Imagine being home alone in the middle of the night… and hearing a cough from another room.
That nightmare became reality for a West Portsmouth resident who called deputies after realizing someone else was inside the house.
According to the caller, a strange woman suddenly came out of another room and identified herself as “Shannon.” She then reportedly told the resident she had been sleeping there all day.
As if that wasn’t unsettling enough, the homeowner also believed she may have tried to start a generator on the property.
Deputies rushed to the scene, but the woman had already fled.
A short time later, officers found her hiding in the tree line between Pershing and Beekman. Deputies took her into custody at gunpoint.
Shanda Young was arrested and booked into the Scioto County Jail on charges including:
- Burglary
- Breaking and entering
- Obstructing official business
- Probation violation out of Athens County
She reportedly listed a local rehab facility as her address.
👀 NIGHT NOT OVER YET
But the strange activity didn’t end there.
Around 1:41 a.m., another West Portsmouth man called 911 reporting a persistent trespasser on his property.
He told dispatch the man was with a woman—and believed it may have been the same male who had been with Young earlier in the night.
The caller said he chased the man up the hill toward Terrace Road before contacting authorities.
An officer searched the area but was unable to locate anyone.
⚠️ WHY THIS IS SO UNSETTLING
Most break-in stories involve forced entry or stolen property.
This one involved a stranger casually inside the home, claiming she had been sleeping there—and possibly not acting alone.
Young later appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court, where a judge ordered her held under bond. A preliminary hearing was set for April 30.
🏠 IF THIS EVER HAPPENS TO YOU
If you hear movement or realize someone may already be inside your house:
- Leave immediately if you can
- Call 911 right away
- Do not confront them alone
- Wait for officers to clear the home
Because hearing a cough from another room should never be how you find out you have company.
