My Encounter with an Armed Robber in My House

Theodis Harris was arrested early Monday morning at around 3:45 a.m. after a home invasion robbery at my house at the 1900 block of 41st avenue in Vero Beach, Florida. I identified the suspect, Theodis Harris, of Kansas City, within 20 minutes after the Vero Beach Police arrived on scene. They already had a suspect on the 1800 block of 41st avenue.

Theodis Harris is being held at the Indian River County Jail on bonds of $225,000.00 on multiple charges, including home invasion robbery for $100,000; burglary of a dwelling with assault and battery for $100,000; false imprisonment for $25,000; felony criminal mischief for $1,000; and resisting arrest without violence $500. All charges are set for arraignment at the Indian River County Court House.

This is my story. As Sunday approached, I knew it was time for my fiance to be going back to Fort Myers, Florida, to return for work. Secretly inside I was sulking because I did not want him to leave. I was one week from delivering my third son by c-section, and I hated being home alone. After my fiance left for Fort Myers, I realized that my fiance put $30 in my purse for my two-year-old son's daycare.

Night started to fall. I made dinner -- shepherd's pie, our favorite. When everyone was finished, I started to get my two boys ready for their bath and to brush their teeth. Then finally, yes, relief. The boys are asleep. I watched George Lopez until it was over. I thought to myself, "Should I sleep on the couch or go to bed?" After checking on the boys, I decided to go in my room and go to bed. I was so tired from being so pregnant that I literally hit the bed and passed out. I was sleeping so good. It was the best sleep I had probably had through my entire pregnancy.

I awoke slightly still dreaming thinking that I heard a bang. "What was that?" I wondered. Then, all of a sudden I hear a loud bang and glass crashing; it was so loud. I said, "Oh my god Talan." I thought my two-year-had fallen on his TV in his room and knocked it over. I jumped up, started running, made it out of my room, and then that's when I heard a man yell, "FREEZE!" I stopped behind my wall that separates the living room from the bedroom hallway. Still half asleep and confused, I was thinking, "What the hell are the cops doing busting through my house?" The man yells again -- "freeze, don't move." So, not thinking, I yell back, "What!?" Then I realize -- oh my god -- it's not the cops. It's someone breaking into my house.

So, I'm standing there behind the wall. I can't see him and he can't see me, but I can hear him. I hear foot steps coming closer as he's asking in a loud, rushed manner, "Where are you? Who's all in here?" I reply: "It's only me and my kids." I am so afraid. I start backing up toward my room as he's coming towards the sound of my voice. He is trying to find me. He keeps yelling "Where are you. Who is all in here?" The only thing I can do is reply, "It's just me and my kids! I am in here!"

I am so scared, I don't know what to do. All I know is, I don't want him to go into the boys room, which is directly across from my room.

So, I am trying to get behind my bedroom door and in between my dresser, but it's hard my belly is so big. I make it behind the door and I can see the man's hand he has something black in it. I can't tell what it is, it's so dark! None of the lights is on in the house. I think it's a gun. I'm thinking to myself, "Oh my god, what am I going to do? This is it this the last time I'm ever going to see my kids. My kids are going to find me dead, or he's going to shoot them too."

Then I see his arm, and finally I see him! He is a black man. He's not very tall, about 5' 8". He has a husky build. He still doesn't see me behind the door. He yells again "Where are you?" I cry, "I'm right here." He pushes open the door and hits my belly. Now he knows I'm behind the door. He says, "Oh, you're behind the door. Get out from behind the door! Get out from behind the door!"

I start crying. "Please don't hurt me! It's only me and my kids here. We are all alone." I cry again.

"I'm not going to hurt you!" he says loudly as he's yelling, "Stand right here! Stand right here!"

I come out from behind the door and stand at the foot of my bed where he tells me to stand. He starts walking closer. I start backing up, until I can't back up anymore. My legs are pushed up against the foot of my bed. I'm trapped. I can' t move. I am now face to face with the man who just broke into my home. I start to notice that he has on a pair of blue Dickie's with striped boxers and no shirt. I can smell the old stench of alcohol on his breath.

"He's drunk," I say to myself. As I'm standing there in just a shirt and girls boxer briefs, I start thinking, "Oh my god this guy is going to rape me!" So, the only thing that I could think of was the $30 that my fiance had left in purse for my son's daycare. "All I have is $30, but I will gave it to you!" He stops, looks at me and says, "Where?" A feeling of relief filled my soul. I said, "Out there."

On the hockey table in the living room lay my purse with the life-saving $30. He said "Go get it," rushing me. I did not hesitate. I hurried, walking around him to the hockey table in my living room, grabbed my purse and handed him the whole purse. He look at me putting up his hands, saying "No, I don't want that! Get the money out!"

So, I turn around, put my purse back on the hockey table, as I'm opening my purse. Oh no, I can't find the money. I start throwing everything out of my purse. Searching. Still there is no money!

"What happened!" I say. I am freaking out.

The feeling of relief starts to fade as the feeling of unbelievable fear invades my soul. "This guy is going to think I lied to him," I'm thinking to myself. Then oh, I find it! I found the money. "Oh dear God, thank you," I say softly. I hand him the money.

He holds it up and says "This is it?" I say, "Yep, that's it." He says, "Open the door." I do, and he just walks out like nothing even happened. After watching him walk out of my front yard, I shut the door and lock it. I laugh to myself: "Right, Sheena, lock the door. He just busted through your front window like incredible hulk."

I call the cops and tell them what happened. The dispatcher asked if I needed an ambulance. I said "No, I'm OK." Dispatch tells me she's sending a deputy and to wait until they arrive. Well, it took them what seemed to be forever, all 15 minutes of it! Finally, they arrive and guess what? They already had the suspect who broke into my home. How cool was that? I identified the suspect and gave my statement to the detective. The crime team came into my house, took photos and collected blood samples. So, now I'm just waiting for the court date.

Sources: http://ircsheriff.org/prog_nw_inmate_search_results.cfm