Man accused of two sexual assaults headed to trial

PITTSBURGH — A man accused of sexually assaulting two women in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood is headed to trial on rape and other charges.

At a preliminary hearing Thursday, all charges were held against 56-year-old Daryl Hayden.

RELATED: Pregnant woman among 2 sexual-assault victims in Pittsburgh neighborhood

The alleged attacks happened in June near Westinghouse Academy. According to police, Hayden used a box cutter to threaten both women. One of the victims was six weeks pregnant.

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Channel 11 obtained new details, alleging Hayden picked two women at random and tried to befriend the victims, before attacking them.

In court on Thursday, the victim who was pregnant at the time of assault said she begged him not to hurt her baby.

She described the June 21 assault in graphic detail, saying, "He grabbed me by the throat and choked me so many times I couldn't breathe. He pulled me farther and farther into the woods and I fought to stay in the light. I screamed and screamed and screamed.  I screamed for my freedom. He said, 'Stop screaming or I'll kill you.'"

Both women also testified they were punched and beaten. One said she was choking on her own blood.

"He was punching me in the face with that blade in his hand," one of the victims said. "I really thought I was going to die. I prayed."

Hayden was arrested after police released surveillance video and received multiple tips about the attacker’s identity.

He’s facing charges of rape, aggravated assault, strangulation, and sexual assault.

Cox Media Group