Anne Mitcheltree, a previous assault victim of Jordan Neely, has criticized the city for not providing the necessary mental health treatment to the homeless man. Neely, who had an extensive history of mental health issues, was choked to death by a Marine on a northbound F train in New York City on May 1.
As initially reported by The New York Post, Mitcheltree was punched in the head by Neely in June 2021 inside an East Village deli. Following his arrest, she assumed Neely would face charges and be placed in psychiatric care, but that did not occur. Neely had a record of 42 prior arrests and an arrest warrant issued on February 23.
On May 1, Neely was strangled by 24-year-old Marine Daniel Penny after exhibiting erratic behavior on the train and harassing passengers. The city medical examiner ruled Neely’s death a homicide due to “compression of neck (chokehold).” The district attorney’s office is currently investigating whether to bring criminal charges against Penny for the chokehold.
Neely’s family and friends reported that he suffered from schizophrenia, PTSD, and depression after his mother’s murder in 2007. At least a dozen encounters with police were linked to his mental health issues, with officers repeatedly dropping him off at hospitals or shelters.