The distraught family wants answers but they have been unsuccessful so far, as no arrests have been made with connection to the heinous crime yet.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on August 3, 2021. It has since been updated.
Trigger Warning: This story contains details of physical assault that may be disturbing to readers.
Sometimes, we end up with rather difficult neighbors who will do just about anything to make our lives miserable. 42-year-old Frank Penkava had neighbors similar to that and when they were playing music a bit too loud, he thought he'd go ask them to reduce the volume. However, it turned out to be a fatal decision, after the neighbors allegedly beat him up so badly that he was unrecognizable.
Why haven’t they arrested the neighbors? No Arrests After Fla. Dad #FrankPenkava Is Beaten by Neighbors when asked to turn down the Music via @peoplemag #HollywoodFlorida https://t.co/8zfg1GCmbc
— Liz H. Kelly (@lizhkelly) July 30, 2021
According to PEOPLE, the horrifying incident took place in Hollywood, Florida, around 2:30 am on June 14, 2021. He sustained multiple facial fractures from the attack. After he was trashed, Penkava called 911 and told them he was bleeding heavily. He then told the dispatcher that his next-door neighbors were behind the assault.
He managed to remain conscious till help arrived, to point out the suspects, but unfortunately, no arrests have been made with relation to this case, yet.
He was beaten up so severely that his family members could identify him only because of his tattoos. “It’s horrible. No mother ever wants to see their kid ever beaten up like that. I’ve never seen anybody beat up like that," said his mother, Joan Penkava, according to NBC Miami.
"There is no reason for what they did to him. I understand that people get into altercations all the time and people’s emotions are high, especially over the last year, but there was nothing to warrant what they did to him," his sister, Gina Horvath said.
The worried family said that doctors have tried to perform life-saving surgeries on him about five times, but the efforts have been unsuccessful since they haven't managed to get him in a stable condition. “I just want him back and I want him to be okay," his mother said, adding that her grandson was waiting for his father to recover.
"My son has a little boy. He is going to be 4-years-old," Joan said. "He is beautiful and he may never know his dad. We don't know what damage has been done mentally, let alone all of the physical issues he has. It's very disheartening." They are also worried about his health and hoping he won't lose an eye.
In the past, Penkava has had struggles with mental health, but he was generally a calm man who wouldn't even resort to physical violence as self-defense. “He went to work, did his job, and paid his bills. He didn’t bother anybody. So for anybody to do what they have done to him, I am seeking justice and I will not stop until I have justice for my brother," Horvath said.
The distraught family wants answers but they have been unsuccessful so far. However, there is a long road ahead for Penkava in terms of recovery, and a GoFundMe has been set up to help ease the load on them. As per the latest update, he has been in the hospital for 50 days.
References:
https://people.com/crime/florida-man-beaten-by-neighbors-over-music-dispute-now-in-coma/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/frank-penkava-medically-induced-coma
Cover Image Source: YouTube | WPLG Local 10
