Denver Family Faces Nightmarish Intrusion

A family in Denver recently endured a frightening experience when they awoke to a stranger approaching their children’s bedroom in the middle of the night. This unsettling incident occurred around 3:30 a.m., as Kevin and Sarah Root recounted in an interview.

Kevin recalled hearing footsteps on the stairs leading to their bedroom. It was a moment of stark realization for the couple. “We looked at each other and said, ‘Someone came to the house.’ You realize you’re not dreaming; this is real,” he said.

In a rush, Sarah grabbed her phone and called 911 while Kevin stepped out to investigate the noise. “That’s what I remember most—the fear of what would happen when my husband opened the door,” Sarah shared. “Your intuition kicks in, and the fear of the unknown is really scary.”

Despite Kevin’s repeated shouts for the intruder to leave, the man continued toward the room where their sons were asleep. “When he stopped at the top of the stairs, I threw the door open, jumped out, and pushed him down the stairs as hard as I could,” Kevin said.

Police arrived shortly after, and while Sarah felt each minute tick by like an eternity on the phone with dispatchers, she kept her son close and monitored the front door. “I remember saying over and over again, ‘Are the police really going to come?’” she said. Once the police lights appeared, relief washed over her, though it was soon replaced by tears as the adrenaline faded.

The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Charlie Cooley, has been charged with second-degree robbery, marking his second arrest for robbery this year, according to records. Sarah expressed her anger upon discovering Cooley’s release shortly after his first arrest. “It’s disturbing that something so invasive and violating can happen, and that person is back on the streets,” she stated.

As for the process of healing, Sarah noted it has been slow, particularly in regard to feeling secure in her own home. “It was a process. Sleep was quite difficult. I still remember that moment when I look at my bedroom door,” she shared, conveying a sense of loss over the inability to feel safe.

Kevin expressed his frustration with Cooley’s history. “I committed multiple violations, but I was released both times,” he pointed out. The couple remains concerned about what this means for their neighborhood, where the break-in has shaken their neighbors’ sense of safety.

Despite the trauma, Kevin tries to approach the situation with compassion. “I hope he gets the help he needs. I think he doesn’t want to do this in his life. This is probably his rock bottom moment,” he said. Sarah added, “I’m so thankful no one was hurt, including him. We hope there is justice.”

It’s a grim reminder for local law enforcement, who are advising residents to keep doors and windows locked and to remain vigilant about any suspicious activity. While the Root family is dealing with the aftermath, they find some comfort in the fact that their children were unaware of the frightening experience.

The Denver District Attorney’s Office has not released any comments concerning the ongoing case. The community is left grappling with the consequences of this scare, hoping for a future where they can feel safe in their own homes once again.