COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The three South Side teens accused of beating a 77-year-old Lakeview woman will face charges of attempted murder.
Prosecutors this week upgraded charges against Eli Ruff, 18, Tracie Towbridge, 19, and Lilearl Taylor, 19.
The three are accused of breaking into the woman's home in the 3600 block of North Magnolia Avenue at about 5 a.m. on Jan. 9.
They beat the woman whenever she made noise or called for help during a 45-minute home invasion that netted the burglars coins, jewelry and a TV, prosecutors said.
Police arrested Ruff, Taylor and Towbridge after they stole the victim's Honda Accord and crashed on the Dan Ryan Expy. when Ruff fell asleep at the wheel, according to prosecutors.
The three were initially charged with home invasion, burglary and criminal trespass to a vehicle. They now face additional charges of attempted murder, robbing someone older than 60, and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a victim older than 60, court records show. Ruff also is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
The group will be arraigned Tuesday.
According to authorities, the victim suffered broken bones and bleeding to her brain; eight or nine of her teeth were loosened in the attack.
Since their arrest on Jan. 9, Ruff and Taylor have been charged in additional Lakeview crimes.
Ruff is accused of breaking into two Lakeview homes in the 3700 block of North Lakewood Avenue on Dec. 22 and Jan. 1, respectively. In one incident, he allegedly snapped photos of himself wearing the victim's clothing, throwing gang signs and smoking marijuana.
Taylor, meanwhile, is accused of hitting a woman and stealing her iPhone near the Belmont "L" station just hours before the attack in the 77-year-old woman's home.
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