A 68-year-old New York woman was “beaten and raped in a Catholic church by a homeless man with at least 30 previous arrests dating back to the 1980s” before being rescued by a “hero” priest.
- A 68-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Manhattan and the Archdiocese of New York in a 2019 rape case.
- The victim said authorities failed to provide adequate security at the church despite the presence of career criminal Craig Ellis, 55.
- Ellis, who has 30 arrests in the case, allegedly showed older women in a church before beating and raping the 68-year-old victim on January 30, 2019.
- The attack ended when Rev. Gilberto Angel-Neri intervened, causing Ellis to flee the scene, where he was arrested two hours later.
- Ellis’ story dates back to 1986 and includes multiple allegations of assault, public obscenity, violent touching, and theft.
A 68-year-old woman was allegedly beaten and raped in a Manhattan Catholic church by a homeless man who had been arrested 30 times since 1986 before being rescued by a priest.
According to a lawsuit filed against the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Archdiocese of New York, 55-year-old career criminal Craig Ellis attacked an unnamed woman in a Hamilton Heights church on January 30, 2019.
The victim, known only as “Jane Doe,” filed a lawsuit this week alleging that Ellis was “known to church members and staff as a danger to the community” and that officials “failed to take reasonable security measures,” according to the New York Post. reported.
The Church and the Archdiocese of New York declined to comment on the legal issue.
A 68-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Archdiocese of New York for allegedly failing to provide adequate security at the church despite the presence of career criminal Craig Ellis, who was accused of assaulting and raping the church. woman in 2019
According to the lawsuit, Ellis beat and raped the woman until Reverend Gilberto Angel-Neri (pictured) intervened, forcing the suspect to flee. Ellis was arrested a few hours later.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan Superior Court for unspecified damages, says the elderly victim approached the church at night when she noticed the doors were open but the lights were off.
The victim said she was suddenly attacked by Ellis, a notorious figure in the church who allegedly used to showcase older women.
The lawsuit states that he: “gagged her mouth, took her to the bathroom, locked the two of them inside and started punching her and slamming her against the wall.”
“At that moment, the offender tore [her] clothes and raped her.”
The attack ended around 10 p.m. when Reverend Gilberto Ángel-Neri entered the church, causing the victim to scream for help as Ángel-Neri ran to the scene and Ellis fled, according to the lawsuit.
Ellis was arrested a couple of hours later with the victim’s jacket and cell phone in his arms.
He was charged with assault, attempted sexual assault and theft. He is still in police custody on $100,000 cash bail, the Post reported.
NYPD officials said Ellis had 30 arrests in the case, with the attack on the church being his last.
His record goes back to 1986 and includes multiple allegations of assault, public indecency, violent touching and theft.
He also underwent several psychiatric evaluations, the Post reported.
Angel-Neri could not be contacted for comment.