[UPDATES]Glynn County Teen in ICU After Disturbing Incidents at St Simons Party

UPDATE 04/17/2023: See Glynn County Police Dept Announces Arrests in Connection with Trent Lehrkamp Case

UPDATE 04/04/2023: According to the GoFundMe that is set up for Trent, he is continuing his healing and recovery, and is receiving care at an out of state facility. The last update states He wants everyone to know he is thankful for the well wishes, the love and support that you all have shown to him. He wants you all to know he’s alive and well but has a long road to go towards being fully recovered from the trauma. He is hopeful that through the support he’s going to receive over the next few months, that he may be back to normalcy. And he states, “Justice will be served.”  Visit the GoFundMe here.

Interim Chief of Police for the Glynn County Police Department, O’Neal Jackson, III, released a statement this week. See the image below. Click to enlarge.

UPDATE 03/29/2023: A statement from the Interim Chief of Police for the Glynn County Police Department, O’Neal Jackson, III can be seen below. Click images to enlarge.

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UPDATE Tues, March 28:

According to the GoFundMe that is set up for Trent and his family, “Trent has been transitioned out of the ICU. He will now begin the next stages of his care and treatment. Please continue to pray for Trent as this part of the journey begins.”

Anyone interested in helping should visit the GoFundMe page. There’s information for the meal train, an address to send a card, letter, or gift card to, as well as other ways to help.  https://gofund.me/fb3fb472

The Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney, Keith Higgins released a statement today:

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UPDATE from GCPD Monday evening:
The Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) is continuing its investigation into an incident involving juveniles on St. Simons Island on March 21. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) have conducted interviews with the involved parties and obtained statements to further the investigation based on established facts. Individuals have been identified in video footage and further interviews are being conducted. Detectives have interviewed and taken a statement from Trent Lehrkamp at the hospital.

Working with the GBI, electronic evidence which has been recovered is being analyzed for information regarding the current incident as well as any previous incidents which had not been previously reported. Law enforcement has been actively investigating information brought forth by the public as it continues the investigation.

GCPD has actively been in consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the GBI, the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, the Glynn County School Board, and the Glynn County District Attorney regarding this investigation.

Citizens who may have more information are encouraged to come forward or contact the Glynn County Police Department. You can do so by phone or email via the Silent Witness program. Silent Witness: 912-264-1333; 911silentwitness@glynncounty-ga.gov.

ORIGINAL:
The Glynn County Police Department stated in a release that they are investigating incidents that occurred at a party last Tuesday night on St Simons Island that led to 19 year-old Trenton Lehrkamp being hospitalized. They say they have been in consultation with the GBI, the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Glynn County District Attorney regarding the investigation.

According to social media posts, the young man was tortured and assaulted by several others by being tied to a chair, funneled alcohol, beat, urinated on, and other unspeakable acts. The incident was documented with disturbing photos and videos shared on social media. As of this morning, Lehrkamp remains on a ventilator in ICU. Citizens, parents, and others across social media are voicing their concerns and demanding justice by speaking out for Lehrkamp. Many are using the hashtag #JUSTICEFORTRENT. There is also a Justice For Trent GoFundMe that has been set up and is being shared,  https://gofund.me/fb3fb472

From GCPD on Sunday morning:
The Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) is currently conducting a criminal investigation regarding an incident that took place involving minors. The story of this incident has been posted on social media channels within the community over the weekend.

GCPD Criminal Investigation Division is gathering facts, interviews, evidence, and other relevant information on this incident. To not compromise the current investigation, GCPD will keep the public up to date with information as allowed.

Interim Chief O’Neal Jackson is asking citizens who may have more information to come forward or to contact the Glynn County Police Department. You can do so through phone or email via the Silent Witness program. Silent Witness: 912-264-1333 911silentwitness@glynncounty-ga.gov

From GCPD Sunday evening:
Glynn County Police Department Continues Investigation into St. Simons Island Party

Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) continues to investigate an incident involving minors that took place on Tuesday, March 21. GCPD was notified by Southeast Georgia Health Center an individual had been brought in with a high level of intoxication. Patrol officers responded to the hospital at approximately 10:40pm. The hospital reported three juveniles had pulled up to the Emergency Room and told staff they had an individual in the vehicle they needed to bring in. The three juveniles registered their names with the ER and then departed the hospital after they asked the hospital staff if they could leave prior to GCPD arrival at the hospital.

After assessing the situation, the Criminal Investigation Division was called in to assist with the investigation. CID learned the identity of the victim as Trenton Lehrkamp, age 19. Officers did not see any signs of physical injury on the individual but did note the presence of spray paint. Lehrkamp was being treated due to a high level of intoxication, from a mixture of controlled substances and alcohol.

On Wednesday, March 22, in the early morning hours, detectives served a search warrant on a residence on St. Simons Island, where the incident had occurred. Numerous items of evidence were collected and recorded related to this investigation. Supplemental search warrants were also served on Wednesday, March 22, to gather further evidence. Detectives have interviewed several juveniles associated with the incident and are continuing to conduct additional interviews. It has been determined by detectives, the videos which have surfaced on social media are of a prior incident involving the victim and are not pertaining to this current incident.

On Sunday, March 26, detectives were able to interview the victim at the hospital. He was alert and conscious and gave a statement about what transpired on the evening of Tuesday, March 21. The victim and his family are fully cooperating with GCPD and the investigation.

GCPD has been in consultation with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Glynn County District Attorney regarding this investigation. Interim Chief O’Neal Jackson encourages citizens who may have more information to come forward or to contact the Glynn County Police Department. You can do so through phone or email via the Silent Witness program. Silent Witness: 912-264-1333; 911silentwitness@glynncounty-ga.gov.

Statement released this morning from Glynn County Schools: Good morning GCSS Families,

We are aware of the allegations of an off-campus incident that involved several of our former and current students. At this time, the Glynn County Police Department is actively investigating this matter, and we are cooperating. Please know that we take very seriously all concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of our students, both on and off campus.

We understand the significant community concern and interest in this situation, and will continue to work diligently to provide an atmosphere where students feel safe, comfortable and ready to learn.

It is our common practice to follow Georgia Department of Education law, specifically O.C.G.A. 20-2-768 that states “students may be disciplined for conduct off-campus, which could result in the student being criminally charged and which makes the student’s continued presence at school a potential danger to persons or property at the school or which disrupts the educational process.”

Parents are encouraged to become familiar with the Code of Conduct and to be supportive of it in their daily communication with their children and others in the community.

As always, we all play an important role in maintaining safe learning environments, so if you see something, say something. Incidents like this have no place in education and will not be tolerated here in Glynn County Schools. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

As of this morning, the GBI had not yet released anything on their involvement in the investigation.