ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — A Glynn County 19-year-old man has been fighting for his life at a local hospital.
Action News Jax has learned that Trenton Lehrkamp is awake and responsive in the Intensive Care Unit after family members say he endured hours of torture by so-called friends.
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The Glynn County Police Department said on its social media on Sunday that Lehrkamp was highly intoxicated from a mixture of controlled substances and alcohol when he was dropped off by three minors at Southeast Georgia Health Center in Brunswick on Tuesday.
Patrol officers responded to the hospital at 10:40 p.m. Tuesday night after the three juveniles had already left Lehrkamp there, but not before giving the hospital their names. Family said Lehrkamp was forced to drink alcohol and abused for hours on end at a party on St. Simons Island.
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Action News Jax’s Alexus Clevenger spoke with community leader Theawanza Brooks, who has been to the hospital a few times. She has not gone inside, but she has been in contact with Lehrkamp’s stepmother.
Brooks said she came to the hospital Sunday night to pray, and she will be back again Monday night, this time joined by the community. A vigil has been organized in support of Lehrkamp.
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“Someone is laying in the hospital, fighting for their life. Justice is what we are seeking,” Brooks said.
Police said they did not see any physical injuries on Lehrkamp at the hospital, but did say he had been spray painted.
Police are investigating the party and said last Wednesday, several search warrants were served at homes on St. Simons Island, where investigators found evidence of what happened to Lehrkamp.
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Detectives have interviewed several of the minors involved and determined there are at least two incidents involving Lehrkamp.
Photos and video have been circulating on social media. Warning: The images are difficult to look at. Action News Jax has not yet confirmed if they are linked to the current investigation.
We spoke with people who heard about this story and say it is heartbreaking.
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“Totally unacceptable. It makes you plumb sick to your stomach that a human would do that to another person,” Glynn County resident Carroll Cox said.
“I think it’s horrible, it breaks my heart. I think that children need to be protected no matter what age they are,” Glynn County resident Wanda Bruce said.
GCPD said it is working to get an update in the investigation to share with the public on Monday.
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