Thaddious White and his two

sons had just returned home from the batting cages when two armed gunmen

forced them into their home and tied them up with duct tape.

The Fayetteville resident still

recalls the fear that raced through his mind as he was struck in the head

with a gun. But after a jury's verdict last week, White can rest a little

better knowing that one of those men won't get out of jail for a long,

long time.

Thale Antaneal Brownlee was

sentenced to life in prison plus 85 years for burglary and kidnapping,

all because of a plastic wrapper he left behind and diligent work from

the Fayette County Sheriff's Department to analyze that piece of evidence.

"It just affirms to me

why we moved to this county," White said. "We can feel safe

and see justice prevail."

Although the Fayetteville Police

Department performed the initial investigation, the Sheriff's Department

got involved when White called a friend, Maj. Bruce Jordan, to clear news

crews from his front yard. Jordan and White knew each other their sons

played on the same little league baseball team.

Any resident of a city in Fayette

County can request the Sheriff's Department's assistance, Jordan said,

adding that his involvement was not a personal favor to White.

After getting the TV cameras

out of the way, Jordan came in to say hello when White's wife, Lydia,

pointed out the duct tape wrapper on the floor. He told them not to touch

it and he took it into evidence.

The wrapper was analyzed by

the department's crime scene unit, which uncovered a major break in the

case (see related story at left/right).

The White children still have

nightmares about the incident and they are in counseling to deal with

the emotional scars it left behind. For White, it has caused him to be

more alert to his surroundings.

White said the conviction will

bring some closure to the ordeal. He was also especially thankful for

the Sheriff's Department's work on the case, particularly the efforts

of Jordan.

"These guys, you can tell

they are a solid team," White said. "They are very professional.

... It makes me appreciate the county I live in."

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