Pregnant woman among 2 sexual-assault victims in Pittsburgh neighborhood

UPDATE 9:30 p.m. (6/23/17)

One of two women who was sexually assaulted in the area of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood was six months pregnant, according to a criminal complaint.

Police have arrested 56-year-old Daryl Hayden in connection with the assaults.

In both cases, investigators said a box cutter was used to threaten the lives of the women. One of the assaults happened June 10 and the victim fought back, but was badly beaten, police said.

According to a criminal complaint, Hayden knew the woman he's accused of sexually assaulting Wednesday behind Westinghouse Academy was expecting.

Police say that he used that to his advantage while threatening her, allegedly saying, "I will just kill you then I'll take care of that baby."

Hayden remains in jail.

TRENDING NOW:

• STORM TRACKER: Hour-by-hour timing of rain, T'storms crossing region
• Ellen DeGeneres calls out audience member for dishonesty
• Stop sending EMS to respond to overdose calls, councilman says
• VIDEO: Mothers charged with prostitution, endangering children

UPDATE 10:30 p.m. (6/22/17)

Daryl Hayden is accused of sexually assaulting two women in a Homewood neighborhood near Westinghouse Academy.

Neighbors tell us Hayden lives in the area where the alleged sex crimes happened.

A day after Pittsburgh police released surveillance video, they say the tips on who the man was came in fast.

“I'm so thankful that he's caught because now we don't have to continue to be afraid, women to be in the streets or to be out,” said Alice Richardson, who came to her sister’s house to make sure she was safe. She lives near where the two attacks happened.

Police say the two attacks happened in the last two weeks.

One took place around 4 a.m. Wednesday. Neighbors heard a 32-year-old woman yelling for help and called 911.

Police found her without any pants.

The first attacked happened around 6 a.m. June 10.

Police stepped up patrols to try and find the person responsible.

“I feel sorry for you when you go to jail,” Richardson said.

Hayden is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 a.m. Friday.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m. (6/22/17)

Pittsburgh police have arrested Daryl Hayden, 56, of Homewood for the sexual assault of two women in a neighborhood hear Westinghouse Academy.

Police had stepped up patrols in this area and people who live there, especially women, were on high alert.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Police believe one person is responsible for two separate sexual assaults that happened in the same area over the last two weeks.

After Channel 11 asked Pittsburgh police for information, the department called a news conference.

Police are throwing a lot of manpower at these cases because they believe they may be dealing with a serial rapist.

"Sexual-assault crimes are despicable in nature and will receive the full attention of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police,” said Commander Victor Joseph.

Pittsburgh police have a warning for women of Homewood: be vigilant.

"What I do know is we have two sexual-assault crimes in the same general area, and the suspect description is very similar in both," Joseph said.

The area police are talking about is near Westinghouse Academy, where a 32-year-old woman told police she was sexually assaulted just before 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Neighbors called 911 after hearing her scream for help. Police say they found the victim in the 1100 block of North Murtland wearing no pants or shoes, and the suspect was gone.

What's even more troubling for police is a similar sexual assault was reported in this same area, and under the same circumstances, June 10. That one was also early in the morning, about 6 a.m.

“We have stepped up patrols in the area, uniformed presence, and our detectives are working round the clock to bring the suspect to justice,” Joseph said.

"I have a girlfriend, and she has a daughter, so that's kind of scary knowing if she goes up around here, is this going to happen to her?” said resident Joseph Lawrence.

Cox Media Group