A daredevil couple who became engaged atop the Empire State Building's antenna were arrested and charged Wednesday with multiple felonies, including burglary and reckless endangerment, following their stunt. Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angela Nikolau, 33, were released after appearing in Manhattan Criminal Court.
According to law-enforcement sources, the pair purchased tickets for the building on Tuesday evening and are believed to have hidden inside overnight. They reportedly emerged from a hatch on the 102nd floor around 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Kuznetsov then allegedly used tools to loosen brackets for metal cables in a stairwell, allowing them access to climb the antenna.
Kuznetsov then proposed to Nikolau more than 1,000 feet above the ground. Their climb was captured on video and shared on social media.
The charges filed against the couple include burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief, all felonies, in addition to misdemeanor counts of possession of burglary tools, trespass, and criminal tampering. Their defense attorney, Jason Krinsky, argued that prosecutors overcharged the couple and claimed there was no evidence of burglary tools. Krinsky stated that the building's own staff indicated there was no risk to tenants or guests.
"It was a message of love," Krinsky told reporters, adding that Nikolau had not rejected the proposal. "She didn’t say ‘no.’ So you gotta give him that."
