ASHEVILLE, NC – A man from North Carolina has been handed a 20-year prison sentence for a horrific crime involving the drugging and sexual assault of a woman in his Asheville residence for a period of 10 days in February 2020, as reported by local law enforcement.
William Todd Murell, 58, was declared guilty of first-degree rape and felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury by a Buncombe County jury on the 13th of November. Although he was cleared of a kidnapping charge, Murell still faces similar accusations in an unrelated case from March 2020.
In a statement, District Attorney Todd Williams praised the relentless pursuit of justice by prosecutors Katie Kurdys and Stormy Ellis during the challenging and protracted jury trial. Their empathetic support for the victim, who testified despite her physical challenges, played a crucial role in securing Murell’s conviction.
The victim’s harrowing testimony detailed how Murell supplied her with alcohol and Trazodone, physically assaulted her, and raped her over a 10-day period in February 2020. Medical professionals from Pardee Hospital presented court evidence of her injuries, including a sexual assault kit.
Photographic evidence of the victim’s traumatic brain injury, bruises, and cigarette burns on her body was shown in court. A toxicology report confirmed that she had barbiturates and benzodiazepines in her system upon hospital admission.
Murell, during his sentencing, expressed surprise at the jury’s verdict but accepted his fate. He neither apologized nor showed remorse, according to the district attorney’s office.
The victim, a mother of three children and former Florida police officer, had met Murell at a substance abuse group where she was battling alcoholism. They often carpooled to meetings due to their proximity. On one occasion, she went to Murell’s home to watch a movie, after which she recalls being abused.
Despite multiple 911 calls, including from Murell himself, over the 10-day abuse period, the Asheville police conducted several welfare checks at Murell’s residence. However, since the victim did not ask for help or express a desire to leave, no rescues were initiated.
On February 11, the victim was able to reach out to friends and escape Murell’s residence. She received treatment at Pardee Hospital, where medical staff found she had a life-threatening blood alcohol level of 0.335%, a severe brain injury, and traces of barbiturates and benzodiazepines in her system, in addition to various cuts, burns, and bruises.
Murell’s attorneys lodged an appeal on November 21. The 58-year-old man is also facing kidnapping and rape charges in a separate incident from March 2020, involving another woman who managed to flee his home and alert authorities.