Rose Morat
 | This article needs to be updated. (January 2015) |
Rose M. Morat (February 4, 1906 – August 3, 2013) was a New York City resident and retired telecommunications worker.[1] On the afternoon of March 4, 2007, at the age of 101, she was assaulted and mugged in the lobby of her building on the way to church. A grainy video captured the assault, during which the alleged attacker, Jack Rhodes, 44,[2] struck her several times in the face. The video incited outrage among New Yorkers.[3] A substantial reward was offered by several sources, including the police, for information leading to the capture of the suspect.[3]
As a result of Morat's assault, New York State Senator Martin Golden has introduced a bill that would make it a felony to assault anyone over 70 years old.[4] The bill would increase the legal penalty to seven years if the victim were injured during the assault. Currently, [when?] assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. The bill has found support from such public figures as Senator Hillary Clinton and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.[1]
On December 2, 2009, Jack Rhodes, 47, was sentenced to 75 years ("one for each dollar he stole from Morat") in prison at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.[5] Morat died on August 3, 2013, at the age of 107.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "AMW Fugitive Data File for Unknown Rose Morat Mugger". America's Most Wanted. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^ O'Neill, Xana; Woodberry Jr, Warren; Burke, Kerry (2007-04-28). "Ex-Con Jailed as Lowlife Mugger". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
- ^ a b Toosi, Nahal (2007-03-14). "NYC Livid Over Attack on Woman, 101". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^ Tracy, Thomas (2007-03-22). "New measure introduced to safeguard the elderly — Video of shocking attack on 101-year-old sparks action". Bay Ridge Courier. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^ Zambito, Thomas (2009-12-02). "Brute Jack Rhodes - who mugged 101-year-old woman, Rose Morat in 2007 - gets 75 years in jail". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ "Obituary for Rose Morat". Retrieved 2013-08-09.