Home Invader Strangled By Father Of Intended Victim

INDIANAPOLIS -- A man who police said broke into a home with the intention of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in her bedroom died after a struggle with the girl's father.

David Meyers, 52, was pronounced dead shortly after officers arrived following a report of a home invasion in the 3500 block of West 79th Street at about 3:20 a.m. on Sunday, police said.

Officers said they found Robert McNally, 64, on the floor with his arm around the neck of Meyers, struggling to hold him down. When officers told McNally he could let go, they found that Meyers was unresponsive.

The Marion County coroner ruled on Monday that he was strangled to death.

Indianapolis police Sgt. Matt Mount said Meyers had come into the home naked, except for a mask and latex gloves.

"He had rope, had a knife, had condoms, had a gag," Mount said.

Police said Meyers had gotten into the home through a window next to the girl's bedroom and that he knew the home well because his uncle owns it and he was an acquaintance of the family.

The teen awoke to find a naked man in her room and began screaming, alerting McNally, police said.

In a 911 call released on Monday, a woman who identifies herself as the intended victim's mother can be heard telling the operator, "He had a thing over his head and I'm too scared to take it off him. I think he was trying to do something because he had no clothes on and all he had was the knife."

Meyers was a registered sex offender and was released from prison two years ago after he had served 10 years of a 20-year sentence for criminal confinement and sexual deviate conduct stemming from a case in Hamilton County.

Meyers was also being sought in Boone County for failure to register as a sex offender.

Police said Meyers had been living with his mother down a gravel road from the home that the McNally family lived in and had recently lost his job.

"When they got the mask off, both the father and daughter recognized him," Mount said.

Meyer's brother told 6News' Jack Rinehart that he believed that McNally did the right thing.

"[He] performed heroically. He did exactly what any father, any husband should do," said Bill Meyers.

The results of the police investigation will be turned over to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, but it is unlikely charges will be filed, police said.