The case of the brazen burglars has been solved.
Three teenagers who were caught on high-quality video surveillance footage during an Oct. 17 residential burglary in Anthony have been arrested. Marion County Sheriff’s Property Crimes Det. Joshua Driver identified and apprehended all three of the suspects involved in the break-in at the home in the 9600 block of NE 16th Terrace.
Unbeknownst to the teens – 18-year-old Ethan James Hurry, 19-year-old James Lecoyer Wilkerson and 18-year-old Michael Ramos – the sheriff’s office had crystal-clear surveillance video of the burglary taken from the homeowner’s security cameras. The agency released the video to the public via its Facebook page and through the media last Tuesday. And that led to numerous tips from area residents.
Hurry and Wilkerson were taken into custody last Thursday, while Ramos was booked into the Marion County Jail on Monday shortly after noon. All three confessed to their involvement in the burglary, a sheriff’s office report states, adding that they even gave some of the stolen items back to the owners.
After a thorough investigation, Driver determined that Ramos was the look-out/get-away driver, while Hurry and Wilkerson committed the burglary. Wilkerson also brought a handgun with him into the home during the crime, the report says, adding that the items stolen included shoes, electronics and jewelry, leaving the total loss to the victims at $1,500.
Hurry and Ramos have been charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and grand theft. Wilkerson also has been charged with grand theft but is facing an elevated charge of armed burglary.
Both Hurry and Ramos have been released on $7,000 bond each, while Wilkerson is being held on $35,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 27 at 9 a.m. to answer to the charges.