Home intruder grabbed a knife — the 61-year-old dad fought back with a basic kitchen item, leaving the attacker fighting for his life
It is indeed a scary situation to be in when an intruder enters your home while you are alone with your child. When a 61-year-old father heard a windowpane shatter and learned a man had broken into his house, he knew he had to do something. The Seattle resident, John, who was described as a non-aggressive person by his neighbors, turned into a hero after he fought with the intruder using a kitchen item to keep his 15-year-old daughter safe. The brave story covered by 29 News on Sunday, January 18, 2026, elucidated the power of quick thinking and love of a dad who would go to any lengths to protect his daughter.
Seattle resident John was at his family home in Ravenna when he realized a man in his 30s was breaking a windowpane and barging in through the door at 2:40 a.m., when John was with his 15-year-old daughter inside. During the confrontation in the kitchen, the intruder picked up a knife, while John grabbed a frying pan to attack the stranger. Judith Strigen, a neighbor of John, said that while John is usually never an aggressive person, he was willing to do anything to defend his daughter. The intruder chased the 61-year-old dad around the front yard, and unfortunately, in the altercation, John was stabbed in the leg. However, that did not stop him from fighting back. Meanwhile, not wanting the intruder to know she was inside, his daughter quietly texted 911. She was shaken by the ordeal and escorted to safety by Strigen.
Luckily, the first responders arrived on time and took the father to Harborview Medical Center. The father escaped the situation with minor injuries. On the other hand, police arrested the intruder, who was taken to the hospital for multiple life-threatening injuries and is currently in critical condition. He is also booked under suspicion of residential burglary and felony assault. Strigen, who praised the brave dad, said, "He's a wonderful dad. He takes his girls on summer vacations to dude ranches, and he's always with his kids."
A 2012 study authored by Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook et al. noted that parental precaution derives from biological, emotional, and neural mechanisms to protect their offspring. The research showed that humans have precautionary psychology, where the instincts to protect their children from threats naturally exist. These instincts help parents in threat detection, making it hard-wired for even gentle parents to respond quickly when they sense danger to their child. Although John is a peace-loving man, when he sensed his daughter was in danger, he did not think twice about confronting the intruder.