3 charged in beating of 87-year-old Louisa woman
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/LOUI29_20100528-221006/347610/By Reed Williams
Published: May 29, 2010
LOUISA -- An intensive investigation and DNA evidence helped lead to the arrest of a 19-year-old man in a vicious attack on an 87-year-old woman in her home one week ago.
Authorities found Remone Jilantai Houchens hiding in an upstairs closet Thursday evening at his home in the town of Louisa and took him into custody after a struggle, said Louisa sheriff's Maj. Donald A. Lowe.
Houchens, who authorities believe is in a gang, had been free on bond from an arrest in January on a felony charge of having carnal knowledge of a child, according to a charging document.
Investigators charged Houchens with breaking and entering and malicious wounding in the attack on Lois Rosson early last Saturday morning. Her house in the 200 block of Elm Avenue is within about 100 yards of Houchens' apartment. Authorities have assigned no motive in the case.
The beating left Rosson with broken bones in her face, and she was hospitalized for several days. Rosson's son, Monte Rosson, said yesterday that his mother would lose sight in one eye, but he expressed gratitude that investigators had made an arrest.
"I felt I had the winning numbers to the lottery when I got the news," Monte Rosson said at a news conference yesterday.
Authorities were in high spirits yesterday, describing the outrage that coursed through the community after the attack, and expressing pride for the way the community pulled together.
"This is a very important day for us, to help bring closure to a vicious crime," said Louisa Sheriff Ashland Fortune, adding, "We're not going to put up with this in Louisa County."
Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Thomas A. Garrett Jr. vowed that his office would work tirelessly to make sure justice is done. "And it -- will -- be -- done," Garrett said, with emphasis.
In making the arrest, officials said they also charged Houchens' brother, Rontray Lemans Houchens, 22, and Linda Diane Houchens, 47, each with obstruction of justice. Officials did not disclose Linda Houchens' relationship to the brothers.
"When we went out to make that arrest last night, anybody that got in our way got arrested, too," Lowe said.
In an unrelated case, Remone Houchens was charged Feb. 7 with having carnal knowledge, without the use of force, of a 13-year-old child in connection with an alleged incident Jan. 6.
Louisa Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judge Susan L. Whitlock, the county's former commonwealth's attorney, released Houchens on $25,000 bond on March 3, court records show. A June 28 trial date is scheduled.
Houchens is scheduled to appear in Louisa General District Court on Tuesday on the charges related to the Rosson attack.
On the morning of April 23, Lois Rosson called 911 to report that someone had tried to break into her home, Lowe said. She told authorities she had heard a noise the night before and thought nothing of it until the next morning, when she found evidence of the attempted break-in.
Officials did not say yesterday whether they believe that incident is connected to the later beating of Rosson.
In the attack last Saturday, someone broke into Rosson's home shortly before 3 a.m., authorities said. A loud noise woke Rosson, and the intruder went into her bedroom and started beating her with his fists. He stole a .22-caliber revolver and left. Rosson called 911.
According to a police affidavit, blood found inside Rosson's home provided a DNA match implicating Remone Houchens, who already had been a person of interest in the case, authorities said yesterday.
Glass from the victim's home contained biological evidence, according to the affidavit, and glass fragments "were found tracked outside the victim's residence toward the suspect's residence." A bloodhound was used in the investigation.
On Wednesday, authorities also charged Rontray Houchens with three counts of drug distribution.
On Thursday, authorities executed at least two search warrants at the home of the Houchens brothers in the 200 block of McDonald Street. Investigators seized clothing, ammunition, two glass smoking devices, and some white, rocklike material, among other items.
Monte Rosson said yesterday that when the authorities came to his mother's home and told her that an arrest had been made, "Mom's first remarks were, 'Thank God, he won't be able to hurt anyone else.'"
Lowe said yesterday that investigators believe Remone Houchens is a gang member, but he did not elaborate.
Asked whether Houchens knows Lois Rosson or had any connection to her home, Lowe would only say, "They lived in close proximity to each other."
Authorities said their investigation was nowhere near finished, and they have not yet decided if anyone would get $10,000 in reward money that was being offered by the family, Louisa County and the town of Louisa.
Late yesterday afternoon, members of the rescue crew that responded to the attack on Rosson stopped by her house to see how she was doing.
"That particular call was pretty horrific," said Louisa Fire Chief Robert Dube. "And to see a lady get beat up at that age, I just feel like those guys, they just wanted to check on her."
