64-year-old lost will to live after being raped by 14-year-old, son says

Deputies said woman was brutalized at hands of armed teenager; prosecutor wants teen tried as adult.

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 12:50 PM Tuesday, March 9, 2010

HAMILTON — In the weeks since her brutal attack allegedly by a gun-welding 14-year-old, Phyllis Mays has lost her will to live and is struggling just to eat and drink, according to her son.

“It is like somebody has turned a light switch off in her head,” Andy Feltner said during a hearing Monday, March 8, in Butler County Juvenile Court. “All she wants to do is sit and stare out a window.”

The 64-year-old woman was attacked in January, when a Monroe student — armed with a rifle — entered her residence at Countryside Mobile Home Community in Liberty Twp., demanded money, hit her in the head and performed a sex act on her before forcing her to drive to an ATM for money, according to Butler County Sheriff’s detectives.

The defendant is charged with felonious assault, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping and rape. Prosecutors have asked that his case be tried in adult court.

On Monday, Butler County Juvenile Court Judge Ronald Craft continued a hearing to March 19 to allow a second psychological evaluation to be performed. Attorney Traci Combs-Valerio said the teen’s family is willing to pay for a second evaluation.

Detective Jason Rosser testified Mays’ residence looked like the scene of a homicide when he was called there in the early morning hours of Jan. 11. “The house appeared as if someone had been murdered,” he said.

Rosser said during questioning the teen told detectives he knocked on Mays’ door and asked for money. The woman said she had none. After forcing his way inside, the defendant said he asked her again for money and Mays answered she only had $5, Rosser said.

“That made him angry,” he said. The teen told Rosser he then reared back the gun and struck Mays on the head, he testified.

The defendant said he forced Mays’ into sex acts, and made her take a shower because she was so bloody, the detective said.

“He said it was like watching a horror movie,” Rosser said, noting the teen never cried during questioning.

“At one point he said ‘well I guess you have to pay the price for having a little fun,’” he said.

The boy bent over the defense table and closed his eyes during much of the hearing. His mother, who listened to testimony through a Spanish interpreter, sobbed. She was permitted to hug the boy after the hearing, kissing his forehead before she released him.

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