Police investigate teen beaten, left in cemetery

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Leakesville police said they have many persons of interest in the case of a teenage girl who was attacked and left in a cemetery there.

Investigators were in the field Friday looking for clues.

Police said a 15-year-old girl was found unconscious at Magnolia Cemetery this past weekend and left for dead after authorities say someone alerted one of her family members.

Police Chief Robert Feck said, "Some person texted her sister, told her to come over there, and pick her up."

Authorities believe several young men were involved, and are investigating a possible sexual assault that took place.

Many people in Leakesville had already heard about the report.

Brandy Falls said, "It's just sad. It's just really sad. Right here, where everybody knows everybody, and for it to be swept under the table like it is, it's sad."

Jessica Brown said, "Oh, yeah, I'm absolutely shocked. I have five small children, so I try to keep them safe, try to protect them. So, I hate to hear something like that happening in our area."

Patsy Ware of Neely, Mississippi said, "It's just real sad. It's just, you know, we don't have things like that going on too much."

But, Leslie Turner hadn't heard about the report.

She just opened a business in downtown Leakesville in September.

Turner said, "I can't believe anything like that happened over here, such a small town. You never hear about things like that happening that much. No, not around here."

For now, people in Leakesville are being especially vigilant.