Activist Declares 'Emergency' of Sexual Violence Against Women Following FIT Student's Death

Lawyer and activist Reshma Saujani has declared an "emergency" of sexual violence against women and girls in the United States, citing the recent indictment of a man accused of fatally drugging and raping a Fashion Institute of Technology student. Moises Freire, 19, is accused of providing fentanyl to Annabel Richter, 20, and her roommate in their dorm room on March 18, leading to Richter's death. Prosecutors allege Freire raped Richter while she was unconscious and dying.

Saujani, founder of Moms First US and Girls Who Code, shared her concerns in an Instagram statement, drawing parallels between Richter's case and other recent incidents of alleged sexual violence at universities.

"One part that haunts me: prosecutors say he sent photos of her unconscious to his friends before he called for help. It’s the same thing we saw in the Cornell group chat," Saujani wrote. "Women and girls are facing a crisis of sexual violence in this country, and we cannot keep treating it as normal. How many more stories like Annabel’s before we treat this as the emergency it is?"

According to prosecutors, Richter and her roommate believed Freire was giving them cocaine when they consumed the fentanyl. Both women lost consciousness, and Freire then allegedly raped Richter. He is accused of taking photos of her unconscious body before calling for help approximately 45 minutes later, by which time the women were overdosing.

Freire reportedly lied to first responders, claiming the women had only had too much to drink and that he did not realize Richter was unconscious until after the alleged assault.

Freire's friend, Brian Peralta Cabrera, 18, faces narcotics conspiracy charges for allegedly assisting Freire in obtaining the fentanyl. Both Freire and Cabrera were arrested in March and pleaded not guilty to initial charges. Freire is scheduled to be arraigned on upgraded charges, including distributing a controlled substance with intent to commit rape, and faces a minimum of 20 years in prison if convicted.

A third individual, Harry Rosales Pino, has pleaded guilty to narcotics distribution resulting in death.

An FIT alumna, Amanda McCormack, 23, expressed her heartbreak over Richter's death, noting the timing of the case alongside the recent controversy at Cornell University. "At the end of the day what she went through was horrible and I think these type of cases deserve more justice for the victims," McCormack told The Post.

The allegations in the FIT case emerged as other incidents of alleged sexual violence have drawn public attention. At Cornell University, a former student filed a lawsuit against seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity, alleging gang rape. Text messages from a fraternity group chat included comments such as "free p–sy upstairs" and "Shop still open?" None of the seven fraternity members have been charged.

Separately, a woman attending an Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity party near the University of Chicago allegedly was sexually assaulted. The alleged assailant was not a student at the university. A spokesperson for the national AEPi organization stated that the accused was not a member of the fraternity and that fraternity members offered assistance to the victim upon learning of the incident. University of Chicago officials have identified a person of interest but have not released a name as the investigation is ongoing.