Armed robbers invade Deltona home, tie up victims while 7-year-old girl hides in bedroom

On November 29, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced that their detectives are investigating a Deltona, Florida, home invasion that occurred Saturday night, November 28,  when several armed, masked suspects entered a home and tied up several adults –  while a child hid undetected inside a locked bedroom.

The incident occurred just after 10 p.m. at a home in the 1400 block of Eden Drive when three men approached the open garage and confronted two victims, pointing guns at them and demanding they empty their pockets. The armed bandits then entered the home, retrieving other adult victims and bringing them to the garage where they tied the victims’ hands and made them sit down.

Deputies were called to the scene as the incident was in progress and, upon their arrival, heard the victims screaming in the garage.

As deputies approached, they observed suspects inside, rummaging through contents. At least one male was observed armed with a rifle.

Deputies ushered the victims to safety away from the home and then worked to establish a perimeter around the scene. And then they were alerted that a seven-year-old girl was hiding inside the house.

Deputies entered the home, searched for other suspects but found none. The child was located unhurt and was carried safely outside to her parents. The victims suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Eventually the three home invaders learned that someone inside the home had called 911. This prompted a large commotion. The armed suspects opened the garage door to flee – but were confronted by deputies.

One suspect was arrested in the driveway and two were captured in the backyard. They are identified as:

• Jermaine Oliver, 30, charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm, five counts of kidnapping while armed with a firearm, one count of kidnapping a child under 13 while armed with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;

• John Anderson, 39, charged with principal to home invasion robbery with a firearm, five counts of principal to kidnapping while armed with a firearm, and one count of principal to kidnapping a child under 13 while armed with a firearm;

• Derrick Mathis, 32, charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm, five counts of kidnapping while armed with a firearm, one count of kidnapping a child under 13 while armed with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The trio was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail and are all being held with no bail allowed.

Detectives feel that this home invasion was not random and is believed to have been a targeted attack.  The criminal investigation into the incident is active and ongoing.

(Source: Volusia Sheriff’s Office)
(Cover Photo, L-R, Derrick Mathis, John Anderson, Jermaine Olive, Image credit: Volusia Sheriff’s Office)

~  Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter