Crime & Safety
12-Year-Old Girl Leaves Hospital After Beating
Father of the Orland Hills girl told a reporter that the "she 's doing fine," but she will have to undergo at least two weeks of therapy.
An Orland Hills girl was released from hospital care to her family Wednesday afternoon, after she fought off an attacker that attempted to abduct her.
The 12-year-old girl, who police said was struck in the head and slammed repeatedly into a tree by a man wearing a ski mask after she stepped off a school bus Monday, was smiling when she got into her family’s van and headed home Wednesday afternoon, according to a CBS 2 report.
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“We try to make her smile and forget everything that happened to her,” her father said to CBS 2 reporter Courtney Gousman.
The girl still will be undergoing treatment, according to her father. She was unable to recognize family members shortly after the attack.
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“She’s doing fine,” he said. “I hope her memory comes back to her. She has to go to two weeks for therapy. So far the MRI said everything is good.”
The girl stepped off the school bus and called 911 after she noticed a man was following her at about 3:30 p.m., according to the Orland Hills Police Department.
A man wearing a ski mask grabbed the girl and tried forcing her into a red car, driven by another man wearing a ski mask. A struggle ensued, during which she was hit repeatedly and her head was slammed into a tree, police said. She was left on the ground, near where she got off the bus at 169th Street and 88th Avenue.
Her 911 call was cut off, but she was able to give her location.
The attacker was described as:
- white man
- late teens early 20s
- wearing a black ski mask, gloves, a black jacket and tennis shoes
The girl was unable to see the driver, but did see he was wearing a ski mask as well.
Anyone with information on the incident and/or the attackers should contact the Orland Hills Police Department at 708-349-4434.
Correction: In the original story, the girl was incorrectly listed as a Meadow Ridge student. Patch regrets the error.
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