Monsey stabbing victim, in coma since December attack, has died
- (JTA) — The most seriously injured victim of the stabbing attack at a rabbi’s home in Monsey in late December has died.
Josef Neumann, 72, died on Sunday afternoon. Though he remained in a coma from the time of the attack to his death, he had begun to open his eyes in February, leading to calls to keep praying for a full recovery.
The assailant’s knife penetrated Neumann’s skull and cut into his brain. His right arm also was shattered. Four other people were injured in the Dec. 28, 2019 attack.
The first announcement of his death came in a tweet from the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council.
Neumann had seven children, “many grandchildren,” a great-grandchild, and brothers and sisters.
The alleged stabber, Grafton Thomas, 37, has pleaded not guilty to 10 federal hate crimes charges along with six counts of attempted murder and several assault and burglary counts in Rockland County court.
If it is determined that Neumann died of his injuries, Thomas could face the death penalty.
The post Monsey stabbing victim, in coma since December attack, has died appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO