Burning cigarettes used to torture kidnapped Elgin teen, records show
A 19-year-old who was kidnapped over the weekend in Elgin was beaten and repeatedly burned with cigarettes, according to Kane County court records.
Elgin police have arrested one but are still searching for a male and three females suspected in the abduction and torture of the teen, who was found Saturday morning and has since been released from the hospital.
Megan A. Lino, 19, of the 600 block of Jefferson Avenue, Carpentersville, has been charged with numerous felonies, including aggravated kidnapping and torture.
Lino "burned (the victim's) back and shoulder's bare skin with lit cigarettes" and "knowingly cause great bodily hard or permanent disability or disfigurement to (the victim) in that she burned (victim) with lit cigarettes," court records stated.
Elgin police could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but said earlier that police were called at 6:55 a.m. Saturday to the 300 block of Raymond Street in Elgin to investigate a report of a 19-year-old female being held against her will.
The victim told police she was with her ex-boyfriend at a home on the 500 block of Levine Court in Elgin when four females entered and with his help, forcibly removed her from the home and put her in a vehicle. The female suspects began to beat the victim, who was repeatedly physically assaulted more after she was taken to Raymond Drive, police said.
According to court records, Lino was on probation after pleading guilty to violating an order of protection against another female in March 2015 and giving a false name and date of birth to Elgin police in June 2015. Lino also was accused of violating an order of protection in April 2015 against another female, but that charge was dismissed, records show.
The two females in the order of protection cases were different from the teen in the kidnapping case, records show.
All told, charges against Lino include: home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery with a caustic substance and aggravated battery/great bodily harm/torture. If convicted of the most severe charge, Lino faces between six and 30 years in prison with no chance of probation. She also would be mandated to serve 85 percent of any sentence instead of the customary 50 percent.
Anyone with information about the matter or suspects should call the Elgin Police Major Investigation's Unit at (847) 289-2600. They may provide an anonymous tip at (847) 695-4195, or text 847411 with "ELGINPD" in the beginning of the text, along with a message and/or information.