ALABAMA: Family Demands Hate Crime And Attempted Murder Charges After Lesbian Is Beaten By Girlfriend's Brother

A family in Alabama is calling for attempted murder and hate crime charges after a 23 year-old lesbian was brutally beaten by her girlfriend's brother.  The brother was reportedly angry about their relationship.

Mallory Owens, 23, suffered multiple skull fractures and crushed bones after the Nov. 22 attack. Family members say she had metal plates put under her eyes because of her injuries. She also has internal and external injuries. Owens says she was beat on Thanksgiving while at her girlfriend's family's house for dinner. Avery Godwin, Owens's sister, said Owens was blindsided just before she left the Mobile home of the Hawkins family. Travis Hawkins Jr., 18, was arrested by Mobile police on Sunday and charged with second-degree assault in the case. "That charge shouldn't be there," Godwin said. "He should've been charged with attempted murder."

A petition has been launched on Change.org calling for the local district attorney to file additional charges. At this writing it has over 66,000 signatures.  The case has also appeared on Snopes.com where its hate crime aspect is listed as "undetermined."