Hampton man thanks her, then steals her cash and car, leaving behind muddy slippers; charged with burglary, auto theft
A Hampton man is in custody on burglary and vehicle theft charges from a Jan. 25 incident at a residence on Ga. Highway 92 South. Confronted by the homeowner after she awoke and found him eating from the kitchen, the man thanked her before leaving and stealing her vehicle.
Above, Jason C. Duke. Photo/Fayette County Jail.
Jason C. Duke, 35, was charged with burglary and theft by taking, according to Sheriff Barry Babb.
Babb said the female resident at approximately 11:15 p.m. awoke from sleep in a recliner in the living room to find Duke standing behind her, eating food from the kitchen.
The woman asked the man who he was, telling him that he was not supposed to be in her home, with the man responding that his name was Jason and saying that he knew he should not be there, said Babb.
The woman told Duke to leave. He replied, “Thanks for keeping me warm,” as he left the house, Babb said.
Once Duke was gone, the woman locked the door and walked around the house, noticing that all the lights were on. Then she looked out a window and saw that her Ford Edge was missing, Babb said, adding that deputies were then called to the residence.
Babb said deputies arriving at the scene found that an exterior door had been forced open. The door appeared to have been forced open with a shovel that had been located outside the residence.
A search of the house determined that her car keys were missing, along with a cordless phone and $65 from her wallet, though the cards and other items in the wallet were left in the wallet.
The search of the home determined that Duke had eaten peanuts and snack cakes while in the kitchen, said Babb.
Investigators found a pair of muddy slippers in the house. The slippers did not belong to the resident, Babb said. Prints matching those made by the slippers were found outside the residence, leading from the wood line to the residence.
The sheriff’s office on Jan. 29 learned that the Ford Edge had been recovered in Spalding County.
Babb said evidence gathered at the scene led to Duke’s arrest in McDonough on Jan. 31.
