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Mar 27, 2008 11:08 am US/Eastern
Man Dies 9 Months After Attack Near Patterson Park
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Memorial services are planned for Thursday in Frederick for Zach Sowers, the Baltimore resident who died after a violent attack left him in a coma for more than nine months.
Dennis Edwards reports there is sadness over the death of a young man friends say died too soon and frustration that those responsible won't face murder charges.
Zach Sowers was punched, stomped, beaten and robbed a few doors from his Patterson Park home last summer.
As a florist delivers flowers in sympathy for this death, neighbors still remember the night that left Sowers in a coma for nine months.
"It was in the summertime. We had the air conditioning on and we heard nothing. I don't think a lot of neighbors around here heard anything either," said Sharon Savage.
Sowers died of his injuries three months after four teenagers were convicted of first-degree assault and robbery charges. One is serving 40 years in prison. The others were sentenced to eight years apiece.
Bar owners in Canton and Federal Hill who tried to give Sowers' wife financial help with medical bills are upset those plea agreements won't allow prosecutors to pursue additional charges.
"That's totally unfair, even if younger in life or whatever. I think they were old enough to know the difference that it was totally wrong what they did," said Paul Cuda.
Sowers' death still comes as a startling surprise to neighbors who had been pulling for him, hoping he'd recover.
There was no one home at the house Sowers shared with his wife, Anna. She's filed lawsuits against the teenagers whose actions eventually took her husband's life.
reports there is sadness over the death of a young man friends say died too soon and frustration that those responsible won't face murder charges. Zach Sowers was punched, stomped, beaten and robbed a few doors from his Patterson Park home last summer. As a florist delivers flowers in sympathy for this death, neighbors still remember the night that left Sowers in a coma for nine months."It was in the summertime. We had the air conditioning on and we heard nothing. I don't think a lot of neighbors around here heard anything either," said Sharon Savage.Sowers died of his injuries three months after four teenagers were convicted of first-degree assault and robbery charges. One is serving 40 years in prison. The others were sentenced to eight years apiece.Bar owners in Canton and Federal Hill who tried to give Sowers' wife financial help with medical bills are upset those plea agreements won't allow prosecutors to pursue additional charges."That's totally unfair, even if younger in life or whatever. I think they were old enough to know the difference that it was totally wrong what they did," said Paul Cuda.Sowers' death still comes as a startling surprise to neighbors who had been pulling for him, hoping he'd recover.There was no one home at the house Sowers shared with his wife, Anna. She's filed lawsuits against the teenagers whose actions eventually took her husband's life.
Memorial services will be held at Stauffer Funeral Home on Opposumtown Pike Thursday. The funeral will be held Saturday in Sowers' hometown of Circleville, Ohio.
Donations for the Zach Sowers Brain Trauma Research Fund and/or Zach's Law can be made to:
Frederick County Bank
30 West Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Attn: Lori Cromwell
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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