'Serial Predator' Accused Of Raping 3 Nassau Women

MINEOLA, NY — A "serial predator" from Queens was arraigned Wednesday on charges he raped three women in Nassau County.

Adell Hardwick, 32, of Hollis, was charged with two counts of predatory sexual assault, three counts of first-degree rape and three counts of first-degree criminal sexual act. He was remanded into custody and is due back in court Sept. 10.

“Adell Hardwick allegedly preyed upon three women on the streets of Hempstead and brutally raped them,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas in a statement. “These vicious attacks, which occurred between 2015 and 2020, are the marks of a serial predator. Thanks to DNA matches on all three cases, we will aggressively seek justice for these women. Nassau County is safer now that this defendant is apprehended.”

According to Singas, the first attack occurred around 9 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2015. A now-deceased woman was walking on Main Street in Hempstead when Singas said she was attacked by Hardwick, dragged to an abandoned house, and raped and sodomized, Singas said.

The second attack was on June 4, 2019, around 6 p.m., according to Singas. A woman was walking in Denton Green Park in Hempstead when she said she was approached by Hardwick. He pushed her against a tree and raped and sodomized her, Singas said.

The most recent attack was on Jan. 29, 2020, Singas said. A woman was leaving a local business in Hempstead when she said she was approached from behind by Hardwick, who pulled out a knife and threatened her. Singas said that Hardwick brought the woman to an abandoned house on Hilton Avenue in Hempstead, where he raped and sodomized her.

Nassau County detectives arrested Hardwick April 23 after his DNA was found to be a match to DNA found on the victims, Singas said.

If convicted of all counts, Hardwick faces a maximum sentence of 125 years to life in prison.