Man accused in Newburgh bathroom assault brutally beaten in suspected vigilante attack
Mark Adams was found in a park beaten nearly to death, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
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A City of Newburgh man accused of strangling a woman inside her bathroom last week has now been brutally beaten in what authorities believe may have been an act of vigilante violence.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to News 12 that Mark Adams, 41, was beaten nearly to death Friday, Oct. 9 — just three days after the original attack, for which he was arrested and released without bail.
Adams suffered serious injuries and was taken to Westchester Medical Center.
The attack happened Friday afternoon at Tyrone Crabb Memorial Park, next to Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School and across from Calvary Presbyterian Church.
The Newburgh Enlarged City School District confirmed school was in session at the time. A district representative said no children were outside, but the school went into a secure lockout for approximately 10 minutes. The district also clarified that the park is city property and not part of the school grounds.
News 12 also obtained a surveillance image that appears to show Adams on the ground receiving medical assistance. Authorities say he suffered serious injuries and was taken to Westchester Medical Center.
The developments come days after News 12 exclusively interviewed Holly Mousseau, 52, who says Adams attacked and strangled her inside her Newburgh bathroom Tuesday, Oct. 6, after she allowed him into her home to use the restroom. Her 19-year-old daughter, Rowan, says she heard her mother’s screams and intervened with a kitchen knife to stop the attack.
Mousseau says Adams shoved her into a wall by the neck and repeatedly strangled her while covering her mouth and nose. The attack was partially captured on Ring surveillance video, including screams as Rowan intervened with a kitchen knife.
“I just started – I don’t even know what I was hitting. I just started stabbing him,” Rowan told News 12.
Adams was arrested and charged with four misdemeanors, including criminal obstruction of breathing, assault and unlawful imprisonment. He was released without bail because the charges were not bail-eligible under state law.
Both women expressed fears for their safety during last week’s interview.
The latest violence is drawing mixed reactions from people in the neighborhood.
“I walk this street every day. I’m not surprised at all,” said one nearby resident, who asked to remain anonymous.
The lifelong Newburgh resident said he’s frustrated by ongoing violence and wants to move out of the city.
Sherrod Gill, of Beacon, was waiting for a bus nearby when News 12 spoke with him.
“Violence doesn’t kill violence,” Gill said.
Gill said he understands why people would be angry about the original allegations but believes Adams deserved his day in court.
“I understand the reasoning for it, but I don’t think it’s right. I don’t think it’s right what he did either. It’s just a problem, causing another problem,” Gill said.
No arrests have been made in Friday’s attack.
The DA’s office confirmed the incident was caught on video and that no arrests have been made. It says authorities believe social media contributed to the violence and are investigating it as a possible vigilante attack.
News 12 has reached out to the City of Newburgh police for additional information.
