Justice has finally caught up with an armed home intruder who had his fingertip chopped off by a Memphis homeowner back in 2006.
Homeowner used sword to chop off fingertip of armed home intruder 17 years ago. Suspect — ID'd through fingerprints — finally arrested. https://t.co/my4ey4ZuXP
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 8, 2023
Early on the morning of Nov. 6, 2006, a family of eight found themselves facing a nightmare as two armed men forcefully entered their Dothan Street residence. With demands for money and gunshots ringing out, chaos ensued as the perpetrators threatened the safety of the household, as reported by WMC-TV.
Despite being pistol-whipped, rendered unconscious and dragged into another room, the homeowner managed to regain consciousness and got a saber-like sword. Using the sword, he struck back at one of the intruders, managing to sever the fingertip of one of the assailants in a show of unparalleled courage, according to Memphis police.
As the suspects fled the scene, they left behind evidence that would prove crucial in solving the case. The severed fingertip was examined for fingerprints, ultimately leading authorities to identify the assailant as Terence Stewart. Stewart, a name that would later become familiar to law enforcement, had a history of criminal activities.
He had reportedly been sentenced to four months in prison in 2005 for selling crack. He had also been imprisoned for two and half years for his involvement in a robbery in 1996.
However, the suspect managed to evade capture for the home intrusion, seemingly disappearing into the shadows. It wasn’t until late last month that his run from justice came to an end.
On July 27, police finally apprehended him after discovering multiple active warrants. Stewart, now 45 years old, was taken into custody at the scene of an unrelated accident, according to a spokesperson from the Memphis Police Department.
Charges piled up against Stewart include four counts of attempted aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated burglary. Despite his history of criminal activity and his long-term evasion of authorities, he was released on a $200,000 bond on August 2, with a court appearance scheduled for August 15.
The identity of the second suspect involved in the 2006 home invasion remains undisclosed, leaving some mysteries yet to be unraveled.
