Teen charged with paralysing mum mocks victim's GoFundMe in prison phone call
A teenager charged with paralysing a mum he robbed at a cash machine has been reportedly heard mocking the victim's GoFundMe page during a prison phone call.
Joseph Harrell, 17, has been accused of leaving Nhung Truong, 44, paralysed after CCTV caught the moment he allegedly body-slammed her to the concrete floor.
The Vietnamese mum-of-three had just withdrawn $4,300 (£3,500) from a cash machine for her trip back to Vietnam when the suspect allegedly tried to rob her.
But now in a series of phone calls from jail, the suspect is alleged to have criticised the $320,000 (£261,000) raised to help the victim with her extensive medical costs ahead of her long rehabilitation.
Joseph is allegedly overhead saying: "The lady probably wants justice and some more ****. They'll try to max me out 20 years basically.
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Suspect Joseph Harrell was caught on CCTV body slamming a mum-of-three to the ground
Zy'Nika Woods, 19, has since been charged in connection with the robbery"That *****. I ain't going for it. The ***** already ran up $230,000 off GoFundMe. ***** better run on with her life."
In another recording he mocks her injuries and claims the mum-of-three, who suffered a serious spinal injury, will be up walking within a year.
He says: "'Like, ***** you done run up $230,000. Look. They say she ran up $230,000 and she'll be back walking in no less than a year."
The teen suspect sneaks up behind the womanAccording to the audio, he is alleged to have said: "We were snatching purses. I hopped out, snatched the purse, the lady ran with the money, I grabbed her, slammed her and she was paralysed.'
The suspect's bond was originally set at $200,000 (£163,000) but it was lowered to $100,000 (£81,000) for the robbery charge.
Police also confirmed he had been charged in a separate robbery which he allegedly committed just a week later.
The President of Houston Police Officers Union has criticised the decision to lower his bond.
The 44-year-old desperately tries to escapeDouglas Griffith said: "My concern is for the public. 'If this kid gets out of jail, he is going to victimise more individuals.
"He does not care about anyone but himself, and for the judge to lower his bond baffles my mind. I can't wrap my head around it.
The mum has been left paralysed from the robbery"This kid is a danger to others and the community and needs to be locked up."
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Zy'Nika Woods, 19, has since been charged in connection with the robbery - despite not appearing on the CCTV.
Authorities said the suspect allegedly followed Nhung for more than 23 miles after she withdrew cash from the ATM on February 13.
The single mum admitted she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to walk again following the robbery.
Nhung said: "'I'm feeling very horrible and sad at the same time. "They don't know when my leg can walk again.
"I just need to practice, try to walk and stuff. I'm very sad that this happened to me and I just want to let people know to be careful.:
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner admitted during a press conference last week the recovery for the victim will be "very long."
He said: "This type of violence will not be tolerated in our city.
"It is just senseless. I just spoke to Ms. Truong and assured her, and I want the city of Houston to stand behind us. These are very serious injuries.
"The recovery is very long. And I want her to know the love of our agency but also our great citizens in this city."
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