CRIME LOCATION: 3521 36th Ave. S.E., Golden Gate Estates
DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009
TIME: 8:51 p.m.
VICTIM: Theresa Ann Muirhead, 55
SUMMARY: Deputies are searching for three people who tried to break into Muirhead’s home and then fled in a blue van after she fired several rounds from a shotgun.
Sheriff’s reports gave this account:
Muirhead told deputies she was sitting in her living room when she heard the front doorknob jiggle and thought it was a family member. A man she did not know opened the door and attempted to come inside.
Muirhead slammed the door shut and watched the man go into her backyard. Fearing for her safety, Muirhead retrieved her shotgun, which was loaded with bird shot, and chased after the man, yelling for him to stop.
The man got inside a light blue van that was waiting behind the house. She fired off a round from her shotgun at the van as it attempted to flee.
She saw another man standing behind the residence. He ran into some woods next to her house. Moments later she saw him get inside the van at the end of her driveway. She shot another round at the van as the man got inside.
The van, along wit the two suspects and driver, then fled the area.
Deputies searched the area on the ground with K-9 tracking dogs and by air with a helicopter but were unable to locate the suspects.
An investigation continues.
Anyone with information should call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-793-9300 or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).
