Bucks County man charged in alleged assault at Valley of Fear Halloween attraction

Bucks County prosecutors have filed new charges against a Springfield Township man, accusing him of choking and groping a coworker at Valley of Fear, a haunted attraction in Lower Southampton Township, District Attorney Joe Khan announced Tuesday.

Edward Eisenhard faces strangulation, indecent assault, harassment and related counts in that case, CBS Philadelphia reported. He was already jailed on charges from an alleged assault at a Five Below store. CBS Philadelphia and 6abc gave his age as 38; NBC10 listed him as 37 in one reference. Prosecutors described him as a suspected serial sex predator.

The criminal complaint, as summarized by NBC10 and CBS Philadelphia, says Eisenhard, who supervised workers at the attraction, seized the woman by the throat, held her wrists over her head and spoke to her in sexual terms. NBC10 said the complaint also alleges he touched her chest once she told him to stop. She steered clear of him afterward and went home early, both outlets reported. They differ on the date: CBS Philadelphia said Sept. 25, the attraction's opening night, while NBC10 said Sept. 26. NBC10 reported she went to police Oct. 12.

A second supervisor there told police he talked with Eisenhard by phone and that Eisenhard did not deny the conduct, both outlets reported. According to 6abc, Khan said Eisenhard lost his supervisory post after the accusation. Prosecutors said he had worked at Valley of Fear for roughly 10 seasons. The attraction declined to comment, NBC10 reported.

Eisenhard was first arrested Oct. 1. In that case, he is accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old worker on Sept. 27 in a back room of the Hilltown Township Five Below he managed, NBC10 reported. Investigators recorded a phone call in which he allegedly admitted to it and apologized, the outlet said.

Khan also said Eisenhard is accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl, whose family he knew, as she slept earlier this month, according to 6abc and CBS Philadelphia. Authorities said those reporting assaults range from 12 to 38 years old.

"Unfortunately, there are real monsters in this world," Khan said, according to CBS Philadelphia.

According to NBC10, Eisenhard, a volunteer firefighter, received bail in the Five Below case but stayed in custody because he could not pay it. Khan said his office will seek to have him held with no bail.

Prosecutors think more people may have been harmed and want anyone with information to reach out to the district attorney's office. "If you are a victim, our office is a safe place where you will be heard," Khan said, according to NBC10.

Eisenhard is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Compiled by True News from reporting by 6abc Action News, CBS Philadelphia and NBC10 Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/518