Elderly Women (80′s) Send Rapist Running

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Home Invasions in Elbert County

Alaina Anderson
WNEG NewsChannel 32
Thursday, October 14, 2004

The Elbert County Sheriff’s Department needs your help to
find a man who tried to invade elderly women’s homes on
October tenth.

Police say he’s a young black man, with a light complexion,
and a small, narrow face. He might be driving a dark green
vehicle with taillights completely across the back.

Police say they don’t know his motive for invading the
homes. But they do know that the 80-year-old homeowners had
weapons to protect themselves.

The Elbert County investigators say they have no idea why
home invasions are becoming popular these days. Elbert
County has had three in two weeks.

Police are looking for this man who they think tried to
invade two homes owned by 80-year-old women.

“The suspect went to the house on Longcreek Road and tried
to kick the front door in. The elderly women let the
suspect know she had a gun and when she did, he took of
running. Minutes later, there was another home invasion on
Middleton Road and she shot at the suspect and he left,?
says Sheriff Barry Haston. He thinks the invasions are
connected because the houses were six miles away from each
other. The sheriff says the man didn’t steal anything from
the second home, but did try to rape the woman. Sheriff
Haston says having the guns kept those women alive.

“In these two cases I?m actually glad they did because it
could have been a different story if they didn’t,? says
Haston.

The Crime Scene Unit and GBI are investigating the cases and
other home invasions in the area. But the sheriff’s
department wants people to learn from two women in their
eighties and protect themselves.

“That’s why we give these courses so people will know
firearm safety, how to operate a firearm, it just gives the
elderly a sense of security when they take these classes,?
says Haston.

But if you don’t own gun and don’t want to get one, Sheriff
Haston says there are other ways to protect yourself. He?s
trained in self-defense.

“If we can get enough people willing to take it, we’re
willing to give it to the citizens to help them protect
themselves,? says Haston.

No matter how many people are learning to protect themselves
against home invaders and other criminals, the Elbert County
Sheriff’s Department is still looking for the suspects.
They already have people working extra shifts to get this
case closed.

The Elbert County Sheriff’s Department is also looking for
three people they think invaded and robbed a home on October
4th.

Police say Henry ONeil Mitchell and two unidentified people
got inside a house on Limo Road when one of the homeowners
opened the door.

Sheriff Haston says three adults and four children were held
at gunpoint while Mitchell and his accomplices stole an
undisclosed amount of money.

Police say Mitchell is armed and very dangerous.

If you have any information on his whereabouts or the two he
was working with, contact the Elbert County Sheriff’s
Department at 706-283-2421.