The mother of the teen boy accused in the severe beating of 15-year-old Josie Lou Ratley said her son is no bully and that he must have snapped when he went after her.
Donna Powers, mother of 15-year-old Wayne Treacy, appeared on the "Today Show" Monday, along with Treacy's stepfather, Carey Smith and lawyer Russell Williams.
"[We're here] just to get Wayne's side of the story out," Powers said, as she explained how her son could be responsible for the March 17 attack outside Deerfield Beach Middle School.
Treacy has been in a juvenile detention center since the attack in which police said Ratley was punched, knocked to the ground and had her head repeatedly slammed on the concrete by Treacy, who stomped on the girl with his steel-toed boots.
Powers was asked Monday morning if she thought her son had just snapped.
"I believe so," Powers said. "That's not Wayne's nature, he's not a bully."
Police have said that Treacy became enraged when Ratley sent him a text message mentioning his brother Michael, who had committed suicide by hanging himself last October.
Powers, Smith and Williams suggested the suicide has had a lasting effect of the teen.
"How would you like to be 15 and find your only brother hanging in a tree. It hit him pretty hard," Smith said, adding that Ratley mentioning the incident no doubt set Treacy off. "Evidently, she must have said something very derogatory about his brother's death."
Josie Ratley remains in a medically induced coma at Broward General Medical Center. Her family said she's showing signs of improving, opening her eyes and moving, and doctors are trying to wean her off the coma inducing medication.
Ratley's mother, Hilda Gotay Ratley, appeared on "Today" last Wednesday, where she lamented the fact that she's heard no apology from Treacy or his family.
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"I have not heard any apology from the family at all," she said. "I know their concern is their child...do they have any remorse, do they have any feelings, do they think about Josie?"
The apologies came Monday morning. Smith said he'd talked to Treacy and that he has expressed sorrow over the incident.
"He would like to apologize to Josie and her family, he's real remorseful about it," Smith said.
"I am so sorry, my heart and prayers go out to you," Powers said, regarding Hilda Ratley. "I know the pain that you're going through, I'm just sorry."
Hilda Ratley's lawyer, Rick Freedman, said he spoke with her after Monday's "Today" appearance by Treacy's family.
"She is too hurt right now to even think about an apology," Freedman said in a statement. "The anger and pain she is feeling is too fresh in her mind and all that she can think about right now is her daughter Josie."
Treacy has been charged with attempted murder, though prosecutors haven't said whether he'll be charged as a juvenile or adult.
This past weekend, some big fundraisers were held for Josie Ratley to help pay for her medical expenses.
On Saturday, a fundraiser at West Broward Community Church featuring the "Gator Boy" alligator wrestling brought in over $5,000 for the "Josie Ratley Fund."
On Sunday, CJ's Drafthouse in Deerfield Beach held a second fundraiser, sponsored by Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue.
