WALES -- A home invasion turned deadly in the Village of Wales when a burglar and the homeowner got into a fight. The 33-year-old intruder was pronounced dead at the hospital. It happened near Dylan and Criglas Road Wednesday night.
The homeowner told TODAY'S TMJ4 they were eating dinner when they heard someone at their side door. The homeowner said her 76-year-old husband went to go check and found a stranger trying to break in.
The owners have lived in their two-story home that's tucked away in the woods for the past 43 years. They hadn't worried about their safety until Wednesday night when a man broke through their side door.
"This is kind of a quiet area and you don't expect that, invasion of privacy," said neighbor Roger Knutson.
Knutson is also a friend of the victims. He was shocked he didn't hear any commotion.
"That's not very pleasant for anyone," he said.
Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson said the homeowner stopped the burglar just steps into their entryway.
"He pushed his way in, the fight was on and it lasted a very short time," Severson said.
Although no weapons were involved, Severson said the intruder suddenly collapsed and became unconscious. Despite lifesaving efforts by the homeowner and deputies, the 33-year-old man was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"The act of making forced entry into this occupied residence may have been induced by or contributed to drug use," he said.
Severson said the community should be at ease as this is believed to be a lone act.
It makes Knutson wonder how he would have handled the frightening scenario.
"You don't know how you would react to a situation like that, or what you should or could do," he said. "If he would have been armed that would have been a disaster."
The Waukesha County Sheriff's Office has not released the name of the man who died.
