COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — After an Austin man was rejected by his ex-girlfriend, he broke into the woman's home and tried to rape her before molesting her younger sister, prosecutors said.
Douglas Murphy, 21, dated the 19-year-old victim for about three months more than two years ago, Assistant State's Attorney Tom Hardman said during a bond hearing Thursday.
Since then the pair have seen each other in passing, but didn't stay in touch, prosecutors said.
In October, Murphy began texting the 19-year-old in an attempt to rekindle the relationship, according to Hardman. The woman called Murphy because she didn't recognize his number, prosecutors said, and asked him to stop sending messages — but Murphy continued to text.
The woman was asleep in her Austin home when Murphy walked into her bedroom about 4 a.m. Wednesday, prosecutors said. He pulled down his shorts and underwear, climbed into bed with the woman and tried to rip off her clothes, Hardman said.
According to authorities, the woman yelled for help and threatened to call police. At that point, Murphy left the apartment, and the woman tried to go back to sleep.
Her 17-year-old sister was awoken 30 minutes later when she felt someone molesting her, Hardman said. The teen demanded to know who was there, and the man left the room — briefly flicking the light switch on and off. According to prosecutors, the teen could see Murphy's hair and shorts.
The 17-year-old went to get her older sister, who found Murphy climbing out of a window in the furnace room, Hardman said.
When the sisters told their mother what happened, she called police and walked officers to Murphy's house, prosecutors said.
When police arrived, Murphy ran away, according to an arrest report. Officers arrested him about five blocks away, in the 1700 block of North Latrobe Avenue, just before 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Murphy, of the 5100 block of West North Avenue, is charged with criminal sexual abuse, attempted criminal sexual assault and residential burglary.
His public defender said Murphy attends Triton College and has no criminal background. This was his first arrest. The school could not immediately be reached to confirm enrollment.
Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil on Thursday ordered Murphy held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
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