Infant, toddler threatened in Houston home invasion

February 24, 2006

MARY AMES\Frontiersman reporter

HOUSTON - Two men wearing ski masks entered a home through an unlocked door early Thursday, poured gasoline on a 6-month-old baby and a 3-year-old child, held a knife to the throat of an adult and yelled for the people in the house to give them money, according to Houston Police Chief John Rhyshek.

One of the three adults in the home fought off the men and another called 911, Rhyshek said. The intruders sped away in their blue Ford sport-utility vehicle, but no one at the house was able to follow the Ford because the would-be thieves had flattened the tires on the residents' car before they entered the house, he said.

Shortly after driving away, the intruders' SUV veered into a ditch. They went to a nearby house, knocked on the door and asked the homeowner to pull them out, Rhyshek said, but the woman in the house locked the door and called 911 herself.

Rhyshek said his response to the first 911 call was so fast that he drove by the neighbor's house while the men were still there.

&#8220They were at the lady's door when I drove past,” he said. &#8220Obviously, I wasn't looking for them on foot. She called because as soon as they saw my car, they ran off.”

Ryshek put out a be-on-the-lookout call to the Alaska State Troopers with the men's direction of travel and description. Emergency responders took care of the children who had been doused with gasoline, he said. The ditched Ford was impounded and Rhyshek was waiting for a search warrant before he looked through the SUV.

&#8220We know who owns and who had custody of the vehicle,” Rhyshek said. &#8220There were numerous items of drug paraphernalia in plain sight. This was done for drug money.”

Rhyshek said he believed the assailants knew that someone at the house had just received money from a tax return, and deliberately targeted the house.

&#8220It wasn't random,” he said.

Rhyshek said he is looking for Barret Adam Ray, 26, and Matthew Marr, 22, in connection with the attempted robbery. He described them both as white, with dark hair, and said they were wearing camouflage coats.

Ray is wanted in Anchorage on a 2001 shoplifting charge and two warrants for failing to appear for court dates, according to court records.

Marr was charged with second-degree theft in Palmer District Court last August, records show, but a prosecutor dismissed the charge Dec. 16.

Anyone with information on Ray or Marr should contact Houston Police at 892-6447, or Crimestoppers at 745-3333.

Contact Mary Ames at

352-2284 or mary.ames@

frontiersman.com.