Homeowner believes murder suspect broke into his home
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A homeowner claims a double homicide suspect broke into his home after that heinous crime.
Andrew Jackson showed FOX 5 News the guardrails, walls, and door frames where he said he found bloody handprints inside his DeKalb County home Sunday morning. He said he discovered the prints just after 10 a.m. which is when his security cameras captured a man breaking into his home off River Road. Jackson got the call from his security company on his way to church.
"I pulled in my driveway and immediately I just ran to the backyard and ran to the back door and of course I saw that my door was kicked in," Jackson told FOX 5’s Portia Bruner.
Jackson said the burglar stole an iPad from his bedroom nightstand, backpacks with important documents, and clothing as he left traces of blood from room to room.
"The police, when they got here, they took samples of those blood splatters. I didn't know what to think. I think I was probably in shock," Jackson said.
At 10:22 a.m. the video shows the man loading the stolen goods into a light car with blue racing stripes, very similar to the Mustang which Decatur Police said they were looking for as they searched for 36-year-old Royce Stewart, the man wanted for fatally stabbing his 14-year-old niece Shakiya Ward and her mother's boyfriend earlier Sunday morning. Jackson was alarmed when he realized the intruder even stole food from his refrigerator.
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"A gallon of tea there was some turkey packs of turkey that was missing, cheese. I guess he was planning to be on the run for a while and needed a stash of food and clothes," said Jackson.
About 12 hours after the double homicide at the Trinity Walk apartments, Decatur Police released photos Stewart. Jackson said the resemblance between the two men is uncanny, not to mention unnerving. DeKalb County Police and Decatur Police are still trying to confirm Jackson's suspicions. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will process the blood found inside his home. Jackson is grateful Stewart was caught the next day and even more grateful he wasn't there when the man broke into his home.
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"First of all, I feel violated and then to find out hours later that two people were killed and they are out looking for this individual as a suspect for these murders knowing that this individual was in my home that was really unsettling," Jackson added.
Stewart was arrested Monday afternoon after a brief chase with members of DeKalb County's Fugitive Squad. He is charged with two counts of malice murder and remained behind bars Thursday without bond at the DeKalb County Jail.
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