Police: Home Invasion Suspect Forced Woman To Drive To ATM, Take Out Money

BURRELL TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – Police are investigating after a man forced his way into a home and forced a woman inside to drive to an ATM to take out money.

According to police, the incident started at a home on Chestnut Ridge Road in Burrell Township around 10 a.m. Sunday.

A man knocked on the door of the home and forced his way inside when a 73-year-old woman answered.

"An individual comes to her door, she opens the door, and she's accosted at gunpoint," said Indiana County District Attorney Patrick Dougherty.

The suspect demanded money and threatened to kill the woman. The woman said there was no money in the house and led the suspect around to prove it.

"When she informs him she has no cash in the house, he wanted to look in her safe, she takes him to the safe, no money in the safe," Dougherty said.

At that point, she said she would drive to an ATM in order to get the suspect some money.

The two got into her car and drove to the S&T Bank in Blairsville, near Route 22. Once there, the woman took out $300 and handed it to the suspect.

The suspect then demanded to be dropped off near the Chestnut Ridge Golf Course and the woman complied. Once there, he ran away.

He was described as being African-American and wearing a tan winter beanie with a dark hoodie and jeans. He is also believed to be about 5-feet-8-inches tall with a slender build and facial stubble.

Dougherty says investigators do not believe that the incident was a random encounter. They say there are some clues pointing to the suspect knowing a relative of the victim.

"I'm very optimistic an arrest will be made in the near future," he said.

Investigators say the whole ordeal may have been over drug money.

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