EDWARDSVILLE, IL – Two 18-year-old women from Illinois are facing serious allegations after being charged with “mob action,” raising concerns in their local community. Hayley A. Ditzler and Olivia J. Brown were apprehended on Wednesday following charges that accuse them of violently attacking women without provocation, according to documents from the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office.
The legal definition of “mob action” in Illinois describes scenarios where “two or more persons act together using force or violence to disturb public peace without lawful authority.” The incidents allegedly occurred across Madison County and St. Clair County, located in the southeastern region of Illinois, close to St. Louis, Missouri.
The charges stem from an event on April 18, during which, according to the complaint, Ditzler and Brown assaulted a woman by dragging her into the woods and hitting her repeatedly in several areas, including her face and stomach. A related court motion suggested that the duo might continue to pose a threat to this victim.
Although the specific motives behind these alleged acts remain undisclosed, local conversations have become awash with fear and speculation, particularly following additional accusations from other women claiming to have been attacked by the same pair.
In another vivid account, Evelyn Berentz, a former acquaintance of Ditzler and Brown, spoke about a harrowing experience on the same April evening. Berentz claims that while socializing with friends, her crowd was approached by a group of masked individuals, which included Ditzler and Brown. She evaded a potential confrontation by driving away but was later contacted by the duo, who offered apologies and invited her to a meeting under false pretenses.
Once Berentz met Ditzler and Brown, the situation turned grim as she was reportedly overpowered, taken into the woods, and attacked. She alleges the beating was recorded and shared online, to her horror. Despite suffering minor physical injuries, Berentz expressed gratitude for escaping what she feared could have been a fatal encounter.
Berentz’s mother, Lara McCord, has voiced safety concerns, describing the alleged actions of Ditzler and Brown as seriously dangerous, prompting heightened anxiety within their community.
Authorities in St. Clair County have launched their own investigations into similar incidents involving Ditzler and Brown, as further revelations could potentially unfold about their alleged pattern of behavior. As the legal process continues, the community watches closely, hoping for justice and a sense of restored safety.