Carrboro Man Finds Homeless People Living In His House

CARRBORO, N.C. — Norman Nathaniel Barbee had some house guests who overstayed their welcome -- especially since he didn't invite them and he wasn't even at home.

Police say the 73-year-old man returned from three weeks of vacation to find three homeless people living at his house. They were watching television when he went through the door.

Barbee says he asked the men what they were doing, and they told him they'd been let in through the front door. He asked the two men and a woman to leave, and they did. Then, Barbee called Carrboro police.

Lt. Jim Phillips said officers responded quickly and found the trio not far from the home carrying a bag of Barbee's valuables. Phillips said the homeowner is lucky things did not get violent.

"The two men involved were certainly very large men. They could have easily overpowered Mr. Barbee, but they didn't," Phillips said.

Police said Clyde Chambers, Wonderlyn Kinney and Ronnie Ratliff face several charges, including second-degree burglary and entering into an unoccupied building. They are being held in the Orange County Jail.

Investigators said they are also looking for another man they think broke into Barbee's home.

Barbee told police he was missing at least a hundred items, including a Civil War revolver made in 1859, two police scanners and a color television. Some of those items have been recovered.