Mother Of Girls Attacked At Reed Park 'It's Been Tough'

The Tulsa City Council recognized the man who helped stop an attack on two girls at Reed Park last weekend.

Police said Bob Baker heard the screams of two sisters and stopped Richard Peters - holding him until police arrived.

During Thursday's meeting, the council called Barker a hero and someone who represents the best of Tulsa.

The mother of the two girls is looking for answers and said she hopes Peters spends a long time in jail, where he currently is.

Police said Peters not only tried to sexually assault a 13-year-old girl but also injured her 11-year-old sister.

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Good Samaritans stepped in and held Peters until police got there.

The girls' mother, Laveena, said it's been tough for the family and they'll be happy when it's over. She said, just the thought of Peters, causes constant grief.

“It makes my stomach turn, and that's the biggest thing for us, is thinking about that, and how that happened to her," Laveena said.

She said her two daughters were no match for the 6-foot-tall, nearly 200 pound Peters.

“That's what replayed in our mind, how big he is and how he was manhandling her. She's just a baby," the mother said.

Police arrested Peters Saturday at Reed Park. They said he admitted to grabbing the victim by her neck, forcing her to the ground and holding her while he attempted to have sex with her.

Documents say Peters injured the 11-year-old girl when he tried to grab her.

Laveena said, "They hadn't even been gone from the house for 15 minutes. They came in the door crying and told me what happened."

Peters is classified as a bipolar schizophrenic and was living at a group home – not far from Reed Park - for people with development disabilities.

Laveena wonders how someone with Peters’ mental history was allowed to walk around freely without supervision.

In response to those concerns, the BIOS Corporation - which oversees the group home – responded in a statement, saying, “Immediately upon learning of the unfortunate situation we initiated an internal investigation, and if asked, we will fully cooperate with the authorities in their investigation."

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Laveena said her girls are still scared, and she's angry, but they are trying not to dwell on what happened.

"We don't want to be in this dark place forever," she said.

As for the answer to the question, should Peters have been supervised? Due to HIPPA laws, BIOS Corporation representatives said they can't release that information.

Peters is scheduled to be in court October 2.