A woman became a victim while returning home with groceries on December 23 when she paused to rest. A stranger then approached her, offering assistance with her bags. After helping her into her home, Kenneth Gregory Williams allegedly “barricaded the door from the inside,” trapping her and refusing to leave.
Upon his arrest, Williams was charged with multiple serious offenses, reflecting the severity of the situation. First-degree rape and kidnapping are particularly grave charges, indicating that the authorities are treating this case with utmost seriousness. The involvement of specialized detectives from the Special Victims Unit and Sex Crimes Unit highlights the sensitivity and complexity of such investigations.
“These cases are incredibly rare but of course they can happen. We can’t imagine what this woman went through. It’s horrifying, terrifying, you name it. That’s why we worked quickly and diligently to get her the help she needed,” said a PPB spokesperson.
Williams was arrested on Sunday and is now facing three counts of first-degree rape, along with first-degree kidnapping, coercion, and burglary, as reported by the Portland Police Bureau. He pled not guilty to the charges on Monday and will be arraigned on the indictment on Jan. 14 at 9:30 a.m.
The investigation was taken over by detectives from the Special Victims Unit and the Sex Crimes Unit. While the release did not specify how Williams was identified, police consulted with his parole officer before issuing a warrant for his arrest. He was located and apprehended on Sunday. Authorities suspect that there may be more victims or cases that have not been reported.
According to court records, the 69 year old was arrested for misdemeanor harassment and menacing in June 2024. He also arrested in 2008 for coercion and tampering with a witness. The victim recounted to the police that Williams assaulted her several times over the following three days until she managed to persuade him to leave on December 26. Afterward, she sought medical attention at a nearby hospital and reported the incident to law enforcement.
