Tragic End for 9/11 Survivor
A man who narrowly avoided perishing in the September 11th attacks has met a violent end decades later, beaten to death by a trio of teenagers in a shocking case that has gripped the United States.
Roger Borkum, a 64-year-old former World Trade Center employee, was fatally assaulted on the night of October 19 in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, according to police reports. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office confirmed that the suspects, two teenagers and a boy who was just 12 years old at the time of the attack, have been charged with his murder.
A Brutal and Sustained Assault
An arrest report obtained by First Coast News details a harrowing sequence of events. The alleged attack on Borkum, who was homeless at the time, occurred on Hogan Street.
Authorities state that the trio beat the victim three separate times between 9:44 p.m. and 10:48 p.m. During this period, they were also seen going through his backpack.
After the second assault, a witness contacted Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, who attended the scene. Finding Borkum apparently unharmed, the emergency services departed. Tragically, the suspects allegedly returned for a third and final assault before fleeing the area, prompting another witness to call 911.
When police arrived, they discovered Borkum with severe head injuries, lying in a pool of his own blood. A trail of blood extended down the sidewalk, painting a grim picture of the violence.
Death and Arrests
Roger Borkum did not die at the scene. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his catastrophic injuries four days later.
Law enforcement moved quickly, arresting the three suspects within hours of the initial attack. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identified them in a press release as Justin Curry, now 13, Marcavion Lacey, 19, and Robert Pope, 17.
On November 20, a grand jury indicted all three on charges of murder. In a chilling revelation, one of the suspects reportedly told investigators that the motive for the brutal beating was because Borkum had "dissed" their "dead homies."
A Life of Narrow Escapes and Tragedy
According to his obituary, Roger Borkum's life was marked by a profound escape from one of modern history's worst tragedies. He had been working as a consultant on the 77th floor of Tower 1 at the World Trade Center.
In a twist of fate, his job ended in late July 2001, and he was laid off. This meant he was not in the tower when hijacked planes struck the buildings on September 11, 2001, an event that likely spared his life at the time.
Borkum was described as a skilled programmer who built a consulting business for multinational companies and later created a calendar app for Lotus Notes. His life was also touched by personal loss; his wife, Celeste, whom he "cared deeply for," died in 2009 during a humanitarian mission in Africa.
The case has highlighted issues of youth violence and the vulnerability of homeless individuals, leaving a community to mourn a man who had already cheated death once.
