Oregon nurse strangles intruder with bare hands

[ap1979]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A nurse returning home from work discovered an intruder armed with a hammer in her home and strangled him with her bare hands, police said.

Susan Kuhnhausen, 51, ran to a neighbour's house after the confrontation Wednesday night. Police found the body of Edward Haffey 59, a convicted felon with a long police record. Officer Katherine Kent said homicide detectives have determined that Kuhnhausen killed Haffey in self-defence. She said a prosecutor is investigating but that the case is not expected to go to a grand jury.

Police said there was no obvious sign of forced entry at the house when Kuhnhausen, an emergency room nurse at Providence Portland Medical Center, got home from work shortly after 6 p.m.

Under Oregon law people can use reasonable deadly force when defending themselves against an intruder or burglar in their homes. Kuhnhausen was treated and released for minor injuries at Providence.

Haffey, about 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, had convictions including conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, robbery, drug charges and possession of burglary tools. Neighbours said Kuhnhausen's size - 5-foot-7 and 260 pounds - may have given her an advantage.

"Everyone that I've talked to says 'Hurray for Susan,' said neighbour Annie Warnock, who called the police emergency dispatcher. "You didn't need to calm her. She's an emergency room nurse. She's used to dealing with crisis."

[faceless]

I smell a rat - if she was a nurse then surely she'd have been able to tell when the guy was unconscious and stopped before he died? I'm not defending the burglar (if he actually was one) but she must have been around his neck for a good while to kill him!

[Skylace]

Unless her adrenaline just took over it would seem a bit odd for her to kill the man. This would be interesting to keep an eye on.

[eefanincan]

Unless her adrenaline just took over it would seem a bit odd for her to kill the man. This would be interesting to keep an eye on.

I think that's likely what happened.... her adrenaline took over. She may very well have stopped when he went unconscious...... but that doesn't mean that he died right that second.

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out but I think with his past criminal record, they likely won't go too far in prosecuting her.

[IRiSHMaFIA]

Unless her adrenaline just took over it would seem a bit odd for her to kill the man. This would be interesting to keep an eye on.

I think that's likely what happened.... her adrenaline took over. She may very well have stopped when he went unconscious...... but that doesn't mean that he died right that second.

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out but I think with his past criminal record, they likely won't go too far in prosecuting her.

I third the motion. It also gives me a heads up never to mess with eefan. Nurses go through hell during the day working with sick people, and I'm sure most of them could wrestle a bull if it got in their way when they got off their shift lol

[eefanincan]

Unless her adrenaline just took over it would seem a bit odd for her to kill the man. This would be interesting to keep an eye on.

I think that's likely what happened.... her adrenaline took over. She may very well have stopped when he went unconscious...... but that doesn't mean that he died right that second.

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out but I think with his past criminal record, they likely won't go too far in prosecuting her.

I third the motion. It also gives me a heads up never to mess with eefan. Nurses go through hell during the day working with sick people, and I'm sure most of them could wrestle a bull if it got in their way when they got off their shift lol

LOL! I'll try to restrain myself should I ever try to strangle you Somedays, though, it's good that I work on the phone 'cause I could certainly strangle some of the people that I talk to!

[IRiSHMaFIA]

Unless her adrenaline just took over it would seem a bit odd for her to kill the man. This would be interesting to keep an eye on.

I think that's likely what happened.... her adrenaline took over. She may very well have stopped when he went unconscious...... but that doesn't mean that he died right that second.

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out but I think with his past criminal record, they likely won't go too far in prosecuting her.

I third the motion. It also gives me a heads up never to mess with eefan. Nurses go through hell during the day working with sick people, and I'm sure most of them could wrestle a bull if it got in their way when they got off their shift lol

LOL! I'll try to restrain myself should I ever try to strangle you Somedays, though, it's good that I work on the phone 'cause I could certainly strangle some of the people that I talk to!

If I see a mad look in your eye I'll bolt like a rabbit. You ain't getting them hands round my throat woman!

I'll sick Beaker on you :walkdog:

[eefanincan]

If I see a mad look in your eye I'll bolt like a rabbit. You ain't getting them hands round my throat woman!

I'll sick Beaker on you :walkdog:

LOL! I am sufficiently threatened :walkdog:

[IRiSHMaFIA]

If I see a mad look in your eye I'll bolt like a rabbit. You ain't getting them hands round my throat woman!

I'll sick Beaker on you :walkdog:

LOL! I am sufficiently threatened :walkdog: