(Update 6 p.m.) – Four people are in custody and a fifth defendant is being sought after an elderly man was allegedly tied up in his own home in Andrew County and robbed at gun point Tuesday afternoon.
Tiffany Cruz, 35, Bradley Henley, 28, Jason Laughlin, 36 all of St. Joseph and Eileen Schussler, 20 of Wathena are all charged with more than half a dozen felonies in Andrew County including felonies for first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, first-degree burglary, felonious restraint and unlawful use of a weapon.
According to court documents, shortly after noon the Andrew County Sheriff’s Department responded to a residential alarm in the 14400 block of County Road 417. Investigator Grant Gillett with the department said a 911 call advised that a resident had just been robbed at gun point and was tied up.
“He advised that two females first came to his house and requested to use his phone, they advised him that their vehicle broke down while mushroom hunting,” Gillet said. “Once they got the phone they advised Robert they could not get a cell phone signal and told him they were going to the road to get cell service.”
Then Gillett said the resident reportedly heard a knock on his back door and went to check to see if the women had brought his phone back.
“Once he made it to the door three males pushed their way into his house. Robert advised all were wearing dark colored clothing with what he described as mask over their faces,” Gillett said. “Robert advised they all had firearms and once inside they pushed him to the ground and then tied him up with rope from inside the house. Robert stated one of the males stood over him with a gun while the other two males stole stuff from his residence.”
Items reported stolen included prescription medication, tools, and firearms.
“Robert stated that once the males took off from the residence he was able to get himself up off the ground. While trying to get untied a family friend showed up to see how he was doing and discovered he was tied up and what had happened,” Gillett said. “Robert did suffer injuries from being tied up and pushed to the ground.”
The suspect vehicle was allegedly found in the area of County Road 417 with one of the stolen firearms inside, a saw and several rounds of ammunition.
Two women were later arrested.
“The females who were arrested at the scene provided information to officers who the three male suspects were. This information matches information found in the suspect vehicle that was left roadside,” Gillett said.
He said Henley and Laughlin were arrested around 5:20 p.m. near I-29 and State Route CC.
“Both suspects were covered in mud and soak as if they had been running for a long period of time,” Gillett said.
A fifth suspect has also been charged but as of 6 p.m. Wednesday authorities were still searching for his whereabouts. The four suspects in custody are currently being held in the Andrew County Jail without bond. They are set to be arraigned in Andrew County Associate Court on Thursday April 28th at 9 am.
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