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Face-chewing victim is awake and alert

June 12, 2012

In Miami a 65 year old homeless man by the name of Ronald Poppo was brutally attacked alongside South Florida highway on May 26th. Rudy Eugene pummeled Poppo to the ground and began stripping him out of his clothes. After both men were nude, Eugene began to chew at Poppo’s face taking several chunks off including his nose.

Poppo was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center were he will remain for several more weeks and will need more surgeries done before he can explore reconstructive surgery for his face. Poppo’s left eye was removed and the doctors are trying to find a way to restore vision in his right eye. He also suffered two punctured wounds to his chest and a brain injury.

Social workers will try to help him find a place to live when the time comes. He has been homeless for nearly 30 years and has not sought help finding a place to sleep since 2004.

“He’s pleased to report to all of you that he’s feeling well, he’s eating, he’s walking around with physical therapy, he’s talking with us,” said Nicholas Namias, a University of Miami trauma surgeon. The doctor said Poppo hasn’t once complained about pain. “He’s really just sort of living in the moment and just wants to talk about routine things,” he said.

A fund established by the Jackson Memorial Foundation to assist Poppo has raised $15,000. Poppo also qualifies for Medicaid and Medicare, hospital officials said.