By Erika Hernandez
A couple living in Searcy, Arkansas, discovered that a man had been living in the basement of their home for several daysafter noticing the disappearance of food, clothing and the inexplicable movement of objects within the home.
The owners, Dutch Hoggatt and his wife Sharon, began to suspect something was wrong when Everyday items—like shoes and food—were disappearing without explanation. They even observed changes in the arrangement of furniture and doors secured without having been tampered with, according to KTHV.
For several days, the situation generated confusion in the family, who came to think that it was a matter of memory failure or confusion.
Discovery in the basement
The situation took a turn when family members went to the home to inspect it. During the review, Sharon Hoggatt detected the presence of a person hiding in a storage area in the basement.
The individual, identified as Preston Landis, 41, was hiding under a staircase, where he had improvised a sleeping space.
After being confronted, The man left the hiding place and left the house before the authorities arrived.
According to family testimony, Landis initially entered the house to take refuge from adverse weather conditions. Later, he settled in the basement, from where he accessed the rest of the house to eat and take clothes.
Security footage captured the suspect walking around the house at night, wearing only shorts.
The man was arrested by the White County Sheriff’s Office and faces charges of burglary and theft. His bail was set at $15,000.
Family reaction
Despite what happened, The owners stated that they did not feel anger toward the intruder. They indicated that, although food and some belongings were stolen, there were no losses of valuables.
The family even expressed compassion for the detainee’s situation, noting that he was apparently seeking refuge rather than causing harm.
The Hoggatts acknowledged that the discovery prevented the situation from spreading longer, which would have increased the risks.
Keep reading:
– Couple murdered in Arkansas state park identified: search for suspect continues
– Double homicide in Arkansas state park: police search for armed suspect
–Arkansas police release image of dangerous man wanted for the crime of a couple in a state park
