Man Abducted, Raped Ex Girlfriend In Uptown Park: Prosecutors

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS-INWOOD, NY — A man who was convicted of kidnapping, beating and raping his ex girlfriend in a Washington Heights park may spend the rest of his life behind bars, the Manhattan District Attorney's office announced.

Felix Rosa, 30, was sentence to 20-years-to-life in state prison Wednesday on charges of predatory sexual assault, kidnapping and aggravated criminal contempt, prosecutors said. Rosa was convicted of these crimes in August, prosecutors said.

On July 28, 2017, Rosa drove to his ex girlfriends home — violating an order of protection — and waited overnight for the woman to appear, prosecutors said. When she exited the home the next morning, Rosa got her attention and called her over to his car, prosecutors said. Rosa then grabbed the woman by her hair, dragged her through a car window and drove to Highbridge Park in Washington Heights.

Rosa assaulted the woman by beating her with his firsts and slashing her with a razor blade for two hours inside the car, prosecutors said. Rosa also raped the woman inside the vehicle while threatening her with the razor, prosecutors said.

The convicted rapist was first arrested in September of 2017 and is currently out on bail, prosecutors said. Rosa failed to appear at an August 20 trial date and a warrant is currently out for his arrest. Prosecutors requested that Rosa's bail be revoked on August 17 following the testimony of the victim.

"In this case, Felix Rosa was tried and convicted in absentia for brutally kidnapping and raping a former intimate partner, whose incredible courage in facing her abuser is only highlighted by the cowardice of the defendant, who instead chose to run," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said in a statement.

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