Two teenage girls fought back against a knife-wielding suspect during an alleged attack at Kettletown State Park in Southbury, Connecticut, on Monday, helping each other escape before authorities arrested the suspect, according to state officials and court testimony, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Darius Moreno, is accused of threatening the two girls with a knife and attempting to sexually assault them inside the park, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Environmental Conservation Police.
🔥 Two teenage girls are being called heros by investigators in what could have been a double homicide..
According to prosecutors, two teenage girls were walking through Kettletown State Park in Connecticut when 23-year-old Darius Moreno allegedly approached them while holding a… pic.twitter.com/PzHUm89hpV [2]
— Unmasked True Crime (@crimeunmasked) July 16, 2026 [3]
During Moreno’s arraignment on Tuesday, Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt described the allegations presented by prosecutors, the CTPost reported.
According to Platt, Moreno approached the girls while armed with a knife and told them he was “going to [expletive] them and rob them.”
Prosecutors alleged that Moreno attempted to drag the girls into a wooded area by pulling them by the hair.
Court testimony stated that he threw one of the girls to the ground and attempted to force her head into the dirt while also trying to place the other girl into a choke hold.
“It’s a horrific scene. The girls are terrified,” Platt said during the arraignment, according to the outlet.
Despite the attack, prosecutors said the girls fought back.
According to Platt’s account in court, one of the teens managed to break free and threw a large rock that struck Moreno in the head.
Even after being hit, prosecutors said Moreno continued holding onto the other girl.
The second teen then began throwing rocks at Moreno as well. Prosecutors said the girls continued striking him until they were able to escape together and run to safety.
Authorities later arrested Moreno.
During the investigation, prosecutors said Moreno, who is from out of state and had been living in his car, apologized to officers after being taken into custody.
Prosecutors also told the court that Moreno admitted to liking aggressive pornography and stated that the assault was a “sexual fantasy for him.”
A booking photograph released after his arrest showed Moreno wearing glasses with a large bandage wrapped around his head.
Authorities charged Moreno with multiple offenses, including robbery, interfering with an emergency call, assault, strangulation, unlawful restraint, disorderly conduct, carrying a dangerous weapon, and criminal attempt at sexual assault, according to law enforcement officials.
Following Tuesday’s court appearance, Moreno was ordered held on a $250,000 bond.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Environmental Conservation Police continues to identify the incident as occurring at Kettletown State Park in Southbury.
Prosecutors credited the teenagers’ actions with helping them escape the alleged attack before officers took Moreno into custody.