Ungated Entry to Somerset Apartments
Local News
Statesboro Police have reportedly issued a warning to all residents to keep doors locked and stay alert following an aggravated sodomy report at the Somerset Apartments in Statesboro Wednesday evening, October 1, 2014.
According to the Statesboro Herald, a 21-year-old woman was inside her Somerset apartment, shortly before midnight Wednesday, when she answered a knock at her door. Upon opening the door, a man reportedly forced his way inside her home and sexually assaulted her.
Police have not yet captured a suspect and are warning residents to remain cautious.
Our Legal Take
The Statesboro community is now rallying in support of the victim and calling for an end to the growing violence in this area. A Georgia premises liability firm, dedicated to ending apartment complex violence and protery owner negligence, is now questioning whether a potentially fatal security lapse at the Somerset Apartments may have contributed to this horrific attack. The Murray Law Firm investigates:
Is the assailant a resident of Somerset Apartments and, if not, how was he able to gain access to the apartment complex? The complex is situated amid several other apartment communities off Fair Road, a main 4-lane roadway. Yet, the entrance to this community appears to be open and unguarded. What security measures have been implemented to monitor and restrict access to the apartment complex?
The intrusion occurred at the victim’s door in the evening. What individual apartment security measures were in place to protect the victim from such home invasions? Was a bright light installed and working outside the resident’s home? Was a panic bar latch and peep hole installed at the apartment door to allow the resident to safely view those outside? Are there surveillance cameras monitoring the grounds and entrances to protect residents and deter violence?
Should the Somerset Apartments be found at fault for failing to protect this resident, the survivor of this assault may elect to hold the apartment owner and management civilly liable. A claim of this magnitude may be in the millions of dollars and would, most importantly, demand the owner of Somerset Apartments and other local apartment owners finally make resident safety their first priority.
Photographs and thorough inspection will need to be performed immediately before any evidence, such as broken lighting or surveillance footage, may be damaged, repaired or destroyed. The survivor of this attack should contact an experienced premises liability firm without delay to ensure all evidence is preserved and their best interests are protected.
The Muray Law Firm works tirelessly to protect victims of apartment violence and property negligence and we offer our legal expertise to the survivor, if needed. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 912.385.9690. Consultations are free and confidential.
