ALTON, Ill. - A torture ring involving three adults and three minors, including a 12-year-old, caused the death of a mentally handicapped woman who was 6 months pregnant, police say.
Judy Woods, 43, was charged in February with first-degree murder and intentional homicide of an unborn child in the Jan. 30 death of Dorothy Dixon, 29, and her unborn fetus.
On Tuesday, Alton police announced Michelle Riley, 35, Michael Elliot, 18, Benny Wilson, 16, and two of Riley's children - LeShelle McBride, 15, and an unindentified 12-year-old were also charged with four counts of first-degree murder, intentional homicide of Dixon's fetus, heinous battery, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint. Wilson and McBride are charged as adults; only the 12-year-old was charged as a juvenile.
The abuse took place between Dec. 1, 2007 and Jan. 30, court records state. Police said Dixon was shot more than 30 times with a BB gun, scalded with water and hit repeatedly with a blunt instrument.
Dixon is survived by a 1-year-old child.
Alton is 23 miles north of St. Louis.
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