A 19-year-old Chicago man, Jonathan Gracia, is facing serious charges after allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman at her birthday party in Hammond, Indiana. According to court documents, Gracia had been hired by the victim’s family to photograph the celebration, but the night took a horrific turn.
The incident occurred on August 17, during the woman’s 21st birthday party. Gracia, an acquaintance of the victim, was invited to document the event. As the night progressed, he consumed a significant amount of alcohol, eventually becoming sick and passing out in the victim’s bed. Sometime later, the victim also went to sleep in the same bed, but on the other side, told Chicago Tribute.
At around 5:30 a.m., the woman reported that Gracia suddenly pinned her down by her shoulders and, feeling “scared,” she froze as he proceeded to rape her. The next day, after Gracia fell asleep again, the victim ran to her brother and informed him of the assault.
The situation quickly escalated. Hammond police found Gracia severely beaten near the 1200 block of 175th Street. The assault had been carried out by the victim’s family—her brother and mother—who took matters into their own hands after learning of the rape. The brother reportedly attacked Gracia, and the mother joined in, striking him with a pipe. Gracia was left bleeding “excessively” from his face and arms, according to police reports.
Earlier that morning, the victim’s brother had confronted Gracia after being told about the assault. Gracia, who had mistakenly taken a black backpack from the victim’s room on his way out, initially denied raping the woman when confronted by her mother and brother. The confrontation quickly turned violent, spilling outside, where the physical altercation continued.
Law enforcement arrested the mother and considered charging her with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury. The brother, who had blood on his pants, shoes, and hands, admitted to police that he wanted to “settle it” with Gracia. He recounted how he attempted to stop his mother from using the pipe but ended up joining in the fight as Gracia tried to flee. Police have indicated that the brother could also face battery charges.
As of Tuesday, public court filings do not show whether the mother has been officially charged, and it remains unclear if the brother will face charges as well. The case highlights the extreme reactions of a family dealing with the immediate aftermath of an alleged sexual assault, raising questions about the limits of vigilante justice.