State Police Arrest Convicted Sex Offender, Involved in Haverhill Rape

Reggie C. Ellenwood, 60, had been wanted by Massachusetts State Police for failing to file as a sex offender. (Photograph courtesy of Massachusetts State Police.)

A 60-year-old man, convicted more than two decades ago of raping a child in Haverhill, is in custody after failing to register as a sex offender.

Reggie C. Ellenwood was arrested Friday night at Boston’s Pine Street Inn, a homeless shelter, after Massachusetts State Police added him earlier that day to its “most wanted” sex offenders’ list.

Ellenwood was convicted in 1992 in Essex County Superior Court of eight counts of rape of a child and six counts of indecent assault and battery involving two pre-teen girls in Haverhill. An investigation at the time revealed Ellenwood kept his victims from talking by claiming to have murdered another young girl he assaulted, state police said. He also has been previously convicted in Haverhill District Court on assault with a dangerous weapon—a rifle—and two counts of accosting. Ellenwood also has ties to Lawrence, Lynn and Boston.

Ellenwood was found at Pine Street Inn shortly before 7 p.m., Friday, by officers from Longwood Security, who provide security at the shelter and are also special Boston police officers, according to state police. He was turned over to Boston Police District 4.

State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section had listed Ellenwood and five others on its most wanted list Friday and asked for the public’s help in finding the fugitives.