The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office stated Thursday that a Somerville man is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a teenager inside a lavatory at Boston’s Museum of Science over the weekend.
Yandri Hernandez, 24, allegedly concealed in a toilet on the museum’s first level before approaching a 15-year-old girl and placing his hands over her mouth at 12:40 p.m. Sunday.
DA According to Kevin Hayden’s office, the child initially mistook it for one of her friends. Hernandez allegedly attempted to detain the child before she screamed and rushed out of the restroom. According to the DA, Hernandez also exited the bathroom and fled the scene.
A witness who visited the bathroom informed authorities that the first and last stalls were occupied at the time.
When the witness entered her bathroom, she spotted black-and-white sneakers “abnormally sized for a female” in the stall next to her.
According to the DA, the witness “heard one occupant exit the stall followed by the other occupant.”
The witness told investigators she heard muffled screams and a violent altercation. When the witness exited her stall, both people had left the restroom.
According to the DA’s office, surveillance footage from within the Museum of Science shows a man dressed entirely in black and wearing black and white sneakers entering the premises soon before 11:00 a.m. The suspect allegedly remained in the lobby near the restroom for about one hour before entering, according to the district attorney.
The next day, Cambridge police contacted state police and identified the suspect as Hernandez based on a distinguishing tattoo on his left forearm.
Hernandez was hauled into jail on Tuesday, according to the DA.
“This is a terrible experience for anyone, especially a youngster on a trip with a companion to a popular destination. This young woman’s account of her attacker, along with excellent identification work based on photographs released by detectives, resulted in the defendant being identified and apprehended mere days after the crime,” Kevin Hayden stated.
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