It happened in seconds — just after 3:30 a.m. — when a Denver father awoke to the nightmare no parent ever wants to face: a stranger creeping toward his children’s bedrooms.
Kevin and Sarah Root say the horrifying moment inside their southwest Denver home felt like something out of a movie — except this time, the danger was real.
“We heard the footsteps coming up the stairs,” Kevin told Fox News Digital. “We looked at each other and said, ‘Somebody’s in our house.’ That’s the moment you realize it’s not a dream.”
Within seconds, instinct and adrenaline took over.
Parents jolted awake as intruder climbed stairs toward sleeping children
Sarah grabbed her phone and dialed 911 while Kevin opened the bedroom door to find a man advancing toward the hallway where their four sons slept.
“The fear of what would happen when my husband opened that door — that’s what replays in my mind,” Sarah said. “Your gut kicks in. The fear of the unknown is absolutely terrifying.”
Kevin shouted at the suspect to leave. He didn’t. Instead, the intruder continued toward the children’s rooms.
“When he paused at the top of the stairs, I just acted,” Kevin said. “I jumped out and shoved him as hard as I could down the stairs.”
Moments later, police sirens cut through the early-morning silence. Officers arrived and arrested the man — identified as 36-year-old repeat offender Charley Cooley.
A repeat offender — out on the streets again
According to records obtained by FOX 31 Denver, Cooley had already been arrested once this year for another felony robbery. Court documents show he was released from jail shortly after that arrest — something that stunned the Root family.
“Finding out about his criminal background stirred up a whole new layer of emotion,” Sarah said. “How is this allowed to keep happening? It feels like our safety means nothing.”
The Denver District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Cooley posted just $500 cash bond on Nov. 11 — allowing him to walk free until the next incident.
“Multiple offenses, and he’s been released both times,” Kevin said. “The reality is he’s back out — and he has a history of doing this.”
Emotional aftermath: “It feels like a loss — the loss of feeling safe in our home.”
No one was physically injured, but the psychological impact remains heavy.
“My sleep has been difficult,” Sarah said. “I still replay that moment when I look at the bedroom door. It truly feels like a loss — the loss of safety.”
The couple’s children slept through the incident — a blessing Sarah says spared them from further trauma.
“We don’t have his face haunting us,” she added. “Not even Kevin saw it clearly.”
Community shaken, police urge vigilance
Neighbors told FOX 31 the break-in rattled their sense of security. Denver police have issued reminders urging residents to:
- Lock doors and windows
- Install exterior lighting
- Report any suspicious activity immediately
The Denver District Attorney’s Office declined to comment further, citing an active case.
Kevin says he’s choosing hope over anger.
“I hope he gets the help he needs,” he said. “Maybe this is rock bottom for him. But we’re grateful no one was hurt — including him.”
Sarah echoed that sentiment.
“We just want justice,” she said. “And we want to know he’s somewhere safe — where he can’t hurt anyone else.”