Local woman reports being robbed in home

Three men smashed in the front door of house on Lowman Street early Thursday and stole $8 from a 75-year-old woman's purse.

Patricia Layton, who lives at 748 S. Lowman St., said she was watching television. It was getting late and she decided to get ready for bed.

"I heard something that sounded like a loud explosion," Layton said, "and I thought 'what in the world is that?'"

The sound, she said, seemed to come from the front door. Layton peeked out her bathroom door, looking at the entrance.

There she saw three black men standing in her living room. She ventured into the room where the three men were standing.

One of the men was holding what seemed to be a pistol in his hand, she said.

The gun laid in the palm of his hand. The suspect wasn't pointing it at her, and she didn't believe he was going to shoot her. The gunman, however, told Layton to "stay back."

"I thought it was pranksters, at first," she said, "but then one of them said, 'Where do you keep your money? We want some money.' I told them I don't have any money. But he kept on telling me he wants my money."

She stayed calm during the ordeal as another suspect began digging through her purse. He found $8 she had inside a bank envelope. Finally satisfied, the three men fled out the door and into the night.

The suspects didn't touch Layton and didn't threaten her during the crime, she said.

"I guess they just wanted money," Layton said. "I'm lucky, really, that the good Lord was with me."

Layton was going to call police after the incident, but she got nervous, so she called her sister and the sister contacted police. At 12:33 a.m, FSPD responded and questioned Layton about the crime.

She said she wonders whether the men will come back for more money, but police told her they doubt the suspects will strike again.

The explosion Layton heard apparently was the sound of the men bashing in the front door to gain entry. Her son-in-law and another man were repairing the broken door on Thursday afternoon.

Police detectives are investigating the case and no arrests have yet been made.

FSPD officials remind everyone to report any suspicious activity throughout the community. Anyone who has information about this case is encouraged to contact the Fort Scott Police Department at (620) 223-1700.