Cops: Intruder was living in family’s attic

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May 5

Stanley Carter, 21, allegedly slept in attic, ate food, wore clothes of Plains Twp. family.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

PLAINS TWP. – A male intruder slept in the attic of a township home by wrapping himself with blankets and insulation, and stealing food and clothing when the homeowner and her family were away, township police said.

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Police said Stanley Carter, 21, of Arkansas, surrendered after he heard a police canine inside Stacey Ferrance’s home on Wyoming Street Friday afternoon.

“When he came down from the attic, he was wearing my daughter’s pants and my sweatshirt and sneakers,” Ferrance said. “It’s not something I would expect, someone living in my attic. It’s disturbing.”

Carter was charged with several counts of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass. He was arraigned Friday night by District Judge Gerald Feissner in Freeland and remained jailed Saturday at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $25,000 bail.

“It appears he was staying in the attic for a few days,” Sgt. Ron Dombroski said. “He was stealing items from the home and taking it all in the attic. It’s a double block home with a shared attic.”

Dombroski said Carter formerly stayed with Ferrance’s neighbors.

Ferrance believed her neighbors reported Carter missing on Dec. 19.

She didn’t know Carter was staying in her attic, and dismissed noises thinking they were caused by her three children.

“From what I gather, he was helping himself to my home, eating my food and stealing my clothes,” Ferrance said. “He had free reign on my home when I was at work.”

Ferrance said she suspected something was wrong when she noticed her laptop computer and iPod were missing on Christmas. She filed a police report, and her family left the home to visit family Christmas night.

“When we got home around 11 p.m. on Christmas, the charger for the iPod was missing and my back door was wide open,” Ferrance said.

Ferrance said she stayed at her mother’s residence with her children Christmas night, and her fianc�, Scott Martin, stayed behind. Martin was shopping on Friday to buy new locks for Ferrance’s doors.

Ferrance said her father, Robert Ferrance, suggested she check the door to the attic, which is in Ferrance’s bedroom closet. That’s when Ferrance discovered foot prints on the wall going up to the attic, she said.

“I immediately phoned police,” Ferrance said.

Ferrance said police searched her neighbor’s residence and discovered that the door to the attic wouldn’t open. While they were checking Ferrance’s attic door, they heard footsteps and the door was pushed closed, indicating someone was in the attic.

Swoyersville police canine Gas assisted in searching Ferrance’s home.

“Police were yelling up there but they weren’t getting a response,” Ferrance said. “They called the canine in and when he heard the canine barking, that’s when he surrendered.”

Ferrance said Martin went up to the attic and found the laptop computer, iPod, food and blankets.

“He had everything up there,” she said. “He had candles, food; he wrapped himself in blankets and insulation to sleep.” Dombroski said a preliminary hearing is scheduled on Jan. 5 in Central Court.

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Jitters said...

Strange bird, this boy. Straaaaange bird.

December 28, 2008 at 2:25 AM

Jeff said...

Now that's one scary situation. Imagine someone you don't know living in your home , and you're completely unaware of it. Thank God this kid wasn't one of violence. If Ferrance is going to continue to live there with her children, she'd be smart to have the attic partitioned off....With no doors.

December 28, 2008 at 7:01 AM

Pringle Hill said...

What a Christmas surprise, this guy appears to be mentally unbalanced, how does locking him up in the county prison resolve anything?

December 28, 2008 at 7:22 AM

mike said...

its definitley unnerving to say the least. i hope they give gas a big bone he deserves it for showing the hoodlum the way out

December 28, 2008 at 10:11 AM

Pete said...

Gees, where is Sister Adriane when you need her. One more scum bag needed help before she retired.

December 28, 2008 at 10:17 AM

huh? said...

This is a weird story.. But what is even weirder is that this newspaper can't put a decent photo on it's website.. Who the hell could see the picture that goes with this story? Hey TL.. we live in the age of DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY... I am willing to bet that the picture wasn't taken with a camera that used film.. why not put good pictures in your online new articles?

December 28, 2008 at 12:31 PM

jhank said...

nothing like a sneaky thief

December 28, 2008 at 5:20 PM

What..??? said...

What kind of drugs are you doing when you can't sense someone is living in your house, your home ...your attic FOR A WEEK!!!. Heck I can smell people even when I don't see them.. WTF????

December 28, 2008 at 7:12 PM

Stephanie said...

Wow I know STacey and went to school with Scott.. Wow that is freaky I would flip out? Why was he hiding, WHy did the neighbors report him missing? Whats that all about

December 28, 2008 at 11:29 PM

creepydude said...

HEY! That's taken straight outa my book...'The Arkansas Stalker's manual'!

December 29, 2008 at 5:42 AM

Barry said...

Not as bad as the case in Japan where a chick lived in a dude's closet for like a year before he found out.

December 29, 2008 at 9:36 AM

Red Ed said...

Now what do you mean by giving Gas a big bone?

December 29, 2008 at 9:59 AM

relic said...

young man looks beaten in the photo

December 29, 2008 at 10:10 AM

The Laugher said...

I wanna see him walk up the wall. @Red Ed, Stop thinking like I do.lol

December 29, 2008 at 11:13 AM

david said...

reminds me of the book "crawlspace" by Herbert Lieberman

December 29, 2008 at 5:12 PM

LSH said...

Totally "Bad Ronald."

December 29, 2008 at 6:20 PM

ME said...

I believe different this man was homless and lonley obviously and just needed somewhere to stay.

December 29, 2008 at 9:18 PM

John Senchack I approve this message said...

THIS GUY IS LIKE A BAD 80s MOVIE

December 30, 2008 at 12:23 AM

Dave M said...

well, he'll have three hots and a cot with clothing to boot now...

December 30, 2008 at 4:56 AM

Oh Really? said...

Thats fine and dandy to believe that ME but I think he really crossed the line when he stole a LAPTOP AND IPOD.

December 30, 2008 at 7:05 AM

pop said...

To pringle Hill. and what do you suggest to do with this guy you bone head????

December 30, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Jao said...

Jeff, What would be the point? Like this sort of things is going to happen again? Locking her doors might be a good step, but partitioning stuff off? WTF man? It's stupid comments like that that remind me how someone can sneak into a house and live in an attic. [J]

December 30, 2008 at 7:56 PM

apple said...

as much as it's horrific to the person he was stealing from, it sounds like this person really needs some help. i'm sure he didn't want to be living in someone's attic. i am sure he would have liked his own home and his own food and his own real bed instead of insulation to sleep. i, too, would be angry if this were my home he had violated, but am i the only one who finds it kind of sad to hear of a person living this way?

January 1, 2009 at 12:34 PM

Swwoodsy said...

It reminds me of a Spanish movie I saw -- El Habitante Incierto - something like "Uninvited Guest." Same sort of thing - someone is living in the house without the home owners' knowledge. It was actually really creepy.

January 2, 2009 at 10:56 AM

KAROLYN said...

maybe if people would help people in nead this wouldnt happen god says love all i wouldnt have pressed charges i would have helped him if he needed it everyone needs love but some dont get it

January 5, 2009 at 1:36 AM

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