Denver Family’s Nightmarish Encounter with Intruder

A family in Denver experienced what many parents dread the most: waking up to find an unknown man entering their children’s room in the middle of the night.

In a conversation with a news outlet, Kevin and Sarah Root shared details of their frightening early morning ordeal at their home in southwest Denver. The incident took place around 3:30 AM.

“I heard footsteps coming up the stairs,” Kevin recalled. “We exchanged glances and thought, ‘Someone is in the house.’ It was a shock—this wasn’t a dream; it was happening.”

While Kevin checked the hallway, Sarah instinctively picked up her phone to call 911.

“What stands out most in my mind is the fear of what might happen when my husband opens the door,” she said. “It’s a gut-wrenching fear of the unknown.”

Kevin shouted for the intruder to leave, yet the man kept moving toward the bedroom where their sons were asleep.

“As he paused at the top of the stairs, I flung the door open, jumped down, and pushed him down the stairs as hard as I could,” he explained.

Police arrived minutes later and took the suspect into custody. Sarah described the agonizing wait on the phone with emergency dispatchers, all while trying to keep her son calm and guarding the front door.

“I kept asking if the police were really on their way,” she said. “Three minutes felt like three hours. But when I finally saw the patrol lights, relief washed over me. I knew we would be okay. Still, once the adrenaline faded, the tears came. The fear returned all at once.”

The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Charlie Cooley, facing a felony charge of second-degree robbery, marking his second robbery arrest this year.

Although Sarah didn’t suffer physical injuries, she admitted that recovering mentally has been a slow process.

“It’s been hard; sleep doesn’t come easily. Whenever I look at my bedroom door, that moment comes rushing back,” she mentioned. “It’s disheartening not to feel safe in your own home.”

Court records show Cooley was previously arrested for another felony robbery in September, and the Roots expressed their shock at learning he had been released just days later.

“Finding out about his past put me through a new wave of emotions,” Sarah said. “It’s unsettling that someone can commit such a violation and then return to the streets so quickly.”

According to the Denver District Attorney’s Office, bail was set at $5,000. Cooley posted the cash amount of $500 shortly after.

Kevin pointed out, “There were multiple infractions, yet he was let go both times. The reality is he’s back out there, and he has a history of this.” Despite this, he tries to channel his energy into gratitude rather than anger.

“I hope he gets the help he needs,” he added. “I believe he doesn’t truly want to live this way. Maybe this is his rock bottom.”

Despite the harrowing experience, Sarah expressed gratitude for how things turned out.

“I’m just relieved that no one was hurt, including him,” she stated. “We really hope justice will be served and that he’ll be placed in a situation where he can’t harm others.”

All four of their sons, meanwhile, slept through the entire episode and didn’t see the intruder.

“We never saw his face. Kevin couldn’t even picture him,” Sarah explained. “In a way, it’s a blessing; we’re not haunted by that image.”

Neighbors mentioned that the break-in had shaken their sense of safety. Denver Police are urging residents to lock their doors and windows, use outdoor lights, and report anything unusual right away.

The Denver District Attorney’s Office stated they are unable to comment on the case, noting that the lawsuit has not yet been resolved. A spokesperson clarified, “We prefer not to release records for ongoing cases to maintain the integrity of the proceedings.”