Charges Dropped Against Three in Teen Beating

BARTOW | Prosecutors dropped criminal charges Friday against three of the eight teenagers accused in the March 30 videotaped beating of former Mulberry High cheerleader Victoria Lindsay.

Those whose charges were dropped include Cara Murphy, 16, Stephen Schumaker, 18, and Zachary Ashley, 17, according to court records. They had faced kidnapping and battery charges.

A notice for each teenager gave the same explanation: “Further investigation has shown that there is insufficient evidence to proceed with charges against the defendant.”

Chip Thullbery, a spokesman for the State Attorney’s Office in Bartow, did not elaborate.

What remains to be seen is whether the teenagers will now become witnesses. “At this point, it’s premature to determine who will be witnesses in the case,” Thullbery said.