With no improvement in her husband?s condition, the wife of a Baltimore City man beaten into a vegetative state is working on legislation that would make such an assault considered murder.
Anna Sowers? husband, Zach Sowers, 28, was beaten into a coma during a street robbery June 2 in Canton ? and he?s remained in what doctors call a persistent vegetative state.
“Zach is still exactly the same, which is actually not good news since we want him to improve neurologically,” Anna Sowers wrote on zachsowers.com, which updates friends on his progress. “… We can only wait and see.”
Anna Sowers said she?s drawing up a bill she will present to Baltimore City state Sen. George Della in hopes of changing several aspects of Maryland?s legal system she encountered during the trial of the four teens charged with brutally beating her husband.
Specifically, Zach?s Law, as Anna calls it, would allow prosecutors to charge suspects with murder if their victims have been beaten into a coma and remain in a persistent vegetative state for more than four to six weeks.
Sowers said the bill also could limit access to jurors? private contact info, prohibit suspects from discussions with attorneys during a victim impact statement in court and create minimum sentences for some violent offenders.
Additionally, Sowers said she?s planning a civil lawsuit against the four teens sentenced in her husband?s beating.
Trayvon Ramos, 16, was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Ramos? co-defendants ? Eric Price, 17, Arthur Jeter, 18, and Wilburt Martin, 19 ? each received eight years.
“They ruined my life,” Sowers said.
Facing hefty hospital bills, Anna Sowers and friends have planned another Neighbors Night Out fundraiser March 9 to help pay for Zach?s hospital care.
During the event, participating bars and restaurants in Baltimore City will donate between 10 percent and 20 percent of their sales.
More information can be found at zachsowers.com.
