PITTSBURGH \u2014 A Pittsburgh woman told police she woke up in the middle of a terrifying home invasion and sexual assault inside her Oakland home.<\/p>\n
According to a criminal complaint, officers used a reportedly stolen Apple AirTag to track down 29-year-old Charles Willis, who police say later confessed to both breaking into the home and sexually assaulting the victim.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s insane. Yeah, that\u2019s crazy,\u201d Emily Hoffman, a resident who lives nearby. <\/p>\n
Police say the incident happened around 4 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at a home on Parkview Avenue in Oakland.<\/p>\n
Court paperwork states the woman woke up to a noise coming from her room and saw a figure \u201cquietly, quickly and calmly\u201d getting up from the other side of her bed before leaving the room. <\/p>\n
She later told investigators she saw a \u201cshadowy figure\u201d near her living room window before the person climbed out.<\/p>\n
\u201cHearing that, it does make me want to lock my doors at night,\u201d said Deeksha Rachupalli, another Oakland resident.<\/p>\n
Investigators say Willis later admitted to breaking into the home and sexually assaulting the woman while she was sleeping unclothed. <\/p>\n
According to the complaint, he told police he was looking for cigarettes, money and items he could salvage.<\/p>\n
The victim, the next day on Friday, May 22, also reported that two dollars and an Apple AirTag were missing from the home.<\/p>\n
She told police she could see the AirTag pinging near the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, close to several homeless encampments.<\/p>\n
Officers eventually found Willis walking near train tracks in the area above Boundary Road, but he denied stealing anything.<\/p>\n
According to investigators, he told police he understood what he did was wrong and said he was \u201ca weak man.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounds like he wasn\u2019t in the right state of mind, if I\u2019m being honest,\u201d said Rachupalli. \u201cBreaking into a home, it\u2019s not a logical decision you make.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willis is currently being held in the Allegheny County Jail, facing burglary, indecent assault, and several other charges.<\/p>\n
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