Sheriff’s office looking for suspect in break-in
Published 12:45 pm Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Deputy R.W. Busching at the scene of a burglary at Southampton Meadows. An unidentified burglar entered the residence of Phillip Everette and took an undisclosed amount of cash. Everette suffered head injuries during the break in and is in an area hospital. — Cain Madden | Tidewater News
FRANKLIN—A 67-year-old paralyzed man was the victim of a break-in at Southampton Meadows trailer park late Monday night.
A burglar broke in through the back door of the home of Phillip Everett, 67, in Southampton Meadows. Everett suffered head lacerations during the assualt and was transported to Southampton Memorial Hospital. — Cain Madden | Tidewater News
Phillip Everette, the victim, was struck in the head during the break-in, and according to Southampton Memorial Hospital’s assistant chief executive officer Kim Marks, he was treated and released.
A burglar entered Everette’s residence during the night, breaking a window in the back door to gain entry, said Major Gene Drewery, spokesman for the Southampton Sheriff’s Office. The burglar took a large amount of cash — the sheriff’s office was not willing to release the exact amount at this time. Cash was the only thing missing, Drewery said.
He said that the phone and power lines had been cut, however the sheriff’s office could not confirm that the lines were cut by the burglar. Drewery said that the break-in occurred sometime between 11 p.m. and 7:45 a.m., when the nurse who takes care of Everette found him and called the sheriff’s office.
Drewery said Everette suffered lacerations to the head and tests are being done to determine the extent of the injuries. Everette was believed to have been struck by a fence picket. Everette could not identify the burglar by race, or whether the person was male or female, Drewery said. The nurse told the sheriff’s office that Everette was awakened when he was struck in the head.
Neighbors said that it must have been someone that knew him, to know that he kept a large amount of cash.
Everette, who lived alone in his double-wide trailer, was paralyzed from the neck down and received assistance from nurses.
Louise Richmond, who is a neighbor who also used to be one of Everette’s nurses, said that Everette was a good man who didn’t bother anyone.
“He stayed to himself,” she said.
Drewery said that his family, who did not wish to speak to the media, came to visit following the incident.
There are no suspects at this point, and the sheriff’s office is looking for tips. If you have any information, call the sheriff’s office at 653-2100, the crime line at 653-2900, or on the sheriff’s office website at www.shso.org.
