Bothell, WA – The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to an area near Forsgren Park in Bothell Monday night after they received a report of unsettling noises, “like someone was staple-gunning someone.”
According to a local Fox News affiliate Jeannie Collier, a nearby resident, had been roused in the middle of the night by the disturbing racket and phoned police.
When authorities arrived at the scene they found 12 male teenagers, between 16 to 18 years of age. All appeared to be students of the Inglemoor High School in Kenmore. Seven were identified as victims in a willing assault.
It was assessed the injured teens, some of whom were half-naked, had been beaten – bearing several open wounds – and were suffering from hypothermia as part of a brutal high school hazing inflicted upon high school underclassmen from outgoing seniors.
The bizarre ritual entailed being blindfolded, led out to the remote park late at night, and being struck with several implements including PVC pipes and golf clubs. The teens had been urinated on, doused with flower, burned with cigarettes, and left exposed to the elements – resulting in the hypothermia.
The boys were treated at the scene and released to their parents.
The juniors were subjected to the hazing process so they could join the Naked Vikings.
The Naked Vikings, an unsanctioned club, are known as a spirited group that dress up in crazy outfits and paint their face to cheer on the Inglemoor High School sports teams. Over the last few years, the district has investigated claims of hazing that involved the Naked Vikings but never found any evidence of wrongdoing until recently.
One 17-year-old, James Walvatne, was visibly whipped – his back marred with raised lash-marks. His mother, Sara Walvatne, spoke up about the incident as in an odd turn the victims have refused to speak in-depth with police about what happened.
Sara was quoted by the Bothell-Reporter :
“None of the other parents are coming forward and I should not be the only one. It was criminal what happened and now none of the boys will say anything. I am appalled that no one else will come forward.”
Peculiarly, many of the parents, according to Sara, are not coming forward or permitting their children to speak with the media for fear their kids – who were the victims in this case – may lose scholarships.
Five students are now being criminally investigated, but no arrests have been made and the victims remain uncooperative.
