A woman woke up around 3 a.m. to find a man standing over her bed with his pants down, and what began as an intrusion quickly escalated into a violent attack that left her struggling to breathe, according to court documents.
Background
Tyler Humphries, 39, allegedly broke into the woman's home in eastern Idaho on July 16, authorities said. The East Idaho News obtained an arrest affidavit detailing the terrifying sequence of events that unfolded in the middle of the night while a child slept in another room nearby. Investigators say Humphries had no apparent prior connection to the victim, making his alleged intrusion even more alarming to prosecutors.
According to the affidavit, the woman told investigators she woke up to find Humphries standing over her with his pants down. She said he allegedly stated he 'was going to rape her until she told him the truth,' authorities wrote. The statement left investigators puzzled about what 'truth' Humphries might have been referring to, as no prior relationship between the two was immediately apparent.
The Investigation
Prosecutors say Humphries then got on top of the victim and attempted to sexually assault her. When she screamed for help, he covered her mouth with his hand and began strangling her, according to the affidavit. The violence left the woman gasping for air as she fought to escape his grip.
She eventually broke free from his alleged attack and ran into a child's room in the home, court documents say. A child who was present wrapped the victim in a blanket and confronted Humphries, authorities said. In response, Humphries allegedly slammed the child against a wall before fleeing the scene.
When police arrived, they observed bruising on the victim's thigh and noted she complained her throat 'felt like it was burning,' according to the affidavit. She was transported to a hospital where medical professionals determined her airway was in danger of closing due to the alleged strangulation, court records say.
Authorities arrested Humphries later that same morning when he returned to the residence. During his arrest, police allegedly discovered marijuana and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in his possession, according to jail records.
In interviews with investigators, Humphries claimed he was merely attempting to 'cuddle' with the victim, authorities said. However, court documents indicate he later admitted to assaulting her. The apparent contradiction between his initial statement and subsequent admission has become a key point of interest for prosecutors building their case.
Humphries faces charges of attempted rape, attempted strangulation, domestic violence battery, and burglary, according to Bonneville County jail records. He remains detained at the county jail without bond pending his upcoming court appearance.
Key Takeaways
- Tyler Humphries, 39, has been charged with attempted rape, attempted strangulation, domestic violence battery, and burglary in Bonneville County District Court
- The alleged attack occurred around 3 a.m. July 16 when the victim woke to find Humphries standing over her bed
- Police say he allegedly told her he 'was going to rape her until she told him the truth' before attempting to sexually assault her
- When she screamed for help, authorities say he covered her mouth and strangled her, causing visible injuries including bruising on her thigh
- A child in the home was also allegedly assaulted when Humphries slammed the minor against a wall during his escape
- Doctors determined at the hospital that the victim's airway was in danger of closing due to strangulation injuries
What's Next
Humphries is scheduled to appear in Bonneville County District Court on July 31 for his next court date. He remains held at the county jail as prosecutors continue building their case. investigators have not yet disclosed what prompted Humphries to allegedly break into the home or whether he had any prior connection to the victim that might explain his reference to wanting her to 'tell him the truth.' The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with additional information about this incident to come forward.