HOUSTON – A northwest Houston woman told police a man forced his way into her home, and then attacked her. The attacker threatened her daughter, too, investigators said.
"They put the gun on my forehead," said Claudia Barajas.
At that moment, Barajas, 45, was sure she and her family were going to die, she said.
The attack happened in May. A man knocked on her apartment door. When her daughter opened it, three men forced their way in.
"They tied me with the cord. They put it on me. Then, I hear my daughter screaming," Barajas said as she demonstrated how she was tied.
Then the suspects forced Barajas and her daughter to the ground and hog-tied them. Then, they covered her 4- and 6-year-old granddaughters with blankets.
One gunman threatened to kill them.
Barajas said she expected her daughter and grandchildren, everyone, would be shot.
"Oh, I thought I was going to die. I know that I had the gun. I thought they were going to shoot me," Barajas said.
But the suspects left as quickly as they came, taking a DVD player and two game consoles.
It took investigators months, but detectives traced cell phone records made with Barajas' stolen cell phone to Deroderic Stephens, 25. Stephens is a convicted petty thief who is now charged with aggravated robbery. Detectives are looking for him and two other accomplices.
If you know anything about this crime, call Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.