Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of ELLOW WILLIAMS, 30, for following a woman to her SoHo apartment building before strangling her and raping her on April 21, 2024. WILLIAMS is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Rape in the First Degree, and Burglary in the First Degree, among other charges.^[1]

“The crimes charged in this indictment are among the most brutal imaginable. We allege Ellow Williams not only forcibly raped but attempted to murder a young woman in her own building by repeatedly strangling her,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Our Special Victims Division has the resources to both hold offenders accountable and support survivors as they heal; please call us at 212-335-9373.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record, WILLIAMS followed the young woman to her SoHo apartment building shortly after 4:00 a.m. on April 21, 2024. WILLIAMS pulled his mask over his face and entered the building behind her. WILLIAMS followed her to the second floor, where he approached her from behind and placed her in a chokehold until she appeared to lose consciousness. WILLIAMS then forcibly raped her. WILLIAMS fled before being arrested by the NYPD’s Special Victims Squad two days later.

Assistant D.A. Christina Awad and Assistant D.A. Caroline Edgar are handling the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Nicole Blumberg (Chief of the Intimate Partner & Sexual Violence Bureau) and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division) with the assistance of Investigative Analyst Anya Tullman.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD Manhattan Special Victims Squad.

Defendant Information

ELLOW WILLIAMS

New York, NY

Charges:

• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Rape in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Burglary in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, a class B felony, one count
• Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Strangulation in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment 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.