The Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Mo. 10/31/08

A rape victim in Cape Girardeau, Mo. shot and killed a repeated rapist during an attempted sexual assault. Only a few days earlier, the rapist, Ronnie Preyer, had invaded the home of the 57 year-old woman and raped her. Unfortunately, after the first incident took place, Preyer fled the scene and remained at large. But Preyer hatched a plan to repeat his assault, a few days later. This time, before entering the house, Preyer shut off the electricity going into the home. Preyer then began trying to work his way into the house through the basement door. The woman, heard the commotion and tried to call 911. After realizing she would be unable to call 911 without power, she grabbed her shotgun and went to the basement door. When Preyer eventually burst through the door, the woman fired, hitting Preyer in the chest. The victim then rushed to a neighbor’s house, where she waited for police. When the police arrived they found Preyer still alive, but he died several hours later at a local hospital. The authorities will not press charges in the case, with the prosecuting attorney stating, “I will not be filing any sort of charge against this 57-year-old woman, who was clearly justified under the law in shooting this intruder in her home.”