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IREDELL COUNTY, NC — Investigators say a man hid in a teen girl’s closet for days–sexually assaulting her–and her parents had no idea.
WCCB Charlotte was there as he was booked into the Iredell county jail. Jarred Workman turned himself in after more than two weeks on the run. The girl’s mother is talking with WCCB Charlotte about the family’s ordeal.
“Swung around and opened the closet door, and there stood somebody that I’ve never seen in my entire life,” says the woman whose daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted
She says Jarredd Workman was inside of her home when when she found the 27-year old living inside the closet of her 14-year old daughter for five days. She chased him through the lower level of the house, out of the front door, off the deck and down the road. Leaving his wallet, his cell phone and his shoes behind.
Deputies and K-9 units were called out, but the suspect got away. When the homeowner’s daughter was interviewed, the story took an even more disturbing turn.
“The child was interviewed on the 5th, and gave us all the details of how they met online and detailed the sexual assault for which the individual is charged,” says Detective Lt. Bill Hamby of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators say Workman met the girl on the Internet, and she invited him into the family home. He is charged with 11 counts of statutory rape and 5 counts of statutory sex offense.
Workman turned himself in to authorities in Mecklenburg County Monday afternoon after 17 days on the run, and was later booked into the Iredell County jail.
The victimized family is glad he is off the streets, but still reeling from the damage he’s done.
“It’s been horrible. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat,” says the girl’s mother. “I can’t trust her.”
“Parents really need to delve into their child’s social media. And they need to become tech savvy, and if they’re not, find somebody who is. And protect their children,” says Lt. Hamby.
Workman will face a judge Tuesday morning on the sex charges. He also faces unrelated warrants in Stanly County.
