Dad fights off repeat offender accused of creeping toward kids as family slept – ‘Somebody’s in our house’

A Denver household said they lived each parent’s worst nightmare — waking up successful the mediate of the nighttime to find a alien walking toward their children’s bedrooms.

In an interrogation with Fox News Digital, Kevin and Sarah Root described the terrifying early-morning brushwood wrong their southwest Denver home. The mates said the break-in happened astir 3:30 a.m.

"We heard the footsteps coming up the stairs to wherever our country is," Kevin recalled. "We looked astatine each different and said, ‘Somebody’s successful our house.’ You recognize you’re not dreaming — this is real."

Sarah instantly grabbed her telephone to telephone 911 portion her hubby went to cheque the hallway.

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Sarah and Kevin Root accidental a repetition burglar offender busted done their beforehand doorway successful the mediate of the night. (FOX 31 Denver)

"The fearfulness of what’s going to hap erstwhile my hubby opens the door, that’s what replays successful my caput the most," she said. "Your gut conscionable kicks in, and the fearfulness of the chartless is truly terrifying."

Kevin said helium shouted respective times for the antheral to leave, but the intruder kept walking toward the rooms wherever their boys were sleeping.

"When helium paused astatine the apical of the stairs, I whipped unfastened the door, jumped retired and pushed him arsenic hard arsenic I could down the stairs," helium said.

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Kevin and Sarah Root described jumping into enactment erstwhile a repetition offender broke into their location successful the aboriginal greeting hours.  (Kevin Root)

Police arrived minutes aboriginal and took the fishy into custody. Sarah said it felt similar everlastingly arsenic she stayed connected the telephone with dispatchers, watching the beforehand doorway and trying to support her lad calm.

"I conscionable retrieve repeating implicit and over, ‘Are you definite the cops are connected their way?’" she said. "Three minutes feels similar 3 hours. When I saw the flashing constabulary lights connected the wall, it was instant alleviation — we were OK, we were going to beryllium OK. But erstwhile the adrenaline wore off, tears came and fearfulness crept successful large time."

The man, identified arsenic 36-year-old Charley Cooley, faces a felony second-degree robbery complaint — his 2nd robbery apprehension this year, according to records obtained by FOX 31 Denver.

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Police responded soon aft the 911 telephone and took Cooley into custody. 

No 1 was physically hurt, but Sarah said the affectional betterment has been slow.

"It’s been a process. My slumber has been beauteous difficult, and I inactive replay the infinitesimal erstwhile I look astatine our chamber door," she said. "It feels similar a loss, the nonaccomplishment of feeling harmless successful our home."

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Court records reviewed by FOX 31 Denver amusement Cooley was antecedently arrested successful September for different felony robbery allegedly committed earlier this year. The Roots said they were stunned to larn helium was released wrong days.

"We recovered retired aboriginal astir his transgression background, and that stirred up a full caller furniture of emotion," Sarah said. "It feels unsettling that thing truthful invasive and violating is permitted to hap and the idiosyncratic is backmost connected the street."

According to the Denver District Attorney’s Office, the justice acceptable enslaved astatine $5,000 property/surety oregon $500 cash, and Cooley posted $500 currency connected Nov. 11, FOX 31 Denver reported.

"Multiple offenses and he’s been released some times," Kevin said. "The world is he’s backmost retired and has a past of doing this."

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Sarah and Kevin Root picture their terrifying acquisition aft encountering a repetition burglary offender wrong their location portion their 4 children slept. (Fox News Digital)

Kevin said he’s trying to absorption connected gratitude alternatively than anger.

"I anticipation he’s capable to get the assistance helium needs," helium said. "I don’t deliberation helium wants to beryllium doing this with his beingness — possibly this is simply a rock-bottom infinitesimal for him."

Despite the trauma, Sarah said she’s grateful for however things ended.

"We’re truthful thankful nary 1 was hurt, including him," she said. "We anticipation there’s justness and that he’s placed determination that prevents him from hurting anyone else."

The mates said 1 tiny mercy is that their 4 sons, each dormant upstairs, ne'er saw the intruder.

"We didn’t spot his face, adjacent Kevin can’t representation him," Sarah said. "That’s really a blessing. We don’t person that representation haunting us."

Neighbors told FOX 31 the break-in has shaken their consciousness of security. Denver constabulary are reminding residents to fastener doors and windows, instal exterior lighting and study suspicious enactment immediately.

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The Denver District Attorney’s Office told Fox News Digital it could not remark connected the case.

"This lawsuit has not reached a last disposition," a spokesperson said. "It is the presumption of this bureau that we bash not merchandise records connected pending cases truthful arsenic not to compromise the integrity of the case."

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].