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Columbia Rape suspect in custody

Friday, April 20, 2007

(New York-WABC, April 20, 2007) (WABC) -- Relief around Columbia University's campus after police arrested the man they say tortured a graduate student in her apartment for 19 hours, and raped her. Police arrested 30-year-old Robert Williams overnight.

Eyewitness News reporter Ken Rosato is live on Columbia Univeristy's campus with more.

It was during a burglary in Queens that police arrested Robert Williams. But, it was apparently when they had him in custody, that Queens officers said this guy favors the sketch of the Columbia University rapist.

That's when police say they found evidence at the crime scene that pointed to Williams.

Police believe that Robert Williams, also known as William Roberts, is responsible for last Friday's brutal rape of a Columbia University Grad student.

Women around the univeristy are just relieved to hear that he's in custody.

"I'm quite relieved but I know that there are other people out there that do these kinds of things," said one student.

Police say Roberts pushed his way into the student's dorm room at about 9:30 p.m. last Friday, and then raped, tortured and sodomized her for the next 19 hours.

Then before he left, he allegedly poured bleach and boiling water on her in an attempt to destroy any DNA evidence.

Police say Roberts is a career criminal who often frequented homeless shelters in the area.

"I feel good but you know...all we see on the news is violence and rape, then I guess I'm not surprised that this happened. Relieved of course," said Manhattan resident Morisha Shuey.

"I am happy that they finally caught him. I am so glad and I hope they put him in jail for a long, long time," said Columbia University employee, Agatha Akyere.

Police say that Robert Williams is charged with kidnapping, arson, attempted murder-rape, and lesser charges they say that he already has previous convictions for attempted murder and assault.

His victim still remains in the hospital.

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