A private equity executive is behind bars, accused of turning his Manhattan apartment into a disturbing scene of abuse and torture. Ryan Hemphill, 43, has been charged with a staggering 116-count indictment, including predatory sexual assault, after allegedly subjecting six women to horrific abuse over the span of five months.
Prosecutors revealed the chilling details of his alleged actions Thursday, painting a grim picture of “grotesque sexual violence” that included waterboarding, punching, and shocking victims with a cattle prod. Hemphill, a lawyer by profession, reportedly kept recordings of the assaults as twisted trophies.
At his arraignment, Hemphill pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. The charges date back to October, and authorities believe these six victims may only represent the beginning of his alleged criminal activities.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was quick to condemn Hemphill’s sense of invincibility. “He believed he was untouchable,” Bragg said, addressing the media after the arraignment. “This indictment makes it clear that he was wrong.”
Hemphill’s gruesome behavior reportedly took place in his upscale apartment, near the Empire State Building, where investigators discovered extensive surveillance footage showing dozens of other women, some blindfolded and naked. Authorities also found a stash of drugs—including fentanyl and heroin—and a large collection of firearms and ammunition.
According to Assistant District Attorney Mirah Curzer, Hemphill met many of the women through “sugar daddy” websites, where he offered financial incentives for companionship and sexual favors. But his promises of payment were often empty, with some victims receiving fake cash instead. Over time, Hemphill manipulated the women, convincing them to share their sexual traumas, only to reenact these horrors during the assaults.
The prosecutor described some of the victims’ experiences as nothing short of traumatic, with Hemphill reportedly using substances to incapacitate them, forcing them into restraints, and even keeping one victim chained to a bed for hours.
Hemphill’s wealth and connections to organized crime were allegedly used as tools to silence his victims. He reportedly claimed to have law enforcement ties, threatening women with arrest or worse if they spoke out. He even attempted to bribe a witness, offering $2,000 in exchange for dropping a police complaint.
Despite his lawyer’s request for a move to a rehabilitation facility due to suspected substance abuse, Judge Ann E. Scherzer ordered Hemphill to remain in jail without bail. The judge cited concerns that his wealth and influential connections could allow him to flee the country. Hemphill’s previous acquittal in 2015 on charges involving his ex-girlfriend also raised alarms about his potential to evade justice.
In a statement, Bragg condemned Hemphill’s conduct as “truly shocking” and emphasized the clear abuse of power in his actions. “He used his law degree and money to control and silence these women,” Bragg said.
As the case unfolds, prosecutors are preparing to delve deeper into the evidence, with Curzer warning that more victims could emerge. Hemphill’s alleged crimes have already sent shockwaves through the city, drawing comparisons to the cases of other high-profile figures accused of similar offenses.
