MURFREESBORO — A Rutherford County grand jury indicted a Murfreesboro couple and a teen-ager on charges they kidnapped a mentally retarded man and carved a Wicca pagan symbol in his chest.
Murfreesboro residents Reginald Phillips Jr., 19, and Marilyn Renee Powers, 19, both of 313 Jackson St., Apt. A, and James Quinton Batten, 17, of 512-A E. Castle St., were each indicted on one count of aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping charges in connection with the Feb. 7 incident that left a 20-year-old man scarred with a pyramid and cross carved into his chest.
Phillips also was indicted on two counts of rape and Powers was indicted on a charge of possession of alcohol under the age of 21. All three defendants face a June 18 arraignment.
At the couple's preliminary hearing in March, the victim told a judge that he was playing on the computers at the Middle Tennessee State University's library when he was approached by the threesome. He said they offered him a ride home but took him to the couple's home, where Powers and Batten held him down while Phillips carved a witchcraft symbol in his chest and sodomized him over a two-day period in February.
Police said Phillips admitted to his part in the incident, but said the victim wanted the symbol carved into his chest. According to court documents, Batten told police that the victim was being held against his will.