Quincy man sentenced to 12 to 16 years in 2023 South End attacks

BOSTON, June 17, 2024 – A Quincy man received a 12- to 16-year state prison sentence after pleading guilty to 14 charges today stemming from a series of brutal attacks within a 90-minute time span last August in the South End, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

AMOS SYKES, 36, of Quincy, pleaded guilty today to two counts of aggravated rape, one count of assault with intent to rape, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of suffocation, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60, one count of assault and battery of a person over 60, two counts of assault and battery, and one count of threats.

At approximately 7:56 p.m. on August 12, 2023, Sykes began following a female stranger as she walked near Shawmut Avenue and Washington Street. He grabbed her from behind and threatened that he had a knife. He dragged her to a nearby parking lot, covering her mouth as she screamed, and then beat the victim until she was able to break free and run away.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., Sykes attacked the second victim, a 65-year-old woman, as she walked down Appleton Street toward Berkeley Street. The victim screamed for help before Sykes suffocated her and got on top of her. He raped and beat her on the ground until a witness intervened, leading him to run away.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., the third victim was walking on Columbus Avenue near Appleton and West Canton Streets. Sykes grabbed her from behind, put her in a chokehold and dragged her toward Crite Park. Sykes punched her repeatedly in the face and forced her to the ground, where he began suffocating her as bystanders gathered. Sykes threatened to shoot anyone who came near, a Good Samaritan intervened, physically removing Sykes from on top of the victim.

Police soon arrested Sykes, who three witnesses identified as the perpetrator.

Boston Police Crime Laboratory personnel later compared suspect DNA obtained from an evidence collection kit performed on the second victim to a court-ordered DNA sample collected from Sykes. The DNA evidence linked Sykes to that attack. 

“It’s difficult to comprehend the brutality of these stranger-violence attacks or to exaggerate the shock and fear these three women experienced at the hands of this man.  As tragic as this day was for our city, it was also marked by the bravery of the victims, the courage of the witnesses and, certainly, the selfless action of the Good Samaritan. I thank Boston Police and prosecutors and victim witness advocates from our sexual assault unit for their great work on this troubling case,” Hayden said.

The victims of any crime, including domestic or sexual violence, should call 911 in an emergency.  SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020.  SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24/7 in English, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601.  It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages. RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country, can be reached at 800-656-4673.

Help is also available for members of our LGBTQ+ community experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence through The Network/La Red by calling 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901. 

 All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications