LA Mayor Karen Bass' Suspected Intruder Was Suffering 'Mental Breakdown' When He Broke Into Her Home Over Weekend, Suspect's Family Claims
The suspect reportedly yelled "Karen!" repeatedly during the ordeal.
April 24 2024, Published 8:00 a.m. ET
The suspect who broke into Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ home over the weekend was allegedly in the throes of a “mental breakdown” at the time of the break-in, RadarOnline.com has learned.
In the latest development to come after Ephraim Hunter, 29, was arrested for breaking into Mayor Bass’ mansion on Sunday, his family broke their silence regarding the matter.
Ephraim Hunter, 29, was arrested for breaking into Mayor Bass’ mansion on Sunday.
According to Hunter’s mother, her son was suffering a “mental breakdown” when he allegedly broke into the mayor’s mansion on Sunday. He also “thought people were chasing him.”
“My son is losing his mind,” Hunter’s mother, Josephine Duah, told Daily Mail this week. “He thought people were chasing him and he ran into that house randomly. He wasn't trying to break into the mayor's house.”
“Thank God it wasn't someone who would've pulled a gun and shot him because he was just trying to run away from someone he thought was trying to get him,” she continued.
“He didn't know where he was and what he was doing,” the suspect’s mother added. “The truth is, he needs mental help.”
According to Hunter’s mother, her son was suffering a “mental breakdown” when he allegedly broke into the mayor’s mansion.
Hunter’s mother also suggested that her son’s “mental breakdown” on Sunday was brought on by drugs.
“He had a problem with drugs before, but he went out to California and was doing great until it got to him again,” she explained on Tuesday. “The issue is there are a lot of drugs available in California.”
“Whatever that drug is, he was in this drug-induced state that made him scared of everything,” Hunter’s mother continued. “I want people to understand that he wasn't trying to break in. He was in fear for his life.”
“He needs help and that's the only reason why I'm talking,” Duah told Daily Mail. “I'm his mom and I know he needs help.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reportedly had her loyal German shepherd, Stax, to thank for thwarting a terrifying home burglary last month.
“He's only been doing the drugs for weeks and it rapidly deteriorated him mentally,” she added. “I really don't understand what made him do that because he was doing excellent.”
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“He just took that drug and got him to where he thought he was losing his mind.”
As RadarOnline.com previously noted, Hunter was arrested on Sunday morning after he allegedly broke into Mayor Bass’ Getty House on Irving Boulevard.
The mayor's official home at Getty House in Windsor Square was burglarized on April 21.
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Hunter was later charged on Tuesday with first-degree residential burglary with a person present and one count of vandalism causing $400 or more in damage.
Mayor Bass, her daughter, her son-in-law, and her newborn grandson were reportedly at the home on Irving Boulevard at the time of the break-in. Nobody was injured during the incident.
“Mayor Bass and her family were not injured and are safe,” the mayor's office said in a statement shortly after the break-in transpired over the weekend. “The Mayor is grateful to LAPD for responding and arresting the suspect.”
Hunter remains in an LA jail with a $100,000 bail following the incident.
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