D.A. Bragg Announces Indictment Upper East Side Apartment Rape


October 28, 2024

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of DONOVAN MURPHY, 28, for entering a woman’s Upper East Side apartment while she slept and raping her when she awoke to find him in her bed. MURPHY is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Rape in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, and Assault in the Second Degree, among other charges.[1]

“As alleged, Donovan Murphy committed horrific acts of violence and sexual assault in a woman’s own apartment,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Every New Yorker deserves to be safe in their own home, and we will continue to work hand in hand with our partners in law enforcement to make that a reality. Trauma-informed, survivor-centered care is available if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted; please call our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on September 28, 2024, MURPHY attempted to follow a woman into her Upper East Side apartment building, and buzzed multiple apartments in an effort to enter the front door. He left approximately 5 minutes later when the woman’s husband came to the door with a baseball bat.

At approximately 3:40 a.m., MURPHY entered a second woman’s Upper East Side apartment just blocks away. He stole several bank cards from her wallet and climbed into her bed. When she awoke and saw a man she did not know, she screamed and fell to the floor after a wave of dizziness. MURPHY grabbed her from behind and punched her repeatedly in the face, causing a 5-centimeter, muscle-deep laceration to her mouth and fracturing her facial bones. He choked her before sexually assaulting and raping her. He left and used her bank cards to purchase a taxi ride and items at a pharmacy in the Bronx.

MURPHY was arrested on October 2, 2024, following a police investigation.

Assistant D.A. Christina Kapalko is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Maxine Rosenthal (Senior Counsel to the Special Victims Division and Acting Deputy Chief of the Intimate Partner & Sexual Violence Bureau) and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division). Analysts Ella Penson and Rory Fleming are assisting with the case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD’s Manhattan Special Victims Squad – particularly Detectives Cesar Alvarez and Alfred Ortiz – and Warrants Squad.

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[1] The charges contained in the indictments are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.