Teenagers Fight Back Against Attacker in Connecticut Park

In a recent incident at Kettletown State Park in Southbury, Connecticut, two teenage girls became victims of a horrifying attempted assault. Allegedly, a 23-year-old man named Darius Moreno threatened them with a knife, dragging them into the woods and trying to assault them.

According to police reports, the events unfolded on a Monday when Moreno confronted the girls. Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Pratt shared details at his arraignment, stating that he made explicit threats about what he intended to do. The situation turned dire as he reportedly pulled one girl by her hair into the woods, attempting to suffocate her by pressing her head into the ground, while also trying to choke the other.

Pratt described the scene as distressing, noting, “It’s a scary scene. The girls are scared,” reflecting the gravity of the situation.

However, despite the fear they felt, the girls fought back fiercely. One girl managed to escape Moreno’s grip, showing incredible bravery by throwing a rock at his head, though he still held onto her friend. But that wasn’t the end; both girls started hurling rocks at him, eventually breaking free and managing to flee to safety.

When detained by police, Moreno, who had been living in his car, expressed remorse and disturbingly referred to the assault as part of a “sexual fantasy for me.” He also had a notable bandage on his head, likely a result of the rock thrown at him during the confrontation.

Law enforcement charged him with multiple offenses, including robbery, assault, strangulation, unlawful restraint, and attempted sexual assault. Following his arraignment, he was held on a $250,000 bail.