The son of an Ohio meteorologist admitted in court that he attacked an elderly couple in a parking lot after a wild cellphone video taken by the couple’s daughter caught him in the act.
Kyle Raleigh, 34, son of WCPO weather forecaster Steve Raleigh, pleaded guilty to two felonies for attacking Douglas Morrow, 79, and his wife Lois, 76.
Kyle originally faced more serious assault charges, but those were dropped by prosecutors as part of his plea deal Cincinnati researcher reported. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 180 days on each charge.
On June 22, Steve was with his sons Kyle and Carter when their Cadillac Escalade struck Morrows’ Ford F-150 after failing to yield to oncoming traffic.
Carter, 28, is believed to have been driving the Escalade when it hit the Morrows’ car on the grounds of Montgomery Inn Boathouse, a barbecue restaurant in Cincinnati.
Troy Morrow, an employee at the Boathouse, had called his parents to pick him up because of an injury he suffered on the job, said the family’s attorney, Konrad Kircher.
After the crash, a “major brawl” broke out between the various parties at the scene, according to 911 calls.
Stacey Morrow-Stickrod, the daughter of the elderly couple who filmed the confrontation, previously said the famous family became enraged when her father decided to call the police because he smelled alcohol and suspected they had been drinking.
WCPO TV Meteorologist Steve Raleigh’s son Kyle pleaded guilty to two felonies for attacking an elderly couple in a parking lot after getting into an accident with their vehicle
Douglas Morrow, 79, was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion. His wife Lois, 76, suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and a detached retina. (photo: the Morrow couple)
“These were locally known people and in my opinion they believe they are above the law,” Stacey, who posted a video of the incident, wrote online.
The Morrows said Kyle Raleigh hit Troy in the head, knocking him to the ground.
However, prosecutors said Troy provoked Kyle, who was in a “sudden fit of rage” when he punched Douglas and Lois, both of whom were knocked to the pavement in the video.
Douglas was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion, but Lois “took the brunt of the injuries,” according to a Facebook post from Stacey.
Kyle gave Lois a skull fracture, bleeding in the brain and a detached retina.
“I am 100 percent convinced that one more hit would have killed her,” Stacey said of her mother.
During the game, former Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis happened to be dining at the Boathouse and was seen interjecting.
Douglas Morrow, 79, is pictured in a blue shirt and cargo shorts, lying on the sidewalk. His wife Lois can also be seen on the ground at the bottom left
Steve Raleigh was confronted in the video by Red Sox legend Kevin Youkilis (in blue) who had dined at the same restaurant before the car accident that led to the incident
The grainy footage showed a woman repeatedly yelling “Stop!” before Steve Raleigh, wearing a red Hawaiian shirt, pushed someone away.
“Someone call 911, please,” the woman begged as the camera panned to the other side with Douglas holding his head.
His unconscious wife then came into view as a male voice was heard shouting, “That’s fucking ridiculous.”
A man believed to be Steve was then seen on the floor above the pensioner before saying: ‘Kevin, listen to me, f*** that, f*** that.’
Youkilis then leaned over Lois to check her condition as another voice was heard shouting, “Dude are you serious he hit a woman. She’s bleeding blood.’
“You’re a disgrace to the damn Red Sox brand,” someone shouted. “Go back to Boston.”
Stacey would later thank Youkilis for intervening on her parents’ behalf.
“There were at least 50 people there when this happened because the restaurant was closing,” she wrote. “Only one, Kevin Youkilis, saved my mother and stopped this attack.
Steve Raleigh was seen arguing with Youkilis in the video and urging him to ‘f*** that’ while Lois was on the ground
“He was definitely her guardian angel that night. I also believe he was there with them, but ready to fight for her!’
In September, it was announced that Steve Raleigh, the meteorologist, would not be charged for his conduct that day, after prosecutors determined he had not broken the law.
Troy Morrow was charged with menacing, a misdemeanor, court records show.
According to the indictment, Troy “knowingly caused Steve Raleigh to believe that (Morrow) would cause physical harm to Steve Raleigh’s person or property.”
Records show Troy’s case is still ongoing and his first hearing is scheduled for January.