WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- An emotional plea was made Thursday from the mother of Michael Brewer, the Deerfield Beach teenager who was set on fire.
"He was petrified to go to school that day," says Valerie Brewer.
Valerie talked live to the Today Show team about Monday, the day her 15-year-old son Michael was held down and set on fire, because of an apparent act of revenge.
"It's going to be a long struggle but he's, he's going to make it through this," says Valerie. "How are you dealing with all of this, as a mom, this has to be a nightmare for you," asked Today Show anchor Meredith Viera.
"It's a complete nightmare," adds Valerie.
The nightmare included her son screaming for help, jumping into a pool to put out the flames, the burned clothes, the emergency response, and the five young suspects who faced a judge this week.
All five suspects are in juvenile detention. It will be up to the State Attorney's Office to determine if they'll face charges in adult court.
"Do you know these boys and what would you like to say about them?" asks Viera. "I do know them but I really don't want to discuss it. It's heart wrenching," says Valerie. "I can't even... I can't think about it. But what I would like to say is this violence has got to stop. People around the world have got to do something. Violence, kids shooting each other in schools and stabbing each other, what they did to my son, we have got to stop this," adds Valerie.
Dr. Nicholas Namias of Jackson Memorial Hospital was by Valerie's side during the interview. Namias talked about the long road to recovery. "Things could be going a whole lot worse than they are," says Namias.
Namias added, "But yesterday I was quoted as saying he wasn't out of the woods yet, but they missed the point where I said I honestly don't think we're in the woods yet. We still have to get in the woods before we get out to the other side."
With Valerie's permission, the Today Show then shared behind-the-scenes video of an emotional Valerie post-interview.
Viera and co-anchor Matt Lauer discussed the tragedy.
"The reason we wanted to show it was because we wanted to show the real impact that this has had on a mom and a family and there are so many kids who do violent things in the country now, mindless things and maybe this will send a message to them that it has repercussions Matt," says Viera.
"Two things struck me. One that Valerie was trying to be so strong during the interview for her son and clearly this is such a painful moment and also what the doctor said that we're not even in the woods yet so that we can emerge on the other side. This young man's got a big battle ahead of him Meredith," says Lauer. "And our thoughts and prayers are with Michael and his family," says Viera.
BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE:FIVE TEENS CHARGED IN FIERY ATTACK
Date: October 12, 2009
Time: 3:14 p.m.
Jurisdiction: Deerfield Beach
Place of Occurrence: Lime Tree Apartments, SE 13 Court, Deerfield Beach
Victim(s):
Michael Brewer, 15, male, Deerfield Beach
Suspect(s):
1. Matthew Bent, 15, male, Pompano Beach
2. Denver Jarvis, 15, male, Pompano Beach
3. Jeremy Jarvis, 13, male, Pompano Beach
4. Steven Shelton, 15, male, Deerfield Beach
5. Jesus Mendez, 15, male, Pompano Beach
Description of Incident:
Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested five juveniles for deliberately setting a 15-year-old boy on fire at a Deerfield Beach apartment complex.
The arrests stem from an intensive investigation launched immediately following the Monday afternoon attack. Three suspects were taken into custody Monday evening: brothers Denver and Jeremy Jarvis, ages 15 and 13, and Matthew Bent, 15. Two others, Steven Shelton and Jesus Mendez, both 15, were picked up today (Tuesday).
At 3:14 pm Monday BSO deputies were dispatched to the Lime Tree apartments in reference to a person who suffered a burn injury. Deputies arrived along with Deerfield Beach firefighters and found the victim, Michael Brewer, sitting in a lawn chair near the pool. The teen was burned extensively above the waist. The young victim said that he was splashed with a flammable liquid and then set ablaze. A BSO helicopter transported the victim to Broward General Medical Center. He was later transferred to a burn center in Miami. An intensive investigation by BSO Deerfield Beach District deputies and BSO Aggravated Felonies detectives, plus Crime Scene Investigators, was immediately launched.
Revenge was the motive for the torturous attack – retaliation for Brewer reporting the attempted theft of a bicycle Sunday night. Detectives determined that Brewer skipped class at Deerfield Middle School Monday and went to the apartment complex to visit a friend. At the complex, the five suspects approached Brewer, equipped with rubbing alcohol and a lighter. When he tried to walk away Denver Jarvis splashed him with alcohol and Mendez used a lighter to set him ablaze.
The suspects are all charged with Aggravated Battery and were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Mendez, who actually flicked the lighter, is charged with Attempted Second Degree murder.
