Family makes plea to help find person who assaulted 83-year-old grandmother in her Pittsburgh home

PITTSBURGH — It’s been over a week since a shocking and brutal crime occurred in a Pittsburgh neighborhood.

An 83-year-old woman was attacked and raped in her Homewood home on Oct. 7. She remains in the hospital.

The family gave Channel 11 permission to identify the victim as Shirley Wheaton.

No arrests have been made in the attack, but Pittsburgh police say detectives are working “very hard” to identify a suspect.

On Tuesday, the victim’s family held a press conference at the Community Empowerment Association along with police, local representatives and leaders. They wanted to alert the public that the perpetrator is still out there.

The victim’s daughter, Carol Speaks, says Wheaton is bedridden and lives alone. Wheaton is a long-standing community icon and activist.

Now, Wheaton’s family is urging other women to stay vigilant.

“My mom wanted me to come out today, speak to the media, so she could get the word out to women that there’s a monster out there and that monster hurt her she wants women to be extra aware of their surroundings and make sure the doors are locked,” Speaks said.

Although no arrests have been made, detectives have gone door to door in the neighborhood trying to locate surveillance video and are asking for help from the public. Anyone who saw anything suspicious is asked to contact the SVU Unit at 412-323-7141.

“We want to be here today to support the family in regards to the investigation. We can’t share any information at this point just know the detectives are working very hard,” Lt. Larry Mercurio said.

Speaks also asks other possible victims to come forward.

“We are also asking if this has happened to someone else and [are] afraid to come forward please come forward because you were probably not his first and my mom will probably not be his last,” Speaks said.

“I know her personally. I have a long-standing relationship for over 20 years with her. And there’s nothing more that I want than to get this person off the street,” Mayor Ed Gainey told Channel 11′s Gabriella DeLuca today.

Mayor Gainey said that the sexual assault on Wheaton, a longtime community activist, Homewood resident, and grandmother, is hitting him hard.

“I know Homewood will do all they need to do to ensure that they find the person that did this. You can believe that,” Mayor Gainey added.

While Channel 11 does not typically identify victims of sexual assault, Wheaton’s family has come forward and wants the public to know about the assault against the community icon, in an effort to prevent this from happening to someone else.

“You have a predator out in our community, so I would not dismiss it. We ask everyone in that community to be diligent in ensuring that their homes are locked, and their windows are locked,” Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto said.

Despite Chief Scirotto urging the Homewood community to take caution, the department did not notify the media until four days after the assault, and until we called asking questions after Wheaton’s family wanted to get the word out about the brutal attack.

We asked Chief Scirotto why they didn’t warn the public that a sexual predator, who raped an elderly woman, was on the loose in the community.

“When we make those decisions as far as public releases, oftentimes it’s determined on if it impacts, or more importantly impairs, the ability to do the investigation thoroughly. In this case, that’s what was determined.

Channel 11 will continue to ask questions about this case, and continue to follow it for any developments.

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