8 Face Charges in 1997 Rape, Murder of Connecticut Girl

Seven people were arraigned Wednesday in what police say was an orchestrated kidnapping, rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl by a group of friends five years ago. An eighth suspect was arrested in Texas.

Investigators believe the group spent several days plotting to kill Maryann Measles after she accused two of them of rape, a source familiar with the case said on condition of anonymity.

Two of the seven face charges that could bring the death penalty.

“I think they should die for what they did,” said the victim’s mother, Cindi Measles. “But I think lethal injection is too easy.”

Court records were sealed and prosecutors and police declined to comment on details of the case.

“It was as horrendous and tragic and savage a crime as I’ve seen in my 31 years as a prosecutor,” prosecutor Frank Maco said.

The girl’s body was found in 1998 at a lake, wrapped in a blanket and chains, nine months after she disappeared.

Cindi Measles said her daughter had told her she feared for her life because she had made the rape allegations. Measles said she left her daughter in the car in a parking lot and went shopping. She never saw her again.