Rose Morat Explained

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, 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]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AMW Fugitive Data File for Unknown Rose Morat Mugger. 2007-03-22. America's Most Wanted. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012004/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=43870. 2007-09-27.
  2. News: Ex-Con Jailed as Lowlife Mugger. 2007-04-28. New York Daily News. Xana. O'Neill. Warren. Woodberry Jr. Kerry. Burke. 2007-04-28.
  3. News: NYC Livid Over Attack on Woman, 101. 2007-03-22. The Washington Post. Toosi. Nahal. 2007-03-14.
  4. Web site: New measure introduced to safeguard the elderly — Video of shocking attack on 101-year-old sparks action. 2007-03-22. Bay Ridge Courier. Tracy. Thomas. 2007-03-22.
  5. News: Brute Jack Rhodes - who mugged 101-year-old woman, Rose Morat in 2007 - gets 75 years in jail. 2009-12-02. New York Daily News. Zambito. Thomas. 2009-12-02.
  6. News: Obituary for Rose Morat. 2013-08-09.