‘This is real’: Quick-thinking Colorado dad defends his family as an intruder heads toward his kids’ room

A peaceful night turned into a parent’s worst nightmare for a Colorado family in the early morning hours of November 7, 2025, when a stranger broke into their southwest Denver home. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m., when the father took action to protect his two young sons, sleeping upstairs.

The family’s father, Kevin Root, recounted the chilling sequence of events to Fox News Digital after he and his wife, Sarah Root, woke to unsettling sounds coming from inside their home.

“We heard the footsteps coming up the stairs to where our room is. We looked at each other and said, ‘Somebody’s in our house,’” Kevin told Fox News Digital. “You realize you’re not dreaming — this is real.”

The night turned to chaos

After hearing the noise, Sarah immediately grabbed her phone to call 911 while Kevin went to investigate. The footsteps, initially faint, grew louder as the intruder crept closer to the upstairs bedrooms. As Kevin opened his bedroom door, he caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure slipping past.

“The fear of what’s going to happen when my husband opens the door — that’s what replays in my mind the most,” Sarah said, according to Fox News Digital. “Your gut just kicks in, and the fear of the unknown is really terrifying.”

A father defends his family

Undeterred by the danger, Kevin acted instantly to prevent the man from reaching his sons’ rooms. He burst out of his doorway, tackling the intruder near the top of the stairs. Kevin said he “whipped open the door,” jumped out, and pushed the man as hard as he could back down the stairs, buying precious time for the police to arrive.

Miraculously, no one in the Root family was physically injured, and Sarah later called it “a blessing” that they didn’t see the intruder’s face, preventing that image from haunting their memories.

The suspect and legal fallout

Denver police arrived minutes after Sarah’s frantic call and arrested 36-year-old Charley Cooley at the scene. Cooley now faces a felony second-degree robbery charge.

Court records show that Cooley had previously been arrested on another robbery charge in September of the same year. The Roots were infuriated to learn the suspect was released shortly after the break-in, posting bond for the November 7 incident on November 11.

“Multiple offenses, and he’s been released both times,” Kevin told Fox News Digital. “The reality is he’s back out and has a history of doing this.”

The lasting emotional toll

While physically safe, the emotional impact on the Root family is severe. “It’s been a process. My sleep has been pretty difficult, and I still replay the moment when I look at our bedroom door,” Sarah admitted to the news outlet. “It feels like a loss — the loss of feeling safe in our home.” The case has sparked a renewed public conversation in the Denver area regarding the state of bail and repeat offenders.