A Cookeville man faces charges of aggravated burglary after allegedly entering his neighbor's apartment through a shared back porch, according to local authorities. The neighbor, upon returning home, reportedly heard her back door slam and subsequently found evidence of trespassing. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into the incident which occurred on Aug. 29, per an official press release.
Upon conducting the investigation detectives learned from the victim, Briley Abbott, that she had heard a noise shortly after entering her residence from the front door. The victim's apartment, located at 1770 S. Jefferson Ave., appeared to have had a dresser drawer rummaged through, although nothing was reported missing. Detectives pursued lines of inquiry that led them to Casey Sean McCully, the neighbor, who has a shared back porch with the victim and whose apartment is directly joined, the Herald-Citizen reports.
McCully cooperated with law enforcement by allowing them to search his apartment and the porch area, during which he admitted to "gained access to the woman’s apartment from her back porch area and entered her residence," as stated in an interview with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Further investigation revealed that due to the porch being elevated over 10 feet off the ground, entry to the victim’s apartment could only have been made via the neighboring apartment. McCully is currently being held with a bond set at $45,000, according to Fox 17 News.
In a separate incident, Madison authorities arrested Ronnell Bryant Jr. for aggravated arson after he allegedly locked himself in a house and set it on fire, as indicated by a woman who claimed to live in the home and witnessed the event. Despite efforts to extinguish the fire, it caused serious damage to the living room. Bryant Jr. was found in possession of a questionable bottle, threatened to burn down the house, and was later charged based on witness reports and the firsthand account of the victim. He is held on a $250,000 bond, WKRN details.
The juxtaposition of these two events in the quiet townships reminds residents of the inveterate vulnerabilities of suburban tranquillity. McCully is expected to appear in court on Oct. 7 to face the charges filed against him. In the meantime, community members are likely contemplating the fragile barrier that a back porch can represent, and the proximity of those we call neighbors.
