Burglar dies after elderly man duct tapes his mouth and ties him to a tree
- 8 years ago
LEROY, ALABAMA — An alleged burglar is dead after he was tied to tree and duct taped by a homeowner last Friday night.
In an attempt to stop a string of break-ins at his mobile home, 68-year-old Nathanial Johnson set a trap, according to Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer.
Johnson parked his car at a neighbor’s house on Friday night and then went back to his residence and waited.
Deputies say Johnson was waiting inside with the lights off, and used an old sideview car mirror to monitor his back door through a window.
Johnson told authorities he heard someone knock on the front door later that night. When no one answered, the suspect proceeded to the back door and broke the lock.
Johnson then confronted the burglar, identified as 31-year-old Cleveland Jones Gully, at the door and chased him outside.
The homeowner tackled Gully and tied his hands behind his back. He put duct tape on Gully’s mouth and then tied him to a tree with electrical tape and clothesline, Stringer said.
Johnson then went to his neighbor’s house to call the police.
However, when the police arrived about 10 minutes later, Gully was dead, Stringer said.
No criminal charges have been filed yet against Johnson.
In an attempt to stop a string of break-ins at his mobile home, 68-year-old Nathanial Johnson set a trap, according to Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer.
Johnson parked his car at a neighbor’s house on Friday night and then went back to his residence and waited.
Deputies say Johnson was waiting inside with the lights off, and used an old sideview car mirror to monitor his back door through a window.
Johnson told authorities he heard someone knock on the front door later that night. When no one answered, the suspect proceeded to the back door and broke the lock.
Johnson then confronted the burglar, identified as 31-year-old Cleveland Jones Gully, at the door and chased him outside.
The homeowner tackled Gully and tied his hands behind his back. He put duct tape on Gully’s mouth and then tied him to a tree with electrical tape and clothesline, Stringer said.
Johnson then went to his neighbor’s house to call the police.
However, when the police arrived about 10 minutes later, Gully was dead, Stringer said.
No criminal charges have been filed yet against Johnson.