Photographs have captured the chilling moment when a woman climbed onto her roof to escape an intruder who was just a few feet away. The images show a heart-stopping escape that left many shocked.In September 2014, Melora Rivera faced an unimaginable situation when an intruder kicked down her front door in Venice, California. Rivera had been peacefully resting in bed when the chaos erupted, forcing her to flee her home in sheer panic.
In her attempt to escape, Rivera climbed out of her bed, left the room, and found herself on the roof of her home. It was a desperate move, but one that may have saved her life.
Acting quickly, Rivera crawled out of a window to distance herself from the approaching intruder. Her swift actions helped her avoid direct confrontation.In an interview with CBS News, Melora Rivera recounted the harrowing moment: “He managed to break one of these panels and reach in to unlock the door. Once I saw him in the house, I knew that we both couldn’t be there. I knew that I didn’t want to have a confrontation with him of any sort, you know, not knowing what his intention was.”
Before making her escape, Rivera grabbed her phone and managed to call 911 while Christian Hicks, the intruder, allegedly pursued her. It was a terrifying situation that required immediate action on her part.
The woman climbed on the roofTonyVera
“It was my biggest fear was that he was going to be forced by the cops to come hide in basically the same place I was hiding.”Authorities confirmed that the police arrived on the scene less than two minutes after receiving Rivera’s distress call. Their quick response meant she was out of danger relatively soon, but not before enduring a terrifying ordeal.
Firefighters were also called to the scene and assisted Rivera in getting safely off the roof. Alexandria Thompson, a neighbor, witnessed the dramatic rescue and recounted the events as they unfolded.
The intruder broke into the woman’s while she was asleepVenice 311
Speaking to CBS News, Thompson shared her perspective on the incident: “I saw this guy this morning in handcuffs. I’ve seen him in my yard. I called the police.”Although Hicks was initially detained by the police, he was eventually released. This decision was made after the individual who originally called the police declined to identify him in person, leaving law enforcement with limited options.
In the wake of the incident, Rivera has spoken out about the homelessness crisis in the area. She believes addressing this issue is crucial to prevent similar situations from happening in the future.
