OLYMPIA, Wash. — Melissa Kerson said she and her husband have not been very good at locking their back doors.
That won’t be the case after what happened Monday night.
“It’s the most terrifying thing that ever happened to me,” Kerson said.
Her husband was out with friends when around 11:30 p.m., Kerson said she was awoken by the voice of a stranger coming from inside her home.
She said he was yelling and asked if anyone was home.
“I said, ‘I’m here, go away!'" Kerson said.
Kerson said she took her daughter into an upstairs bathroom, locked the door, and she called 911.
She said she could hear the man opening doors, yelling, and saying he needed to take a shower.
Kerson was worried about her eight-year-old son, who was asleep in his bedroom.
She describes her son as “non-verbal autistic.”
When police arrived at the home about five minutes later, Kerson said they found the intruder, naked taking a shower in the downstairs bathroom.
Detectives believe the man was under the influence and said he was wanted on a warrant for failing to check in with his probation officer. The man has prior assault convictions, according to the Department of Corrections.
KING 5 News is not identifying the 31-year-old man unless he is charged. A Thurston County judge ordered the man held on $20,000 bail following his preliminary appearance Tuesday afternoon. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 14.
Kerson said she never saw the man, and he didn't steal anything.
“I kind of feel he wanted to be arrested,” Kerson said. “Clearly he’s not doing well in life.”
Kerson said she was grateful no one was hurt.