By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – The Facebook Live broadcast showing the beating of a partially nude 17-year old girl in Normal came to an end when a 19-year old woman held the victim’s legs and covered her with a pillow.
McLean County prosecutors revealed some of the details Thursday of an investigation that led to the arrest of a Bloomington man on a felony charge for allegedly live streaming the fight early Sunday morning from an apartment on Parkinson St. in Normal.
Michael Burton, 25, of Bloomington faces up to three years in prison if convicted. A judge set bond at $5,000, and a McLean County Jail officer said Thursday evening that Burton posted the required $535 to be released while awaiting trial.
Prosecutors told the judge tensions had been rising between the victim and Betty Vo, 21, who lives at the Parkinson Street apartment. Vo faces a misdemeanor battery charge.
Vo reportedly told authorities she didn’t know until later that someone videotaped the beating, and she didn’t give Burton permission to record what happened.
While Gabrielle Shanahan, 19, is credited with protecting the victim, thus ending the approximately ten minute broadcast, the video allegedly showed Shanahan drinking alcohol. She’s been charged with illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
