Brutal purse snatching sends Rome woman to hospital

ROME, Ga. - It was a violent purse snatching which left a Rome woman in the hospital and now has police searching for her attackers.

Rome Police hope someone will recognize the two young men who mugged the 62-year-old woman and give them a call.

The victim’s husband spoke to FOX 5 News at Redmond Regional Medical Center where the woman was recovering.

“I just know they hurt my wife and they need to face justice around their actions,” said the victim’s husband who did not want his or his wife’s identity revealed.

Police said the violent purse snatching occurred late Sunday night in the parking lot of a Kroger on Turner McCall Blvd.

“And she remembers screaming and that’s the last thing she really remembers. She’s making a slow recovery. She’s in a lot of pain. She’s got a lot of pain. She’s got a concussion, a lot of bruising, a lot of cuts and a broken nose,” said the victim’s husband.

Police said after the robbery and attack the two men fled on foot behind the Kroger store. Authorities released surveillance video recorded outside the Kroger store of two men in hoodies believed responsible.

Investigators said the attackers may not have realized the victim was carrying a purse with a strap across her body when they ambushed, attacked and robbed her. 

“It was actually drawn across the front of her body so you couldn’t just take it and run. And that may have led to the brutality,” said Lt. Joe Costolnick with the Rome Police Department.

He said several patrons chased the robbers unsuccessfully, running after them after the victim was robbed. Her husband also said there was a woman who helped comfort his wife until an ambulance arrived.

“She’s just thankful she’s alive and she counts her blessings and she counts the blessings of the people around her from the very start,” said the victim’s husband.

Now it’s on to the healing after a life altering ordeal Police suspect could have been at the hands of these two men.

“I want them caught and any help that any help anybody could give us and give the police would be much appreciated,” said the victim’s husband.

He said the robbers got away with his wife’s purse, her cell phone and wallet which had credit cards and her identification in it.

He also said he expects his wife to be released from the hospital sometime on Tuesday.

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