Lessons learned from Hayes breakin, rapes and murders

[leadcounsel]

First, this 2007 incident(s) was a horrific tragic series of brutal crimes. For those who don't know, a family of 4 was devestated by two brutal predators/men in CT. The mother and two daughters were followed home by one of the men, who got his partner and hatched home invasion plan.

They snuck into the families home and surprised them, beat and tied up the father (the only survivor). He said the he awoke from the pains of someone beating on his head and body with a blunt instrument. The beatings knocked him unconscious and he lost 7 pints of blood. The mom/wife was forced to withdraw $15,000 from a bank. She was then beaten and raped and murdered. His daughters were tied up, beaten and at least one was raped. At some point near the end of the ordeal, despite being tied up the dad was unattended and in and out of consciousness but managed to escape to the neighbors. At the end, the thugs poured fuel on the victims and burned them alive and the house.

One of them received the death penalty today.

Now, on to lessons learned. What could have been done to prevent this horrific event? This should be a learning point for us and our families.

Here are my suggestions:
1. Some sort of alarm system and simple door barricade system, a dog, a loud bird, etc. Something that will awaken residents when someone enters the home in the middle of the day/night. You must have that time to react and arm yourself, call 911, whatever your emergency plan is... you must have time to implement it.

2. Lock doors and windows. Sure, people can pick these but why make it easy?

3. Close and lock your bedroom or other interior doors. Again, why make it easy?

4. Own and train with guns and have them immediately accessible and loaded.

Implementing these simple techniques would likely have saved this family.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I'll point out one thing that was left out. The police were aware of what was happening well before the father escaped, because the mother had very bravely tipped off the bank clerk to what was happening.

The police followed their plan to the letter by cordoning off the area. The women were raped and burned alive while the police sealed off the area and gathered forces.

I'm not questioning the police actions, which may have been the correct tactical steps. After all, they had no way of knowing just how crazy these people were and had things been different they might well caused needless deaths had they broke in like ninja's.
I am pointing out that you and your families safety is ultimately in your own hands. The police generally show up after a crime, so what happens before and during is your responsibility.


.

 

[roo_ster]

Here are my suggestions:
1. Some sort of alarm system and simple door barricade system, a dog, a loud bird, etc. Something that will awaken residents when someone enters the home in the middle of the day/night. You must have that time to react and arm yourself, call 911, whatever your emergency plan is... you must have time to implement it.

2. Lock doors and windows. Sure, people can pick these but why make it easy?

3. Close and lock your bedroom or other interior doors. Again, why make it easy?

4. Own and train with guns and have them immediately accessible and loaded.

#1 I am on board with.

I really ought to beef up my entry doors. Problem is, two out of three have windows right next to them.

I do have two good alarm dogs:
One 45# GSP who has defended her "small human" (my daughter) in the past and is a known quantity
One 90# dobie who loves his small humans, but has not demonstrated the ability to defend

Both are mouthy when strangers come near.

#2 is a no-brainer.

#3 I do not agree with, if you have dogs. I want my dogs to be able to get to every room. They are faster than I would be, getting to a burglar entering the house. If Bad Things happen, I want the dogs there to bite, raise hell, and distract the goblins.

#4, also a no-brainer.

 

[Bubba613]

Implementing these simple techniques would likely have saved this family.

I disagree. You can do everything right and still end up dead. Your measures would certainly have reduced the odds of what happened.

To me the big lesson is, every home invasion can end up this horrible. Many don't. Many end with the homeowner tied up and merely robbed. But before the fact everyone has to assume that the outcome will be as described as nothing other than total resistance will help survival.

 

[Onward Allusion]

One of the things that could have been done differently would have been for the mother to refuse to leave the bank. It likely would have created a hostage situation, but the police/swat would have been involved sooner. Secondly, the action would have separated the two evil predators. There is a dynamic that is generated when 2 or more perpetrators are involved...evil begets evil... If the follower is separated from the leader (at the bank?) the follower reverts to his weak self, police may have been able to save the girls.

But all of this is conjecture... I pray for the father and hope he finds peace.

 

[Deanimator]

For many of us in apartments, alarms, dogs and the like are off the table.

I'm never far from a loaded firearm.

 

[jon86]

Same story here, Deanimator.

 

[skoro]

You have to protect yourself. The police won't save you.

In this case, the wife went to a bank withdraw money to pay the intruders. The teller at the bank notified the police immediately of the victim's name and address. The wife drove home with the abductors, where they then had their way for quite some while. I've never heard any explanation of why the cops took so long to respond.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I've never heard any explanation of why the cops took so long to respond.

The police didn't have the advantage of hindsight. As far as they knew, it was a simple robbery and crashing into the place might have got the hostages killed. Better to let the guys walk out of the house unaware and then bust them when the family is out of the firing zone. That was the reasoning.

In any case, it's up to the individual to protect himself. Don't count on the police to save you.

 

[CoRoMo]

When my wife and I watched the recent story, we were shocked that the wife didn't just call 911 from the bank and get the cavalry to the house right then. That whole part of the story is sickening. The police response and the bank tellers' response dumbfounded me. It is one thing that the wife couldn't think straight in that situation, to realize that she had a chance right there, but the lack of support just gets me.

 

[leadcounsel]

Good theory about the wife refusing to leave the bank and return to her abductors/kids/hubby. But they probably gave her stern warnings of the very bad things that would happen and she certainly felt a moral and human and loving obligation to return, even if it meant getting raped or killed, to save her daughters. I think most parents would sacrifice him/herself for their kids. She probably accepted her fate that she would likely be raped/murdered. She probably never imagined her daugher(s) would be raped and killed/burned to death. She may have been told and believed her husband was dead.

Goes back to an alarm system and being able to defend yourself because we've seen time and again where the police have no obligation and will not do it - Columbine, VT, restraining orders, and now this...

I also pray the survivor finds peace. Unfortunately he has many more days in court for this and the next trial.

I will also add situational awareness to the list above. Had mom had some situational awareness of who was following her at the store, in the parking lot, and on the way home, some precautions could have been taken.

Truly sad that a few basic precautions could have prevented this but were apparently not taken. To be awoken by being attacked by an intruder is just unacceptably bad home defense.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Another reminder, folks, on another incredible shrinking thread- this is Strategies and Tactics, NOT Legal and Political. The legal system is what it is, and will do what it does. The legal/political system is not our topic of discussion here.

Carry on...

lpl

 

[Old krow]

#3 I do not agree with, if you have dogs. I want my dogs to be able to get to every room.

I agree with this. I like my dogs having full reign of the house. They are likely to take a defensive stance in a doorway guarding everyone but me should they feel threatened.

I also like high mounted flood lights with alternate switches near the center of the house.

To be awoken by being attacked by an intruder is just unacceptably bad home defense.

It's either that or alarmingly good criminals. Remember, the only ones that we see got caught. The rest do a better job.

 

[sidheshooter]

^^^ true, but the ensconced defender has a big advantage, so long as they also have warning. I have not read too many stories of criminals getting into a room through a door covered by an 870 and overpowering the occupant. Probably has happened at some point, but that's got to be an exception to the rule, if so.

I'm with #s 1, 2, the modification of 3, and #4, above.

Great point on not leaving the bank. This poor lady probably didn't have the mindset and plethora of back stories about the folly of negotiating with psychopathy, or the fact of "crime scene #2 always being worse than crime scene #1" (a quote from DeBecker's 'gift of fear') that we all have. This lack of knowledge did not serve her well, and it's up to us to reinforce our own ideas from the results of her horrific experience.

Ultimately, I think that kodiak nailed it with the last two sentences of post #2.

 

[medalguy]

I totally agree with #1, #2 and #4. As far as dogs go, the bigger and badder the better. #3 absolutely not-- I want to be able to move quickly if necessary, and if I have dogs I want them to have access to the whole house.

I also keep several guns scattered around my house, so I can always get to one quickly and easily. We do not have any children in the house so that's not a problem.

Suppose this man had had a gun in the basement where they left him. Might he have had a chance to even the odds a bit? We will never know but it certainly wouldn't have hurt any.

 

[leadcounsel]

I disagree about having dogs access the whole house. Unless they are trained killers and kept outside the bedroom.

Dogs are easy to kill/subdue with a gun, club, or poisoned dog treats.

I'm not willing to sacrifice my dogs to scare off an intruder. That's why I have guns.

The only thing my dogs serve as is early alarm. They can hear anything in the house from being closed in my bedroom. And they'll certainly hear and make noise if someone's trying to access my locked bedroom.

They bark and within moments I'm awake with my 870 trained on the door.

 

[Yo Mama]

I have personally been horrified at this story, and it makes my sick to my stomach every time I hear about it. The horrible pain this family has gone through, and the death penaly is not enough for this animal. I hope he has a pit in hell that is reserved and warming up now.

With regard to lessons learned, I show my wife these stories. The lesson is that there are living beings out there (I hate to call them human, as they are not), that wish to do harm for no reason. Never hesitate, you defend yourself without questioning it.

You hold your family tighter, till they say it hurts. You let them know you love them and that they are important/special. They have no idea why you cry as you look at them after envisioning the worse that can happen. You let them know that you will protect them no matter what, from hell and back.

 

[Hatchbm]

I agree with 1, 2, and 4 but I also like to have the bedroom door open. My bedroom doors are the double door type and pretty flimsy and anyone over 100 pounds could kick them open pretty easily. Sure, I could beef this up, but I'd rather have it open so the dog can hear what is going on down stairs, that is if they make it past the alarm without setting it off, maybe they'll make some more noise coming in which will be hard to hear with the door shut.

Sure, nothing will make you impervious to home invasion, just have to make it hard for them to go after you.

Going to the range today to work on #4.

I also added some motion sensing lights at the garage, front, and back doors. Sure, these could easily, but more noise for the dog to hear.

As far dog, mine is a 80lb rot/lab mix with a pretty scary bark, though he loves every one and and every dog he's every met. But his job is to just bark to wake me up, I'll take it from there. And deter, most thieves hate dogs, especially bigger ones, and will move on to a dogless house, lots of those out there.

 

[roo_ster]

I disagree about having dogs access the whole house. Unless they are trained killers and kept outside the bedroom.

Dogs are easy to kill/subdue with a gun, club, or poisoned dog treats.

I'm not willing to sacrifice my dogs to scare off an intruder. That's why I have guns.

The only thing my dogs serve as is early alarm.

Alarm, for sure. That is their best and most dependable use. For some dogs, that is their only "protective" utility. (I'm thinking of what I refer to as "Alarm Terriers," who are observant and mouthy, but too tiny to be a threat.)

Don't need a trained killer to be a serious impediment and cause serious damage to a human. My little 8YO 45# GSP has proved she will defend my kids and has been blooded, despite no protection training. The 90# dobie is naturally reticent around new folk and will bark to warn and protect his territory. Not sure if he'd fight to defend his people & territory, though.

I want them to be able to roam about and see through the windows to the outside. Both mine will use their snouts to separate the vertical blinds to see the front yard & driveway, while denying vision into the house. Both still have sharp hearing, but brick, drywall, insulation, and double-paned glass limits the utility of hearing.

If the goblins try to enter through the kids' bedroom window, I want the dogs to be able to get there (if not already sleeping in that room) and "greet" the intruder(s).

Anyone getting into our house will create a ruckus. Entry door knobs have little cowbells firmly affixed to them(1), a different tone for each entrance. Turning the knob just a little makes the cowbell ring, so even folks with keys make noise getting in. If they have to bust in a door or window, again, noise. Noise at any entrance rousts the dogs (and they roust my wife or I) and they are usually there by the time the door is open. Anyone trying to enter meets 140# of dogs and will have to deal with them, gaining me & mine time to react. Even if they have poisoned doggie treats and are swift enough to bludgeon or shoot both in the dark(2), that is time the goblin is spending, time I am using getting my 1911 or (better yet) my 12ga.

Time, time, time. The more time I have before the goblin(s) can bring weapons to bear on me & mine, the better chance I'll have in countering their designs.

Thing is, I am willing to sacrifice my dogs to protect my family or my person. I love them both, but I am not so morally challenged as to consider them equivalents to wife & kids. If they do die protecting my family, I am sure there will be a place set for them at the Table of Heroes in Doggie Valhalla.




(1) Mostly to keep toddlers in, rather than warn of dangers out.

(2) Cop buddy has justifiably shot two dogs in daylight, with puh-lenty of warning. Both dogs survived the ordeal, meaning, my buddy, despite being a blooded police officer who shoots both primary & backup very well, did not get fatal hits on large dogs (rott & rott-mutt) at close range with plenty of prep time (already drawn weapon, two handed grip). I think folk underestimate just how fast dogs can be and how different their anatomy is.

 

[joe_security]

I think KodiakBeer nailed it in post #2. We are on our own in this life and must protect ourselves. Counting on the Police just isnt enough in this day and age. We are living in a time when Police Officers are being laid off due to the economy.

 

[CoRoMo]

The only thing my dogs serve as is early alarm.

Yep. They are potty trained, and they obey me when I give them minor commands, but that is about it. The main reason I finance their existence is the VERY acute sensory abilities they have. They let me know when the slightest thing is out of place or not going as usual.

Dogs could have given a warning to the homeowners that something was not right, similar to a home security/alarm system.

 

[oldbanjo]

You can put in an alarm without drilling any holes. You could have motion detectors sitting on a shelf. Mine goes of and calls me. I don't know what apartment rules are, but I could make something work and not bother others. Look up SKYLINK.

 

[Lord Teapot]

First, this 2007 incident(s) was a horrific tragic series of brutal crimes. For those who don't know, a family of 4 was devestated by two brutal predators/men in CT. The mother and two daughters were followed home by one of the men, who got his partner and hatched home invasion plan.

They snuck into the families home and surprised them, beat and tied up the father (the only survivor). He said the he awoke from the pains of someone beating on his head and body with a blunt instrument. The beatings knocked him unconscious and he lost 7 pints of blood. The mom/wife was forced to withdraw $15,000 from a bank. She was then beaten and raped and murdered. His daughters were tied up, beaten and at least one was raped. At some point near the end of the ordeal, despite being tied up the dad was unattended and in and out of consciousness but managed to escape to the neighbors. At the end, the thugs poured fuel on the victims and burned them alive and the house.

One of them received the death penalty today.

Now, on to lessons learned. What could have been done to prevent this horrific event? This should be a learning point for us and our families.

Here are my suggestions:
1. Some sort of alarm system and simple door barricade system, a dog, a loud bird, etc. Something that will awaken residents when someone enters the home in the middle of the day/night. You must have that time to react and arm yourself, call 911, whatever your emergency plan is... you must have time to implement it.

2. Lock doors and windows. Sure, people can pick these but why make it easy?

3. Close and lock your bedroom or other interior doors. Again, why make it easy?

4. Own and train with guns and have them immediately accessible and loaded.

Implementing these simple techniques would likely have saved this family.

i feel sorry for that man, he must feel very bad that we has unable to protect his family, which he could have done if he valued his 2nd amendment rights more.

 

[uspJ]

i feel sorry for that man, he must feel very bad that we has unable to protect his family, which he could have done if he valued his 2nd amendment rights more.

Do you really think having a gun with you is going to help when an intruder attacks you with a blunt object in your sleep? Is the gun going to warn you tht dangerous people are on your property? Is a gun going to prevent them from gaining access into the home without your knowledge?

The father was beaten untill he unconscious and left for dead. An alarm system and a hardened home would have benefited him more, a dog that barked at strangers would have been better. Motion lights would have provided at least some type of warning. Show me a gun that makes up for poor awareness and I'll buy two.

 

[Leanwolf]

"They snuck into the families home and surprised them, beat and tied up the father (the only survivor)."

I can't remember if the criminals broke into the house forcefully, or if a door were left unlocked. (???)

Anyone know the method of "entry?"

L.W.