NYC woman, 68, was 'beaten and raped inside a Catholic CHURCH by a homeless man'

NYC woman, 68, was ‘beaten and raped inside a Catholic CHURCH by a homeless man who has at least 30 prior arrests dating back to 1980s’ before being saved by ‘hero’ priest

  • A 68-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against the Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in Manhattan, and the New York Archdiocese over a 2019 rape case
  • The victim said the authorities failed to set up proper security at the church despite the presence of career criminal Craig Ellis, 55 
  • Ellis, who has 30 arrests on file, had allegedly flashed older women at the church before he beat and raped the 68-year-old victim on January 30, 2019 
  • The assault ended when the Rev. Gilberto Angel-Neri intervened, causing Ellis to flee the scene; he was arrested two hours later
  • Ellis’ record goes back to 1986 and includes a slew of charges for assaults, public lewdness, forcible touching and larceny

A 68-year-old woman was allegedly beaten and raped inside a Manhattan Catholic church by a homeless man who had been arrested 30 times since 1986, before she was saved by a ‘hero’ priest. 

Career criminal Craig Ellis, 55, had attacked the unnamed woman inside the Hamilton Heights church on January 30, 2019, according to a lawsuit filed against Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the New York Archdiocese.

The victim, identified only as ‘Jane Doe,’ filed the suit this week claiming Ellis was ‘known to the church members and staff to be a danger to the community’ and that officials ‘failed to take reasonable security measures,’ the New York Post reported. 

NYPD officials said Ellis has 30 arrests on file, with the church attack being his latest. His record goes back to 1986 and includes a slew of charges for assaults, public lewdness, forcible touching and larceny. 

The church and New York Archdiocese declined to comment on the legal matter.  

A 68-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against the Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the New York Archdiocese for allegedly failing to set up proper security at the church despite the presence of career criminal Craig Ellis, who was charged with attacking and raping the woman in 2019

A 68-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against the Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the New York Archdiocese for allegedly failing to set up proper security at the church despite the presence of career criminal Craig Ellis, who was charged with attacking and raping the woman in 2019

According to the lawsuit, the Ellis beat and raped the woman until Rev. Gilberto Angel-Neri (pictured) intervened, causing the suspect to flee. Ellis was arrested hours later

According to the lawsuit, the Ellis beat and raped the woman until Rev. Gilberto Angel-Neri (pictured) intervened, causing the suspect to flee. Ellis was arrested hours later

The lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court for unspecified damages, said the elderly victim approached the church at night when she noticed that the doors were open but the lights were off. 

The victim said she was suddenly attacked by Ellis, a infamous figure in the church who had allegedly flashed older women before. 

The lawsuit states he ;covered her mouth, took her to the bathroom, locked the two of them inside and he proceeded to beat her with his fist and slam her against the wall. 

‘At that point, the perpetrator ripped off [her] clothes and raped her.’

The attack ended around 10 p.m. when the Rev. Gilberto Angel-Neri entered the church, causing the victim to scream for help as Angel-Neri ran to the scene while Ellis fled, according to the lawsuit. 

Ellis was arrested a couple of hours later with the victim’s jacket and cellphone on hand.

He was charged with assault, attempted sexual assault and larceny. He is still in police custody and being held on $100,000 cash bail, the Post reported.  

Ellis has also undergone several psychiatric evaluations, the Post reported.  

Angel-Neri could not be immediately reached for comment. 

The lawsuit comes as the city continues to see a surge in rapes and other violent crimes this year. 

Although murders are nearly the same with 67 committed so far this year compared to the 66 from last year, assaults are up by more than 19 percent, increasing from 3,210 to 3,824. 

The number of shooting victims have gone up from 181 cases to 215, more than 18 percent when compared to the same time last year, and rapes have shot up by more than 31 percent, with 293 cases reported so far.  

Robberies saw the largest spike so far this year, going up by nearly 45 percent when compared to the same time in 2021. 

Overall crimes have gone up by more than 47 percent. 

source: dailymail.co.uk