Man Critically Injured in Suspected Vigilante Park Attack

Authorities are investigating whether social media helped fuel the attack, which occurred days after the man was released following an arraignment.

NEWBURGH, NY — A 41-year-old Newburgh man accused in an earlier assault was beaten nearly to death in a city park Oct. 9, days after he was released following his arraignment, according to information provided by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to News 12.

Mark Adams suffered serious injuries in the attack at Tyrone Crabb Memorial Park, next to Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School. He was taken to Westchester Medical Center. Authorities are investigating whether the violence was an act of vigilante retaliation and whether social media played a role. A motive has not been confirmed, and no arrests had been announced in the park attack.

The district attorney’s office said the assault was captured on video. News 12 reported that authorities believe online activity may have contributed to what happened, but investigators have not publicly identified who attacked Adams or established why he was targeted. The investigation comes amid separate criminal allegations against Adams stemming from an incident three days earlier.

City of Newburgh police said officers responded shortly before 7 p.m. Oct. 6 to a residence near East Parmenter Street. A woman told police that Adams, whom she knew, had asked to use her bathroom. Police said that after she allowed him inside, he asked for help with the toilet and then confined her in the bathroom when she entered.

Police accused Adams of applying pressure to the woman’s neck and slamming her against a wall multiple times. Other people in the home heard the struggle and intervened, police said. Adams fled before officers arrived but was found about an hour later near Liberty Street and Gidney Avenue with help from an anonymous caller.

Adams was charged with two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, third-degree assault and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, all misdemeanors. He was held overnight and arraigned in Newburgh City Court on Oct. 7. Police said he was then released under New York state bail laws. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office told News 12 the charges were not eligible for bail under current law.

The woman, identified by News 12 as 52-year-old Holly Mousseau, said she feared for her safety after Adams was released. Her account of the encounter was supported in part by Ring surveillance footage that captured sounds from the confrontation and its aftermath. Adams has not been convicted of the charges, which remained pending after the later park attack.

The Oct. 9 assault occurred while Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School was in session, according to the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. The district said no children were outside at the time and the school entered a secure lockout for about 10 minutes. Officials also said Tyrone Crabb Memorial Park is city property and is not part of the school grounds.

The possible vigilante motive remains under investigation. Authorities have not announced an arrest in the park assault, and no confirmed motive has been released. The criminal case arising from the Oct. 6 encounter also remains unresolved as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the later attack on Adams.

Author note: Last updated October 15, 2026.

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