(KTTS News) — Two men have been arrested for breaking into a home in Greene County and stealing from an elderly couple.
The couple says two men knocked on the door of their home on North Farm Road 171 near Valley Water Mill Park Saturday night.
When they opened the door, William Rush, 60, and Justin Lentz, 28, sprayed them with a chemical, restrained them, and assaulted them for two hours.
They stole guns, a car, and other property.
The couple eventually escaped and called for help.
Deputies arrested Rush and Lentz later that night.
They’re charged with kidnapping, burglary, robbery, assault and stealing.
Press Release
At 9:10pm on February 25, 2023, Greene County Deputies were called to a residence in the 3400 block of North Farm Road 171 for a home invasion/robbery. The residents, an elderly couple ages 84 and 89 reported that at approximately 6:50pm they answered a ring at the doorbell. When they opened the door, they were confronted by two unknown men who forced their way inside the home while spraying them with a chemical and physically assaulting them. The victims were restrained and repeatedly assaulted for nearly two hours as their home was burglarized. At approximately 8:50pm the suspects fled the residence in the victim’s stolen red Ford Mustang, loaded with stolen guns and other property from the residence. The victims were eventually able to free themselves and call for help. Both victims were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
At approximately 1130pm, the Springfield Fire Department and Greene County Deputies responded to the 900 block of N. Prospect for a reported vehicle fire, determining the vehicle was the stolen red Ford Mustang. Deputies searched the immediate area, locating evidence from the crime scene along with two suspects; William Rush, age 60, transient and Justin Lentz, age 28, transient. Both suspects were arrested and transported to the Greene County Jail pending formal charges.
This investigation is ongoing. If you have any information about this crime, please contact the Greene County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at (417)829-6230.
“I am appalled by this disgusting act of violence against two of our most vulnerable citizens. Thank God these elderly victims survived this prolonged attack. I am extremely proud of the excellent work by the deputies and detectives at the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Thanks to their dedication and skill, these two thugs are locked up where they need to be.”
