University student recorded women in bathrooms, district attorney says
WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania -- A West Chester University student is accused of hiding a phone to record women in the bathroom.
Joshua Yannuzzi, 24, recorded more than 20 female victims, investigators say, and they add there could be more victims out there.
The recordings were made in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, authorities say.
Yannuzzi is a musical theatre student and was scheduled to perform in the university's production of "My Fair Lady" in November, according to the Chester County district attorney's office.
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began after a young woman using a single-person bathroom at the O.E. Bull Center on the WCU campus discovered an iPhone pointing at the toilet and recording.
The victim gave the iPhone to police.
According to investigators, Yannuzzi can be seen on surveillance video entering the bathroom before the victim and then checking the bathroom after she left.
Police say Yannuzzi specifically targeted young women he knew, and would hide his iPhone to record women in "various states of nudity."
"He engaged in this activity for his own sexual gratification," according to the district attorney's office, and allegedly made such recordings more than 50 times in the past two years.
Police say Yannuzzi accidentally recorded images of himself hiding the phone in bathrooms. Some of those images were released by the D.A.'s office.
Investigators say the incidents occurred at the following locations:
-The E.O. Bull Center at West Chester University
-The Footlighters Theater in Berwyn, Pennsylvania
-The Genesius Theatre in Reading, Pennsylvania
-The Street Lamp Productions Theater in Rising Sun, Maryland
-A residence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
-Multiple residences in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
-A residence in West Chester, Pennsylvania
-A residence in Reading, Pennsylvania
Investigators say Yannuzzi had software that would secretly photograph women, and posted at least one of his illegal recordings online.
Yannuzzi is charged with more than 100 offenses, and has been banned from the West Chester University campus.
District Attorney Tom Hogan had this warning for anyone who knows Yannuzzi.
"Anybody who had contact with Josh Yannuzzi in theater productions or living arrangements is a potential victim," Hogan said.
Anyone who thinks they might be a victim is asked to contact Chester County Detectives (610) 344-6866 and confidentially review recordings that might be related to them.
