Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. recently made public the guilty plea of a 32-year-old man following a crime in a SoHo apartment building. Ellow Williams, upon his plea, anticipates an 18-year state prison sentence for the first-degree rape that occurred last year. According to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the sentencing is expected on September 16.
In the early hours of April 21, 2024, the perpetrator followed a young woman into her apartment. After trailing her to the second floor, he executed the assault with a brutality that District Attorney Bragg described as "terrifying." "A young woman was walking into her SoHo apartment building when Ellow Williams followed her inside, strangled her until she appeared to lose consciousness, and raped her," Bragg stated in a press release. This narrative was recorded by the court and confirmed by Williams's own admission.
The case details describe a deliberate assault. According to court documents, Williams followed his victim shortly after 4:00 a.m. and attacked her after rendering her unconscious with a chokehold. His attempt to flee the scene was brief, as the NYPD Special Victims Squad apprehended him two days later. The district attorney credited the arrest and plea to the collaborative efforts of the NYPD Manhattan Special Victims Squad.
Assistant District Attorneys Christina Awad and Caroline Edgar led the prosecution, with guidance from senior colleagues Kaitlyn Flatley, Nicole Blumberg, and Justin McNabney. Investigative analyst Anya Tullman contributed to the development of the case. The District Attorney’s Office is providing information about resources available to survivors of sexual assault and encourages individuals seeking support to make contact.
