A 24-year-old man from the Bronx has been arrested following accusations of raping and imprisoning a 15-year-old New Jersey girl he met online, as reported by ABC7 New York. William Credle allegedly held the victim against her will for approximately 24 hours in his apartment, where he is accused of raping her multiple times and preventing her from leaving.
The situation got worse when the girl’s parents found her missing and called the police. Officers used her tablet’s GPS to find her at Credle’s Bronx apartment, where she was rescued and he was arrested. Credle is now facing charges of rape, sexual abuse, and unlawful imprisonment. The NYPD is asking anyone else who may have been a victim to contact their hotline as they continue the investigation.
Bronx prosecutor Nicole Beachboard told the court that Credle allegedly used Instagram and a Lyft ride to lure the teen victim before giving her substances that left her disoriented. He then took away her phone as she tried to leave. The girl was reportedly confused and repeatedly cried out, wanting to go home. This was not the first time Credle was accused of assaulting a minor; he pleaded guilty in April 2023 to sexual misconduct and abuse in a similar case.
Prosecutors revealed that Credle has a criminal record that includes violent acts against family members and missed court appearances, supporting their request for higher bail. Judge Harold Bahr set bail at $50,000. Credle’s defense attorney, Abigail Bazin, argued that he is not a flight risk, saying his behavior is linked to severe mental illness rather than an attempt to avoid prosecution. “Mr. Credle does not pose a risk of flight to avoid prosecution,” Bazin told the court, according to The New York Post.
