An Arkansas family was shocked to discover a stranger secretly living in a closet inside their home. Preston Landis, 27, now faces charges of residential burglary and theft of property after he was found hiding in a basement closet of a Searcy home on April 29.
Missing Person Alert and Unusual Signs at Home
Landis had been reported missing by his mother on April 28 after she last saw him around 6 a.m., walking toward the edge of their property. Despite being entered into a missing person system, authorities were unable to locate him. Meanwhile, at the nearby home of Harding University Professor Dutch Hoggatt and his wife, Sharon, strange signs began to appear.
They noticed that food was disappearing, chairs had been moved, and personal items, like Hoggatt’s work shoes, were missing. Their daughter, Cherisse Gregory, suggested that the couple’s suspicions were not just in their heads, prompting them to investigate further.
Discovery of the Hidden Houseguest
On the night of April 29, Cherisse and her husband Mark Gregory decided to search the house. Mark, armed with a baseball bat and a gun for protection, ventured into the basement.
When Sharon opened an interior closet, she noticed a pair of jeans and, to her shock, saw Landis hiding in the back of the closet. Mark entered the room and confronted Landis, who was reportedly cooperative and explained that he had been trying to stay out of the severe weather.
Mark said he felt a bit sorry for Landis despite the wrongdoing, as he appeared to be struggling. Landis, who had made a makeshift sleeping area inside the closet, apologized to the family before his arrest.
Arrest and Charges
The family called 911 around 6:55 p.m. that evening. Deputies arrived to find Landis seated outside, guarded by one of the family members. Upon arrest, police discovered food and clothing items from the Hoggatt’s house in his pockets. A pillow and makeshift bedding were also found in the closet where he had been hiding.
Despite the unsettling situation, Dutch Hoggatt said the family did not harbor anger toward Landis. “We’re not angry at this man,” he told KTHV. “I feel sorry for the man. I’m glad we figured out there was somebody living in the house because this could have gone on for much longer than it did.”
Legal Proceedings
Preston Landis was taken to the White County Detention Center, where he is being held on a $15,000 bond. It is currently unclear whether he has retained an attorney. The charges against him include residential burglary and theft of property after his secret stay in the family’s home.
