Read the full article on KETV 7
A family in Arkansas was stunned after making a startling find inside their home – a stranger who had been living in their basement. The Hoggatt family of Searcy, Arkansas, told KTHV that something inside the home didn’t feel quite right. “We noticed that chairs had been moved around in the house,” homeowner Dutch Hoggatt told the station. “We noticed that some of our food was missing.”Hoggatt shared his concern with other family members, who decided to search the house one Sunday while he was away at church. Hoggatt’s wife, Sharon, headed down to the basement.”She went further into the closet, and that’s when I saw her eyes get really big,” the Hoggatt’s son-in-law Mark Gregory, told the station. “And she starts to back out, and she says, ‘there’s someone in there. I see their leg or their jeans or something.’”The intruder stepped out, telling the family he was homeless.”I could tell he wasn’t really a threat, but I had him step outside, and then I sat him down, and I just talked to him for a little while, till the police came,” Gregory said.Investigators say the man entered the home sometime during the previous week, fashioning a makeshift bed in a storage closet under the stairs. Despite the jarring discovery, the Hoggatts told the station they’re not angry at their surprise visitor. Instead, they feel empathy.”We’re not angry at this man,” Hoggatt said. “I feel sorry for the man. I’m glad we figured out there was somebody living in the house, because this could have gone on for much longer than it did.””I don’t think he was trying to be a bad guy,” Gregory said. “There’s plenty of opportunities where he could have, you know, taken things. It seemed like he was just trying to get out of the elements, trying to survive.”The 41-year-old man was taken into custody by local authorities.
A family in Arkansas was stunned after making a startling find inside their home – a stranger who had been living in their basement.
The Hoggatt family of Searcy, Arkansas, told KTHV that something inside the home didn’t feel quite right.
Advertisement
“We noticed that chairs had been moved around in the house,” homeowner Dutch Hoggatt told the station. “We noticed that some of our food was missing.”
Hoggatt shared his concern with other family members, who decided to search the house one Sunday while he was away at church.
Hoggatt’s wife, Sharon, headed down to the basement.
“She went further into the closet, and that’s when I saw her eyes get really big,” the Hoggatt’s son-in-law Mark Gregory, told the station. “And she starts to back out, and she says, ‘there’s someone in there. I see their leg or their jeans or something.’”
The intruder stepped out, telling the family he was homeless.
“I could tell he wasn’t really a threat, but I had him step outside, and then I sat him down, and I just talked to him for a little while, till the police came,” Gregory said.
Investigators say the man entered the home sometime during the previous week, fashioning a makeshift bed in a storage closet under the stairs.
Despite the jarring discovery, the Hoggatts told the station they’re not angry at their surprise visitor. Instead, they feel empathy.
“We’re not angry at this man,” Hoggatt said. “I feel sorry for the man. I’m glad we figured out there was somebody living in the house, because this could have gone on for much longer than it did.”
“I don’t think he was trying to be a bad guy,” Gregory said. “There’s plenty of opportunities where he could have, you know, taken things. It seemed like he was just trying to get out of the elements, trying to survive.”
The 41-year-old man was taken into custody by local authorities.
