DA VANCE: DAVID MITCHELL PLEADS GUILTY TO RAPING 73-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN CENTRAL PARK
“David Mitchell is a predator who targets the elderly, taking advantage of his victims’ age and size,” said District Attorney Vance. “In this case, he raped and robbed a 73-year-old woman in broad daylight in Central Park, before leaving her bloodied and bruised on a mulch path. Yet it was this very woman’s strength in assisting police and prosecutors that led to Mitchell’s apprehension and conviction.” According to the defendant’s guilty plea, on September 12, 2012, MITCHELL approached the victim in Central Park, grabbed her from behind, and forcefully hit her head on the ground. After assaulting and raping her, the defendant fled with the woman’s camera bag. She immediately reported the attack and her injuries to the police. Further, according to the defendant’s guilty plea, three weeks earlier, on August 20, 2012, MITCHELL argued with a man in Central Park, and pulled a knife on him. The man was not injured. Assistant District Attorney James Zaleta handled the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Martha Bashford, Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit; Kerry O’Connell, Chief of Trial Bureau 80; and Executive Assistant District Attorney Karen Friedman-Agnifilo, Chief of the Trial Division. District Attorney Vance thanked Lieutenant Adam Lamboy and Detective Anthony West of the NYPD’s Special Victims Squad, and Police Officers Sicelin Ortiz, Steven Ourelio, and Emanual Rodriguez-Marte of Patrol Borough Manhattan North’s Impact Response Team. Defendant Information: DAVID MITCHELL, D.O.B. 4/13/1970 Unknown Address Convicted: