A Georgia woman is awoken by a complete stranger

Imagine waking up to a stranger in your room. That is exactly what Erica Masters experienced just last week.

Masters, of Martinez, Georgia, said her roommate left the door unlocked on the day the incident happened.  Recently, there were trespassers on the property, and surveillance cameras were put inside and outside Masters home, states Jillian Eugenios, a Today.com contributor.

Jimmy Vowell, a Columbia County code enforcer, was at the house to investigate complaints of noise and an overgrown lawn. Vowell said he arrived and knocked at the front door, then checked the back door in the car port. He then returned to the front door and when he knocked on it, it swung open.

Vowell then entered the home and smelled a terrible stench, and was concerned he would find a dead body. “The interior was deplorable, there was a stench or smell that reeked,” he said. “I was concerned that somebody was actually either dead or dying or seriously injured inside of that residence.”

He knocked on Masters bedroom door and he said it opened. He announced he was with the “Columbia County code enforcement” and then entered. He said he saw the silhouette of a body under a blue blanket. “No feet, no hands, no nothing,” he said.

Masters became aware of what was occurring and said, “What’s going on?” and “What are you doing here? Get out!”

She then got dressed and went into the living room. She signed the violation notice, given by Vowell.

Masters was so shaken by the incident that she filed a complaint with the county. According to the Sheriff’s report, Vowell had stated that he did not enter the house but eventually changed his story stating “I was concerned for the health and well-being of anybody that may be in that residence.”

Vowell has been fired for the incident. There will be no criminal charges.

Masters says she will sue the county for damages. Vowell is filing an appeal for being fired.

“He’s very, very lucky I wasn’t armed at the time,” Masters said. “Nobody could prosecute me if I had shot him that day.”