Empire State Building climbers expected to appear in court on Thursday


A daredevil couple who climbed to the top of the Empire State Building on Wendesday are expected to appear in court Thursday after spending the first night of their purported engagement in separate holding cells. 

Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, Russians with a current address in East Orange, New jersey, were held overnight at at 100 Centre Street, where the Manhattan Criminal Court is located.

Angela Nikolau is seen being escorted out of a Manhattan police station, July 1, 2026.

WABC

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office was still reviewing the charges and writing the criminal complaint overnight.   

Ivan Kuznetsov, who is also known as Ivan Beerkus, is seen being escorted out of a Manhattan police station, July 1, 2026.

WABC

Police and Empire State Building security personnel are reviewing surveillance video to determine how the two entered and evaded screening at the observation deck.  

Nikolau and Kuznetsov, who have gained an online following for their death-defying skyscraper climbs around the world, stayed on top of the skyscraper for several minutes as cameras rolled on the action before coming down on the spire, the New York Police Department said.

Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus who got to the top of the Empire State Building climb down the tower’s spire in New York City, July 1, 2026.

WABC

Kuznetsov, who is also known as Ivan Beerkus, appeared to propose to his longtime girlfriend before they were taken into custody.

Both face multiple charges — including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, violation of a local law, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct and possession of burglar’s tools — according to police.

Security was supposed to have been hardened following previous attempts by trespassers to take selfies near the spire. 

Officials said they believe the two may have observed building employees and may have used a worker entrance to get around the screening.

ABC News’ Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.



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