3 teens questioned, released regarding NY’s eve sex assault

BY KIM JANSSEN AND CHARLES BERMAN Staff Reporters | Jan 3, 2012

Three teens being questioned in connection with the New Year’s Eve sexual assault of an 18-year-old north suburban high school student have been released without charge, police say.

The Highland Park High School senior remained hospitalized Monday, two days after her horrific ordeal near the Congress Theater in Logan Square.

She was found naked, beaten and bleeding on a sidewalk at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, after she’d been refused entry to a concert by the British DJ “Rusko” at the nearby theater because she had no ID, venue staff said.

Security guards grabbed three of six youths who’d been otage from inside a Mexican restaurant opposite the Congress Theater, restaurant workers said. It shows the woman leaving the restaurant with the three young men after she’d been refused access to the venue but before she was attacked, they said. Physical evidence being reviewed by investigators includes security camera fo seen with her, the staff said. All three were released by detectives 24 hours later, police said.

School district 113 spokeswoman Natalie Kaplan said counselors will be made available for students at Highland Park High School Tuesday.

Kim Janssen is a Sun-Times staff reporter. Charles Berman is a reporter for Pioneer Press.