NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A man accused of breaking into a woman’s apartment on the Upper East Side, then brutally beating, raping and robbing her, was indicted for the crimes, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Monday.
Donovan Murphy, 28, was indicted on charges of rape, burglary as a sexually motivated felony, criminal obstruction of breathing and assault among other related charges.
“As alleged, Donovan Murphy committed horrific acts of violence and sexual assault in a woman’s own apartment,” Bragg said. “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.”
Court documents and records state that at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 28, Murphy tried to follow a different woman into her Upper East Side apartment building, and buzzed multiple apartments to try and get in the front door. The woman’s husband came downstairs with a baseball bat about five minutes later, and he left.
Three hours later, at about 3:40 a.m., Murphy entered a second woman’s apartment only blocks away, near East 92nd Street and First Avenue.
Murphy is accused of stealing several of the 29-year-old survivor’s bank cards from her wallet before climbing into her bed.
Prosecutors said that upon seeing an unknown man in her bed, the survivor screamed and fell to the floor in a wave of dizziness. Murphy allegedly then grabbed her from behind, punched her repeatedly in the face, choked her and then sexually assaulted and raped her.
The beating left the woman with a 5-centimeter muscle deep laceration to her mouth and fractured facial bones. When police responded, she was transported to Lenox Hill Hospital in stable condition.
Murphy allegedly fled and used her bank cards to buy a taxi ride and items from a pharmacy in the Bronx.
According to court records, Murphy, of the Bronx, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in court on Monday. He was remanded without bail and is expected back in court on Jan. 27.
“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,” Bragg said.
Anyone who is a survivor of sexual assault can also contact the 24-hour NYPD Special Victims Division hotline at 212-267-RAPE (7273).