Sex offender found watching TV in lobby of University of Pittsburgh dormitory

PITTSBURGH — A sex offender was found Tuesday in the lobby of a University of Pittsburgh dormitory.

Police said 45-year-old William Burkett, a tier three sex offender who was convicted of rape, was lying on a couch with his shoes off while watching TV Tuesday in the lobby of Forbes Hall.

“Yesterday morning, I saw police in the lobby. There was a guy in the lobby and he was just sitting on a chair,” Pitt student Carter Zerweck said.

Burkett is required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, but authorities said he failed to do so. He is also one of 30 sex offenders within the city who are considered homeless and must check in with Pittsburgh police every month to inform them of where they are staying.

Channel 11’s Courtney Brennan spoke Wednesday morning with Pitt students who said the university had not notified them of Burkett’s entry into the dorm, which mostly houses freshman. Seven students who live in Forbes Hall are under the age of 18.

“That's very scary. You assume it's safe, but I guess it's not,” Pitt freshman Lindsey Laurune said.

Students said the front door to Forbes Hall is unlocked 24 hours a day.

“Basically anyone can go in there,” Pitt freshman Joe Koniszewski said.

In a statement, the university said that the lobby where Burkett was found “is outside of the secured entry to the student living area. This is a case were the security precautions Pitt uses to protect student living areas worked as designed, thanks to our security and police officials’ prompt and effective action.”

Brennan reported that Burkett had recently been on campus two other times and was warned by police to stay away. In the last three months, Burkett has been arrested more than four times and two charges against him were for open lewdness and indecent exposure.

Cox Media Group