Detectives Arrest Two in Millville Area Home Invasion

Millville– The Delaware State Police Major Crimes Unit has arrested two people involved in an early Thursday morning home invasion near Millville.

The incident occurred Thursday October 20, 2016 around 1:00 a.m. as a 64-year old male victim and a 19-year-old female acquaintance were sleeping in his bed and were suddenly awoken by four suspects in the room. The male victim was then assaulted by the suspects and then tied up before they placed a blanket over his head. The female initially reported that she was covered with a blanket and dragged into the kitchen where she was left alone. The suspects then removed numerous laptops and cell phones from the male victim and fled the house. The male victim was eventually able to get free from his restraints and call 9-1-1. He was transported to an area hospital by EMS where he was admitted with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Further investigation revealed the female acquaintance, who was identified as Lauren Melton, 19 of Millville, had pre-arranged for the robbery to occurred and had been in contact with one of the suspects, who was identified as Stephen Wheeler, 22 of Dover, via text messages before and after the home invasion.

Lauren Melton was transported back to Troop 4 where she was arrested for Home Invasion, Robbery 2nd, Assault 2nd, and Conspiracy 2nd. She was arraigned at JP2 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution on $50,000.00 cash bond.

Later that day, Stephen Wheeler was located by detectives at his residence in the 4000 block of Peachtree Run, Dover, and was taken into custody and charged with Home Invasion, Robbery 2nd, Assault 2nd, and Conspiracy 2nd. He was arraigned at JP2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $66,000.00 cash bond.

Other suspects involved in the incident have yet to be identified and the investigation is on-going by detectives.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Detective D. Cathell at 302-752-3793. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet atwww.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”