Massachusetts

4 Charged With Beating, Burning Woman, Locking Her in Dog Cage

Four Massachusetts women are facing charges after allegedly kidnapping, beating and burning another woman in an apartment Wednesday afternoon, according to police. 

Worcester residents Lillian Salgado, 40, Mariah Murphy, 21, Jessica Moody, 30, and Shayna Alexander, 41, are all facing three counts of assault with battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as kidnapping. 

Worcester police said officers responded to a report of the assault in an apartment at 6 Mount Pleasant St. and did not get an immediate answer from the people inside, though noises could be heard within. As officers forced their way in, they found several of the suspects trying to hide in various places in the apartment.

The victim, a 35-year-old woman, was found bleeding with a swollen face. She told police Salgado had invited her to the apartment earlier that day. When she arrived, she was led inside before the assault began. 

The victim told police she was punched by several of the women, struck in the head with a golf club and tied up with tape on the floor. She also had her hair cut, her skin burned with a lit cigarette and was forced into a dog cage.

The victim was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated and later released. 

Inside the apartment, police said they found a small bag with crack cocaine in it, small baggies used for drug sales, a digital scale, a .45 caliber bullet, a cell phone and $55 in cash.

Another woman in the apartment, 28-year-old Jamie Edick, is not believed to have been involved in the incident, but was arrested on an outstanding warrant for motor vehicle offenses and property crimes.

In an unrelated incident, police said a man approached the building during the timeframe that the search warrant was being approved. The man said he was visiting a friend, but couldn’t provide a name. Police said the building is known for drug issues and the man, identified as 35-year-old Anthony Mallett, was arrested and charged with trespassing, as the property has several "no trespassing" signs.

The four women charged in the assault and kidnapping were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at the Worcester County District Courthouse. It was not immediately clear if they had attorneys. 

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