NEWTON COUNTY, MO.--- At around 2 a.m. this morning, the owners of a rural home near Granby became victims of a home invasion.
"They heard someone banging on the front door, then the front door was kicked in. Before they were even able to get out of bed there were four assailants coming into their bedroom," says Ken Copeland, Newton County Sheriff.
The victims described all the suspects as black males, each with a handgun.
"They took the husband into the bathroom. They beat him severely. He had to go to the hospital but he's since been treated and released," says Copeland.
The female victim was threatened several times but not injured. The couple's 3-month-old baby and 3-year-old child were also in the home, but not injured. Authorities say the suspects kept calling the wife by the wrong name.
"At this time, we have evidence, possibly, that the assailants have picked the wrong residence. They kept demanding a large sum of money and crack, a drug. The homeowners had neither," says Copeland.
The burglars did steal some credit cards and cash from a purse. While they were looking for the money, the victims were able to flee.
"The husband and wife were able to take the kids, go out the back, run across the field and to a neighbors residence," says Copeland.
Sheriff Copeland says they are currently searching for a woman in the area with the name the suspects kept repeating. They are also working with surrounding sheriff and police departments to help locate the burglars. If anyone has any information on this case, they're asked to contact the Newton County Sheriff's Office.
