Elderly woman killed during home invasion
Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:58 am
I hope they find the scum who did this.An elderly woman died from injuries sustained during a home invasion Sunday, an official with the Harrison County Sheriff's Office has confirmed.
Jay Webb, HCSO administrative deputy, said Nadyne Smith, an 87-year-old woman, was found dead at her residence on Buck Sherrod Road at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Deputies received a call from one of Ms. Smith's neighbors that evening.
The neighbor told an HCSO dispatcher that she had been asked by a family member of Ms. Smith to check on her after she could not be reached by phone.
After visiting the residence and finding the rear door open, the neighbor saw the victim "deceased lying on the floor," the press release stated.
She then contacted emergency personnel.
"It was determined that Mrs. Smith was deceased and died as a result of her injuries sustained during the home invasion" once HCSO patrol deputies and EMS workers arrived to the scene.
Webb said investigators immediately began searching the residence for evidence and found that some of Ms. Smith's personal items had been removed - though, some of the items were recovered a short distance from the home.
Webb says HCSO investigators are pursuing several leads and investigating "some persons of interest."
Ms. Smith's body has been sent to the Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Anyone with knowledge of the incident is urged to call the Harrison County Sheriff's Office at 903-923-4000.
The Sunday home invasion marks at least the second deadly home invasion in Marshall in a span of six months.
In September 2009, 18-year-old Cortne' Mareese Robinson, 20-year-old Bradney Randall Smith and a third suspect - a juvenile - allegedly robbed a local home, fatally shot a man and kidnapped and assaulted his wife.
They were arrested and initially charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated sexual assault (elderly) and burglary of a habitation with intent to commit other felony - all first-degree felonies.
Their charges were later upgraded to capital murder following the death of the male victim.
Home security tips
Keep your possessions safe by securing your home.
Don't keep large amounts of money in your home. Keep it in a bank where it is much safer.
Get to know your neighbors, as it will be helpful to both of you if you get to know each other's routines.
Make sure you have good exterior lighting on your home.
It is especially important not to let strangers into your home.
Never give out personal details such as credit card information to strangers who come to your door or call you.
Never let a maintenance or service man who has turned up at your door without an appointment into your home.
Always check ID of maintenance men that you are expecting. You can check these details with their employer before you let them in. Some may use a pre-arranged password system to protect vulnerable people.