Former WTC Worker Beaten to Death by Teens in Florida
Roger Borkum, 64, dodged death by quitting his World Trade Center job just two months before 9/11. But the former consultant’s narrow escape ended in tragedy when three teenagers brutally beat him to death in Jacksonville, Florida.
Triple Attack on October Night Ends in Murder
The savage assault unfolded on the evening of 19 October 2025. Borkum was attacked not once, but three separate times, suffering severe blunt force trauma to his head and body. Witnesses later found him bleeding heavily with blood pooling on the pavement. He died four days later on 23 October.
Three Teens Arrested – Even 13-Year-Old Faces Adult Murder Charges
- The suspects: 19-year-old Marcavion Lacey, 16-year-old Robert Pope, and just 13-year-old Justin Curry.
- Police acted fast, catching them within hours thanks to quick witness reports.
- All three are being charged as adults, sparking intense debate about juvenile justice.
- A grand jury confirmed the 13-year-old’s indictment on 20 November.
The State Attorney defended the tough move: “The juvenile justice system is not designed to handle offenders or offences of this magnitude.”
Why the Violence? Motives Still Unclear
During one attack, the teens rifled through Borkum’s rucksack while he was already bleeding and injured. One suspect claimed Borkum insulted their deceased friends – a claim police say remains unverified.
Authorities continue piecing together what sparked such a brutal triple assault. A rapid, witness-led investigation helped lead to the suspects’ arrests.
From Wall Street to Homelessness: A Life of Survival and Loss
Borkum hailed from Long Island, New york/" title="York" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">York, and worked on the 77th floor of the North Tower until July 2001. Tragically, all his colleagues died in the 9/11 attacks — a devastating twist for his family.
Though he escaped that disaster, how Borkum ended up homeless in Jacksonville remains a mystery. The sorrow deepens with the loss of his wife Celeste, who died in 2009 on a humanitarian trip to Africa.
“Roger was a soft-spoken man who cared for everyone he met. We don’t know what happened to cause him to become homeless, but he was a man of integrity and hard work. He is missed greatly.” – Sister Deborah
Brutal Beating Ends a Life Marked by Near-Death and Heartbreak
The medical examiner confirmed blunt force trauma as the cause of death. The multiple attacks reveal a shocking level of violence inflicted on a vulnerable man who had already survived one of America’s darkest days.
From escaping the horror of 9/11 to falling victim to street violence decades later, Roger Borkum’s tragic story is a grim reminder of life’s cruel twists.
