November 17/video

On November 12, 2007, Ryan Lee Bergner of Hessville, Indiana, broke into the Hessville home of a woman he had been stalking for several months. It was not the first time he had done so. Police records show he also had tried to kick in the woman's front door a week earlier after accosting her at her job and being ejected from the business by her co-workers. He also was suspected of slashing her vehicle's tires on at least two occasions. The 51-year old intended victim had been given a 9mm pistol by a friend earlier that day for the purpose of defending herself. After calling 911, she followed the dispatcher's initial instructions and retreated to her bedroom, locked herself in, and hid in the closet. It didn't work. The intruder broke down the door to her bedroom, found her in the closet and began to strangle her, at which point she discharged her weapon three times, killing the intruder. When they finally arrived, officers found the 41-year old Bergner, wearing black leather gloves, lying partially in the bedroom closet with three bullet wounds to his abdomen. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said on Wednesday he was turning down any charges against the woman, considering her actions to be in self-defense and defense of property. The audio of the 911 call was released by police on January 10, 2008. Additional information can be found at: Steve Zabroski, "Fatal ending for accused stalker". NWI Times, November 14, 2007. Dan Hinkel, "Family defends shooting victim ". NWI Times, November 15, 2007. Steve Zabroski, "No charges in shooting of accused stalker ". NWI Times, January 10, 2008.