A too-good-to-be-true offer of a free room in a Brooklyn apartment turned out to be how a man allegedly lured a Wisconsin woman to his East Williamsburg home, where he is accused of beating, chaining her to a radiator and raping her. John Hopkins, 45, was charged with rape, assault and unlawful imprisonment.
According to the Post, "The victim, 27, e-mailed [Hopkins] about his Web ad, which said he had a room in his East Williamsburg apartment, police sources said. After telling her she could stay for free if she cooked and cleaned, Hopkins paid for her plane ticket and picked her up at Kennedy Airport on Feb. 4... As soon as they arrived at his place on Humboldt Street, Hopkins allegedly told the woman that she was to be his slave. He then allegedly blindfolded and gagged her, handcuffed her to a radiator, and began beating and raping her."
The victim was held for eight days, until Hopkins allegedly allowed her to leave for her job at a restaurant. She did not call police, but did call her mother, who contacted authorities. The police found the victim at the apartment, reportedly "trembling" on Hopkins' bed.
