A 37-year-old Ohio man who claimed the coronavirus pandemic was simply “overkill” and repeatedly refused to wear a face mask has died from COVID-19.
Richard Rose, a staunch advocate of Donald Trump, wrote on Facebook on July 1 that he was experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and went to be tested.
The veteran of the United States Army, who served for nine years and toured Iraq and Afghanistan twice, tested positive.
He died of the virus at his home in Port Clinton, Ohio, on July 4.
Richard Rose, 37, of Ohio, said in a Facebook post that the pandemic was just “overkill”
He said on April 28 that he would not wear a face mask and that “he wasn’t buying that damn exaggeration”
Rose was strident in her support of Donald Trump, who refused to demand the use of masks.
He was vociferous about his support for Trump, who has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the virus.
On May 29 he published: ‘I support my president and his words. Finally it’s time to have a president to back us up. Glad to call you MY PRESIDENT!
He accompanied the text with a screenshot of Trump vowing to “crack down” on Black Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis after George Floyd died, and Trump referring to them as “thugs.”
The day before, he wrote a post criticizing Black Lives Matter and describing the move as “a joke.”
“I’m going to catch a lot of hell for this one, but let me start by saying I’m not a racist and I support PEACEFUL protests to express your point of view,” he said.
Want to know why the # BlackLivesMatter move is a joke?
‘You all start throwing away that hashtag and then start burning buildings, killing store owners and looting buildings. You are ruining people’s lives by doing this. You are being SELFISH in your THEFT.
‘So we don’t take his movement seriously. Start acting like you want a change and maybe people would listen. ‘
Rose made her thoughts on BLM clear in a May 28 Facebook post.
On May 12, Rose wrote that she had “gotten sick” of “COVID shit” on cable television.
On April 28, the pandemic was simply “hype”.
“Let’s be clear,” he wrote, in a post that was shared 10,000 times. I am not buying a ** King mask. I’ve come this far by not buying that damn exaggeration.
On May 12, Rose wrote: ‘I got tired of turning on my TV with political libel ads and COVID crap. So yesterday I delivered my cable box. I also started sleeping people here. It is time to block negativity.
Before his death, Rose shared updates on his health and wrote on July 1: ‘I have been very ill for the past few days.
‘Symptoms of Covid-19. This morning they finally cleaned me up. I must know soon what the results are. I just want to feel good again!
Later that day, he revealed that he had tested positive for the virus.
‘Well. I am officially quarantined for the next 14 days, ” he wrote.
‘I just tested positive for COVID-19. It sucks because I had just started a new job!
On July 1 Rose wrote that she had been very ill the past few days. Covid-19 symptoms.
That same day, he announced the results of his tests, saying he would be in quarantine for 14 days.
Rose’s last message, the day before her death. Friend Nick Conley said it was wrong to make fun of him
On July 2, Rose shared: ‘This covid sh * t sucks! I’m so breathless just sitting here.
He died two days later.
Rose’s friend Nick Conley told Cleveland 19 that everyone was ‘impressed’ by Rose’s death.
“You hear about this virus and you don’t expect it to affect people, younger people like us,” Conley told the station.
Conley met Rose through a shared love for video games.
In his obituary, his family says he enjoyed social media, online streaming, the paranormal, and his two cats, Dale and Tucker.
There are more than 3.2 million confirmed cases in the US, and at least 135,066 deaths
Rose was a fan of NASCAR, Dirt Track Racing, and Georgia Bulldogs Football.
“Rick is being killed online right now for his decision not to wear a mask and that’s not right,” said Conley.
Rose’s last message, the day before her death, said: “When you see me in heaven, don’t screw yourself, you critical idiots.”
‘We should still be compassionate whether we agree with someone’s beliefs or not. Someone has passed away and we should have a little compassion for that.
“It is horrible that we have lost Rick, but the even more tragic part of that is who else got infected because of the actions he chose.”
Ohio has reported more than 65,000 confirmed cases with at least 3,058 deaths.
The state reported on Friday a record of 1,525 newly reported coronavirus cases in a single day.
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