. You said the wrong thing to the worst person.
Ratley: Like u did mi dad thing oh such a hipacrit.
Treacy: No, no, I’m not. See, I didn didnt know ur father was dead, u knowingly took a shot at my deceased brother. Today, you die, Slut. Kayla riding the bus today?
Ratley: Idk. N iam not diein n if I do not from u. N yeah OKAAA. u don’t know who ur even talkin 2 do u?
Treacy: Idc, I’ll find you. You’re gonna die.
Ratley: Ok man hore.
Treacy: Tell me, what’s ur name?
Ratley: Ayesha d—.
Treacy: Ur gonna die.
Ratley: Oka ill b waitn so wen ur so called gunna kill me or well it b a surpriseb hum.
Treacy: aight. wait. I’m coming for you.
Ratley: Ok but wen god u go slow.
Treacy: Wait.u’ll see.
Ratley: K
Treacy: Let me text Kayla real quick. Just one question I have to ask her.
Ratley: She not n tha same class txt her other friend they in tha same class.

Next up is Manson, Treacy’s girlfriend at the time of the attack. She was charged with being an accessory to the crime for taking Treacy to Ratley. Her trial is scheduled for August. She did morning talk show rounds shortly after her friend was attacked, including a Today show interview in which she hilariously says the word “cunt” twice on air. She claims she is sorry for what happened, but had no idea what Treacy was planning to do.

44 Comments

• 

• Tweet