Police ID Suspected Hamilton Heights Rapist

The police have revealed that their suspect in the brutal 19-hour rape and torture of a 23-year-old Columbia journalism student is William Roberts, a 30-year-old man with a criminal history. According to WABC 7, Roberts has been charged with attempted murder twice - once in 1993, once in 1996 for shooting a man in the back. Last year, he was charged with assault as well as fare jumping.

There was a false sighting of Roberts at the Apple Tree Supermarket, at 120th and Amsterdam, a grocery that is near Barnard college dorms. While it was later confirmed that the man at the grocery was not Roberts, Barnard head of security William Plackenmeyer told the Columbia Spectator, "This is the number-one priority of Manhattan Special Victims Unit, and with the amount of people out to apprehend this guy, my feeling is that he will be apprehended sooner rather than later." And Barnard security had alerted students how to avoid "push-in" attacks. The NYPD doesn't provide specific tips for avoiding push-in attack, but does have a list of ways to safeguard yourself.

Roberts is described as being 5'9", about 170 pounds, and people are asked to call Crimestoppers (800-577-TIPS) with more information - there is a $12,000 reward.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 19, 2007 8:16 AM

Comments [rss]

C

15. I am white and I live in Harlem. I don't fear for my safety. Get over yourself. You're probably in the same group of people who are blaming all Koreans for the actions of the Va. Tech shooter.

it

#15: What are you talking about?

kil

Hamilton Heights is near harlem and the Bronx. Two places white people should not be near. I hope white people learn never to open their doors to hoodlum looking thugs, most people know this but for some reason white people don't.

mickster

Man-Apple Tree-do Larry & Dave still run it? Used to go there all the time circa 1986-91...

Now back to this Motherf$*#@!+ William Roberts...I hope the police find him and shoot out both his knees so he can never walk again...then dish out some serious whoopass on the way to Riker's...

I'll believe he "tripped" on the way...

hh

Hamilton Heights is right by CUNY, but it's only about 20 blocks north of Columbia and a good number of Columbia students live up there.

schoolin

isn't hamilton heights near city college? not columbia?

Neely O'Hara

Well, this wouldn't have ever been a big national story in the same way Virginia Tech was (though it did appear on the Drudge Report, which is where I first saw it).

But something about this attack has just haunted me -- I can't stop thinking about how horrible it must have been for that poor girl, and wondering how she will recover...

I hope they find this piece of crap (I'm being super polite here) ASAP. But whatever happens to him, he will be coddled and treated with kid gloves due to prisoner's "civil rights." (Not a racial thing, BTW -- just the "rights" given to all pieces of garbage who commit crimes). He'll have TV, three squares, and all his thug pals in prison -- he'll be happy, and will laugh about what he did to his victim...

Sigh...

Do any of the students on here have any update on the poor girl? How is she doing? I would like to send her a card -- I'm thinking of sending it to the Columbia J-school, and maybe they can pass it on...

Neely O'Hara

Well, this would never have been a big national story (though it did appear on Drudge Report, which is where I saw it). Something about this attach has just haunted me -- it's so horrible.

I hope they find this *%&$ ASAP!! But whatever he gets in prison, he will be coddled and given a prisoner's "civil rights" and treated with kid gloves -- he will have it better than his victim did.

Does anybody have any info on the poor girl? Any word on how she is doing? I am thinking of sending her a card -- maybe I'll send it to the Columbia J-school, and they can pass it on....

sc

How does one prevent a push-in attack?

foo

#2: You clearly watch too much Law & Order.

hh

anonymous - I agree: if not for the VA Tech shootings, but also maybe if this had happened in a wealthier neighborhood, this would have been a huge story. In any case, it should be. I have female friends in that neighborhood and it's freaking everybody out.

hh

anonymous - I agree: if not for the VA Tech shootings, but also maybe if this had happened in a wealthier neighborhood, this would have been a huge story. In any case, it should be. I have female friends in that neighborhood and it's freaking everybody out.

wumanjoo

wow...i'm glad he's been identified. things have been tense around the university as a whole. i've been more nervous about walking home from school since i live off-campus.

this year's Take Back the Night event will be all the more meaningful and important. this guy needs to be caught and punished ASAP for the awful brutality.

Alli(oop)

I can't wait for the police to catch this piece of trash.

Black/White/Hispanic/North Korean...who cares what the race of the attacker is: The point is that he did something terrible and should be punished to the full extent of the law.