Nashville police searching for man accused of serial rape, attacking seven women

Metro Nashville police are asking the public for help in locating a man accused of raping more than a half-dozen women across the city, several of them being escorts.

A cash reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Willie Williams Jr., 20, said police spokesman Don Aaron.

Police described him as a black man, standing 6'1'' tall and weighing 185 pounds. Williams has a distinctive “BLESSED” tattoo covering the front of his neck and is thought to be armed and dangerous.

Williams is suspected of victimizing seven women since mid-February with the most recent attack taking place Sunday.

Several of the women were escorts at motels, Aaron said, and warrants charging Williams with aggravated rape, aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated robbery are outstanding.

In one case on June 16, police said, Williams contacted a 22-year-old escort through a personals website. She reported that they agreed on a price for sex and that Williams showed up at her motel near the airport. After letting him in, the victim said Williams pulled a pistol, demanded her money, then put the gun to her head and demanded that she perform oral sex on him.

That same day, police said, Williams encountered a 21-year-old woman in a business parking lot on Donelson Pike and asked whether she wanted to buy marijuana. She took down his telephone number and called him later in the evening. When Williams arrived at her Elm Hill Pike motel room, she said he pulled a gun and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

Also on June 19, police said, Williams arranged to meet a 29-year-old local woman for a date in the parking lot of a Cane Ridge Road apartment complex. When she arrived, she said Williams sat in the passenger seat of her vehicle armed with a large hunting knife. The woman said Williams demanded her belongings. She started screaming for help and Williams fled her car. 

Williams is also suspected of sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman at a Sidco Drive motel on Feb. 13; two women, ages 27 and 34, who were staying at a Claridge Drive motel on May 31; and a 30-year-old woman who was staying at a Bell Road motel on June 14. 

Anyone who sees Williams is asked to call 615-742-7463.

This is a developing story.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.