Fashion Student's Dreams Cut Short by Alleged Drugging and Rape

Annabel Richter, a 21-year-old student at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), was found dead in her dorm after allegedly being drugged with fentanyl and raped. Her roommate also fell unconscious and was hospitalized but survived.

Prosecutors allege that Moises Freire, 19, supplied the drug to Richter and her roommate in their Chelsea dorm on March 18. Both women lost consciousness and were subsequently taken to the hospital, where Richter ultimately succumbed to the overdose. Freire is accused of raping Richter while she was incapacitated.

Richter, originally from Brazil, had moved to New York City alone to pursue her fashion aspirations at FIT. A family friend described her as “sweet and kind” and “very bright,” noting her family’s deep sorrow over her tragic death. Her mother, Flavia Rocha, a Brazilian poet and journalist, expressed hope that Annabel’s story would bring awareness and lead to justice.

Freire reportedly told the women he was providing them with cocaine, even though he had recently described fentanyl as “poison” to a friend. Court documents unsealed Thursday revealed that Freire allegedly administered the drug and then proceeded to rape Richter. He is accused of taking photographs of the unconscious victim before calling campus security approximately 45 minutes later.

First responders administered Narcan to both women before transporting them to the hospital. Freire allegedly lied to campus security, claiming the women were unconscious due to excessive alcohol consumption and that he had not realized Richter was unconscious during the sexual assault.

"It is truly hard to believe that the defendant, who seemed entirely coherent and sober at the time, who didn’t have any of the substance, who is captured on the security guard’s body-worn camera seeming coherent and sober, didn’t know what was going on when he was having sex with the victim who was completely unconscious,” a prosecutor stated in court.

Freire and another individual, Brian Peralta Cabrera, 18, were initially arrested in March on narcotics charges. Freire has since been arraigned on upgraded charges, including distributing a controlled substance with the intent to commit rape. He faces a potential sentence of 20 years to life in prison if convicted. A third man, Harry Rosales Pino, has pleaded guilty to narcotics distribution resulting in death.