Girl charged in connection to attack on teen says she didn’t think suspect would hurt victim

Fla. girl didn’t think suspect would hurt friend

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The 13-year-old girl charged in connection with a brutal attack on a South Florida teen says she didn’t think the teenage suspect would physically assault her friend.

Appearing Thursday on NBC’s “Today” show, the girl said she didn’t see a text in which Wayne Treacy allegedly threatened to kill 15-year-old Josie Lou Ratley.

The girl said she believed Treacy would probably yell at Ratley and didn’t see the attack.

Her name is being withheld by The Associated Press because she is a juvenile.

Authorities say Treacy went to Deerfield Beach Middle School and got the 13-year-old girl to help him find Ratley. Treacy is accused of punching and stomping on Ratley with steel-toed boots.

She was left in critical condition and suffered brain damage.