MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - It's a story neighbors say that’s usually reserved for scary movies. Shelby County deputies say six armed men wearing ski masks, waited inside a home in the 4700-block of Buttermilk Drive in southeast Memphis.
Around 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 8, the homeowners, a husband and wife, walked in and noticed their bedroom out of order. That's when deputies say the six men came out and demanded money. The couple was duct taped around their feet, wrists, and mouths. The wife told deputies she was sexually assaulted. Three horrifying hours later she was able to cut herself free, run to a neighbor's house, and call 911.
"It's scary and I think I need to move because I have daughters and nieces that stay with me,” said a neighbor down the street, Tyshal Boone.
When deputies arrived the suspects were long gone and they found the husband outside disoriented because of a head injury. He told deputies one of the suspects struck him in the head with a handgun.
"I saw him this morning when he was moving his work van and I was like is everything ok? And he was like ‘yes’ and I went on to my house but I didn't know that's what happened,” said Boone.
Neighbors say it's hard to believe this was a random act of violence.
"They had to know them,” said another neighbor John Shannon. “The only things I see are officers coming through here once in a while but other than that no problems."
"That's not the first time the police have been to that house so there's no telling what's going on,” said Boone. “I hope they catch them. I hope and pray they catch them. That's not fair and no way to do that to anybody."
Deputies are not saying what was stolen, just that the suspects took off in the victims' 2006 Chevy Express Van. If you have any information that could help investigators, call the Shelby County Sheriff's Detective Unit at (901) 222-5600.
