Elderly Woman Tied To Chair, House Set On Fire During Kaufman County Robbery
CRANDALL, TX (CBSDFW.COM) —The search continues for a woman accused of robbing an elderly woman at gunpoint, tying her to a chair, and then setting fire to her Kaufman County home last week.
According to the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, the 78-year-old told investigators that she answered her door just after 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 15, to find the suspect pointing a pistol at her.
She said the suspect — described as a woman — pushed her way into the house, demanded money and tied her to a chair. The suspect then rummaged through the house and — before leaving — set a fire in the kitchen, leaving the victim tied to the chair.
"I come out on my porch and I just noticed some smoke coming out of the roof, around the front of the house," said neighbor Donna Beeman.
She immediately called another neighbor, Melissa Davis, then 911. Davis ran to the side door of the home.
"So I open it and smoke comes out and I see flames on the kitchen floor," Davis said. "I try to walk, I got into the kitchen, but it was burning my eyes, my nose and I just couldn't do it."
That's when Beeman kicked in the front door, but the smoke was so bad they couldn't get inside.
"She's screaming and we're both hollering for her, so I run to the end of the street and try to wave somebody down," said Davis.
A good Samaritan stopped and ran inside, where he found the woman tied to a chair. He tried to free her, and he was eventually able to get her outside with the help of a Crandall firefighter.
"She looked really bad," said Beeman. "I was afraid she was already deceased, but she was moving her eyes a little bit."
The woman spent several days in the ICU, but she is reportedly doing better.
"Just imagining what she went through, it breaks my heart," said Davis.
The suspect is being sought for attempted capital murder, aggravated robbery and arson causing serious bodily injury. Officials said she was wearing a black hoodie at the time and was described as heavy-set with strawberry hair and wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator J. Weisbruch at 972-932-9735, Texas Ranger Matlock at 214-861-2370 or submit a tip to 877-TIPSKCC (847-7522.
The Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation.