A 65-year-old Florida grandfather shot one of two armed home invaders during a break-in at his Pensacola residence — only for investigators to discover that his own granddaughter, Cynthia Register, had orchestrated the entire robbery.
The incident occurred just before 4 a.m. on a Thursday morning at a home in the 7300 block of West Jackson Street. Two armed men, later identified as Tayari Crear and Jemarquz Cromwell, entered the home. The homeowner used his own firearm to shoot Cromwell in the chest before both intruders fled.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons explained the granddaughter's role at a press conference: "Mind you, Cynthia Register, granddaughter, does not go in the house. Why? Because she knows that Grampa has a gun. So she decides to stay outside. But she allows Tayari Crear and Jemarquz Cromwell to enter the home."
Register and accomplice Clint Hochhalter were arrested and charged with armed home invasion robbery as principals. Crear, Cromwell, Natalie Gagne, and Dominique Gonzalez were also charged with armed home invasion robbery. Investigators determined that a group of six friends had hatched the plan to get bail money for another friend.
The grandfather was physically unharmed but faced the painful reality of his granddaughter's betrayal.