A 74-year-old woman in Portland, Oregon, was subjected to a horrific three-day ordeal after a man offered to carry her groceries home.
Kenneth Gregory Williams, 69, was arrested after allegedly approaching the elderly woman on December 23 as she returned from the grocery store.
Offering to help carry her bags, Williams accompanied her to her downtown Portland residence. Once inside, he reportedly barricaded the door and held her captive, subjecting her to repeated assaults over the Christmas holiday.
Portland Police spokesman Mike Benner described the incident as “horrifying and terrifying,” noting such cases are rare but deeply impactful.
The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, had stopped to rest while carrying her groceries when Williams approached her. Despite initial hesitation, she accepted his offer of assistance, unaware of his intentions.
Over the course of three days, from December 23 to December 25, Williams allegedly assaulted her repeatedly. On December 26, the woman managed to persuade him to leave her home, after which she sought medical attention and alerted authorities.
Police arrested Williams on January 5 and charged him with first-degree burglary, first-degree kidnapping, and three counts of first-degree r*pe. He pled not guilty to all charges during his initial court appearance and is scheduled for arraignment on January 14.
The incident has heightened concerns among Portland residents, particularly those who navigate the downtown area alone. Detectives are investigating Williams for another unrelated assault and suspect there may be additional unreported cases. His mugshot has been released, and authorities urge potential victims or anyone with information to contact Detective Michael Bledsoe.
Williams has a history of legal troubles, including arrests for harassment, menacing, coercion, and tampering with a witness, as well as drug and robbery-related offenses between 1994 and 2008.
“This is a tragic case of a man taking advantage of a vulnerable individual seeking help,” Benner stated.
