Queens man charged in pattern of rapes, including one involving 15-year-old Wyandanch girl, cops say
New York City Police sex crimes investigators are seeking information related to a pattern of three rapes, including one involving a 15-year-old runaway from Wyandanch, allegedly committed by a Queens man over a period of several months, officials said Thursday.
In a briefing with reporters, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said investigators are interested in anyone who may have interacted with Andres Portilla, 28, who was arrested earlier this month on rape, assault, grand larceny, kidnapping and other charges.
The alleged sex-attack pattern began occurring in September involving the 15-year-old Suffolk girl, continued with another attack on a different 15-year-old on Dec. 16 and ended with an incident involving a 21-year-old on Jan. 1. All of the alleged attacks took place in Queens, Essig said.
Police said the latest attack occurred early on New Year’s Day after the family of the 21-year-old victim filed a missing persons report. According to police, the woman reported that she approached Portilla’s red Honda Accord near Queens Plaza and was allegedly enticed by the suspect to come into his vehicle to charge her cellphone.
The 21-year-old woman reported that she noticed the 15-year-old girl, who police said had run away in September from Wyandanch, in the back seat. Portilla then allegedly drove to a different location and sexually attacked the 21-year-old, Essig said. Investigators are still trying to determine how and why the 15-year-old runaway remained for so long with Portilla.
As Portilla was flipping through the smartphone of the 21-year-old woman, he noticed the image of her on a police missing persons flyer, apparently became concerned and released her, Essig told reporters.
Further investigation through social media data mining by investigators uncovered the identity of the 15-year-old in the car, and she later began speaking to police about being sexually attacked as well in September, Essig said.
The investigation also uncovered another alleged rape of a second 15-year-old girl on Dec. 16, according to police.
Essig said that Portilla, who has a number of prior arrests on charges of DWI, assault, criminal possession of a controlled substance and other offenses, was arrested in the attacks on Jan. 6.
Police are asking anyone with information about Portilla or who recognizes the red Honda to call a special sex-attack victims hotline at 212-267-7273.
Officials with the Queens District Attorney's Office — within whose jurisdiction the case falls — didn’t return a telephone call Thursday for comment. Defense attorney Martin Goldman declined to comment.
Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.
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