Nashua Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Strangling Lowell Woman

Nashua NH

03 February, 2022

2:30 PM

Description

NASHUA, NH — A man from Nashua is facing charges in two states after being accused of raping, drugging, assaulting, strangling, and kidnapping a woman in Lowell, Massachusetts, and Nashua. On Sunday, a woman from Massachusetts in her 20s met with Nashua police to file a complaint against "a platonic friend," Howard Prak, 36, of Rhode Island Avenue in Nashua. The woman stated the pair attended a party in Lowell and while there, she blacked out after only consuming a few drinks. Her next memory was being in her apartment with Prak present, according to an affidavit. After blacking out again, she regained alertness and was inside Prak's car, driving into Nashua, the report stated. After arriving in Nashua, the woman accused Prak of pretending to destroy her cellphone and demanded she leave his car to retrieve it, an affidavit claimed. When doing so, she realized the phone was not outside of the car. "When (the victim) went to get back into Howard's vehicle, he began to drive away," the report said. "Howard's actions while driving resulted in (the victim's) foot being run over and her body being dragged in the process." Prak was accused of turning his vehicle around, apologizing to the woman, and allowing her to get back inside his car. When she did, she told police, she realized he still had her cellphone and they began to argue about it. "Howard then wrapped his arm around (her) throat and applied pressure until she lost consciousness," the report said. "Upon regaining consciousness, (she) stated Howard punched her in the left eye." The victim accused Prak of driving toward Massachusetts, like he was taking her home, but before reaching the state line, he would turn around and drive back to Nashua. She accused him of repeatedly doing this. While driving, having regained access to her cellphone, she began texting a friend for help. At some point during the driving, Prak stopped on Allds Street and the victim jumped out of the vehicle. The friend picked her up there later. Later that day, the victim accused Prak of texting her about their sexual activities that evening and her drunkenness. She then went to the Lowell Police Department and accused Prak of raping and drugging her, the report stated. The victim completed an examination at Lowell General Hospital which noted a number of injuries consistent with a sexual assault as well as injuries to her face. The victim then met with Nashua detectives. Detectives collected evidence from her cellphone, backing up her story, and on Jan. 31, also spoke with the friend who assisted the victim. The detectives noted the statement by the victim was consistent with what she told police in Lowell. Later that day, police met with Prak at his home and said he agreed to meet with police to provide a formal statement "but failed to do so," the affidavit stated. "Multiple attempts to reestablish contact with Howard were made," the report said, "however, were unsuccessful." A warrant was issued for his arrest on Feb. 1 on reckless conduct-deadly weapon, second-degree assault-strangulation, and kidnapping charges, all felonies, as well as a simple assault charge, and he was picked up later. During a post-arrest and Mirandized interview, Prak admitted he was "jealous" of the victim when she spoke with other men even though their relationship was only platonic, the report stated. "Howard admitted his jealousy led to anger and he eventually drove (the victim) to Nashua against her wishes on the morning of Jan. 29," a detective wrote. Detectives accused Prak of admitting to dragging her with his car, strangling her, and confining her to his car, the affidavit stated, adding that he said, "she probably thought I was kidnapping her." He denied, however, striking her in the face, the report said. Prak was arraigned on Wednesday and held on preventive detention. He is due back in Hillsborough County Superior Court South for a dispositional conference on April 12. Lowell police did not return an email or phone calls confirming its charges against Prak. Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Nashua Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports. Got a news tip? Send it to [email protected]. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.