Two men armed with firearms and four or five other attackers beat resident David Flinn III, kicked him and bound him with duct tape during a home invasion May 8 on Lilly Lane, he testified Monday.
During a three-hour court hearing, Flinn, 39, described how the men wrapped the duct tape around his face and neck.
“I was ripping duct tape off my mouth so it wouldn’t smother me,” Flinn said.
Assistant District Attorney Tom Jackson asked, “How did it end?”
Flinn replied he struggled to get to the door of his duplex and yelled “Help.” His neighbor called Murfreesboro Police.
Detective Garry Templeton charged suspects Patrick Borum, John Michael Dryden, Beau D. Estes and Amber Seyl with attempted first-degree murder, especially aggravated burglary of Flinn’s home, especially aggravated robbery of Flinn, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping of Flinn and his roommate, Stanley Wise, 19, and aggravated assault.
After hearing testimony from Flinn, Wise and Templeton, General Sessions Court Judge Ben McFarlin forwarded the cases to the grand jury for probable indictments.
Assistant District Attorney Tom Jackson asked Flinn to describe what happened.
Flinn testified a woman inside the home opened the door to allow the suspects inside. They beat him with a long gun, causing broken bones in his jaw, skull and head and a swollen eye. His wounds required about 30 stitches. They robbed him of about $4,700.
Under cross-examination by attorney Kirk Catron, who represents Dryden, Flinn testified Seyl and one of the suspects spent the night at his home three nights earlier when they overheard a telephone conversation he had trying to buy a BMW. He told the seller he had the money.
Three men entering his home demanded the money, Flinn said.
While fighting, Flinn said he pulled down the bandanas worn by the suspects.
“I wanted to see who was doing this to me,” Flinn said.
He knew some of the suspects and identified others through a photo lineup. A Hispanic man who carried a handgun remains unidentified and at-large.
Catron asked if any of the suspects purchased drugs from him in the past.
“No sir,” Flinn replied.
Defense attorney Darrell Scarlett, who represents Borum, asked if there was anything to stop the men from shooting him.
“No sir,” Flinn replied.
Wise testified he was almost asleep in his bedroom when someone kicked in the door.
“I got hit in the mouth with a rifle,” suffering two chipped teeth, Wise said. “I was stunned.”
The suspects bound him with duct tape “from head to toe," Wise said. “I could barely see.” His arms and legs were bound. They dragged him to a back bedroom.
“I struggled to get loose,” Wise said.
He managed to remove the duct tape from his arms and legs, then jumped through a window to escape.
Jackson asked if he feared for his life.
“Yes,” Wise replied.
Estes, Seyl and Dryden remain in custody while Borum was released on bond.
Grand jurors will consider their cases in August.
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