70-year-old woman uses unusual tactic to thwart sexual assault, Tennessee cops say

A quick-thinking Tennessee woman resorted to an unusual defense when a stranger appeared over her bed in the dark: She started talking.

The terrifying moment happened Aug. 26, and began when a man “broke into” the 70-year-old woman’s apartment, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a news release.

“She awoke to find him by her bedside, pulling at her nightgown,” police said. “She began talking to him, distracted him, and eventually convinced him to leave.”

Details of what she told the man were not released.

The department’s Special Victims Division determined the intruder was Jerru Wells, a 31-year-old already on the sex offender registry, officials said.

He was arrested Aug. 27 and charged with attempted rape, aggravated burglary and two counts of “sex offender registry violations,” officials said.

“In 2015, (Wells) was convicted of sexual battery in Hamblen County,” police said. “He registered as a sex offender in Nashville in 2018. (Wells) also has prior convictions for aggravated burglary and aggravated assault in Hamblen County.”

Investigators did not report the victim suffered injuries during the home intrusion.

This story was originally published August 28, 2024 at 6:52 AM with the headline "70-year-old woman uses unusual tactic to thwart sexual assault, Tennessee cops say."