A northern Virginia couple survived a horrifying ordeal Tuesday morning. Three people held them hostage in their home.
The incident is the second recent home invasion in a Stafford neighborhood, which has authorities wondering if the suspects in Tuesday’s case were involved in the previous one.
About 2 a.m. two 16-year-olds and 18-year-old Terry Adolfo Welch forced their way into a home in the Widewater subdivision, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The doorbell rang several times, but before the husband and wife could get to the door, the teens were in the house.
The teens roughed up the couple and held the woman down while forcing the husband to lead them through the house at knifepoint, showing the teens the valuables.
Then the husband fought back.
"He was able to garner a knife somewhere in the kitchen area and then challenged the suspects,” said Bill Kennedy, of the sheriff’s office. “A fight ensued.”
The 16-year-olds were injured and the trio fled the scene. The 16-year-olds were caught a short time later. Then, hours later, Welch turned himself in to authorities.
“We're trying to determine why this house was selected,” Kennedy said. “It appears to be a random act.”
The teens were charged with breaking and entering, assault, and attempted robbery.
