The New Year's Eve Home Invasion: Georgia Woman Survives Masked Intruder Attack
On New Year's Eve 2020, Morgan Metzer of Canton, Georgia, made the decision to stay home alone while her twin children visited their aunt in Florida. Her best friend Nicole had invited her over, but Morgan, feeling tired, opted for an early night instead. This seemingly ordinary choice would lead to a terrifying ordeal when, shortly after midnight, Morgan woke to find a masked intruder standing in her bedroom doorway.
The attack that followed was brutal and calculated. The assailant, dressed entirely in black with a disguised voice, physically assaulted Morgan, restrained her with zip ties, and sexually assaulted her. He appeared to know personal details about her recent divorce, adding a disturbing dimension to the crime. After forcing Morgan onto her back porch and warning her not to move until she heard two car honks, she was left exposed and terrified—until her ex-husband Rod unexpectedly arrived, having been mysteriously summoned to her home by an unknown visitor to his apartment.
Key Takeaways
A peaceful New Year's Eve in Canton, Georgia turned into a nightmare when Morgan Metzer was attacked in her home by a disguised intruder who seemed to know personal details about her life.
The attacker methodically assaulted Morgan, used her phone to unlock security features, and left her restrained on her back porch with threats to ensure her continued compliance.
Morgan's ex-husband Rod became her unexpected rescuer after receiving a strange notification about her, arriving at her home to find her still restrained and immediately contacting authorities.
The Unfathomable Attack
New Year's Plans Disrupted
Morgan Metzer planned to celebrate the arrival of 2021 with her best friend Nicole in Canton, Georgia. The peaceful town, known for its beautiful trees and hiking trails, rarely experienced serious crime. "We're moms so we just wanted to hang out for a second," Nicole explained about their modest plans to share wine and watch the ball drop. Morgan's 8-year-old twins were staying with her sister in Florida, giving her a rare night to herself after a challenging year that included finalizing her divorce.
Despite their initial plans, Morgan decided to leave Nicole's house early that evening. "I gave her some crap," Nicole recalled. "I was like, 'What are you doing? We never get to hang out.'" Neither friend could have imagined the horrifying events that would unfold later that night.
Early Evening and Retirement
Upon returning home, Morgan secured her house by setting the alarm system before going to bed. Her property was relatively secluded, and she had security cameras installed around the home. Her bedroom on the second floor had a door leading to a back porch, which remained locked via an app on her phone.
Morgan briefly woke around 11:59 PM to the sound of distant fireworks. "I got down and kissed my dog and said 'Happy New Year's,'" she later recalled. She quickly fell back asleep, exhausted and with no interest in staying up for the celebrations. The quiet night in her peaceful Canton neighborhood was about to turn into a nightmare.
The Midnight Assailant
Morgan awoke to find a terrifying figure standing in her bedroom doorway. "I opened my eyes... and that's when I saw the shadow of a man's body standing there, all in black and just lit up by the light in the background," she described. The intruder wore a mask and had taken extensive precautions to conceal his identity—black hoodie, jacket, pants, and gloves.
The attack was swift and brutal:
The assailant pounced on Morgan, hitting her with a gun
He restrained her with zip ties that had been prepared in advance
He strangled her nearly to unconsciousness twice
He spoke in a disguised voice that Morgan described as "like Batman"
"It's the worst feeling in the world to think you're dying and you feel like you're going to be tortured beforehand," Morgan recalled. The attacker seemed to know personal details about her life, particularly concerning her recent divorce, saying she would "miss her husband." He demanded information about her valuables, ransacked her drawers, and took her phone, using it to remotely unlock the door to her back porch.
The assailant placed a pillowcase over Morgan's head, led her outside, and left her naked with her hands bound behind her back. His parting words were chilling: "Do not get up until you hear two car honks or I'll kill you." For 40 terrifying minutes, Morgan remained frozen in place, until she heard footsteps approaching. To her enormous relief, the voice she heard belonged to her ex-husband Rod Metzer, who immediately called 911 and stayed with her until help arrived.
Morgan Metzer's Nightmare
The Terrifying Midnight Intrusion
Morgan Metzer's peaceful New Year's Eve in Canton, Georgia took a horrific turn in the early hours of January 1, 2021. After celebrating quietly and deciding to turn in early rather than wait for midnight with her friend Nicole, Morgan was alone in her home. Her 8-year-old twins were staying with her sister in Florida at the time.
Shortly after midnight, Morgan was awakened by distant fireworks. She briefly acknowledged the New Year, gave her dog a kiss, and returned to sleep. What happened next would change her life forever.
The Brutal Attack
Morgan suddenly awoke to find a shadowy figure standing in her doorway, dressed entirely in black including a mask. When she screamed, the intruder pounced on her with shocking violence. He struck her repeatedly with a gun, punched her, and eventually restrained her using zip ties fashioned into handcuffs.
The attacker turned Morgan over and bound her hands behind her back. He strangled her multiple times until she nearly lost consciousness. During the assault, he demanded information about her valuables, ransacking drawers while looking for jewelry and other items of worth.
The intruder had come prepared with pre-looped zip ties and a complete disguise: black hoodie, jacket, pants, and gloves. He sexually assaulted Morgan during the terrifying ordeal, leaving her fearing for her life and wondering if she would ever see her children again.
The Disguised Voice and Menacing Words
The attacker spoke very little, but when he did, Morgan noted he used a distinctive voice. He appeared to be deliberately disguising his speech, making it sound low and gravelly - similar to the Batman character from movies. This unusual vocal choice would later become a significant detail in the investigation.
More disturbing was the intruder's apparent knowledge of Morgan's personal life. He made specific comments about her recent divorce, saying "You're going to miss your husband" and "You've done really wrong now." These statements suggested the attack might not have been random.
After forcing Morgan to unlock her phone, the attacker used her security app to remotely unlock the door to her second-floor back porch. He placed a pillowcase over her head, led her outside naked with her hands still bound, and left her there with a chilling threat: "Do not get up until you hear two car honks or I'll kill you." Morgan remained there for approximately 40 minutes until, to her initial terror but ultimate relief, her ex-husband Rod arrived and discovered her - becoming her unexpected rescuer.
The Inquiry Commences
Morgan Metzer's tranquil New Year's Eve in Canton, Georgia turned into a nightmare when a masked intruder attacked her in her bedroom shortly after midnight on January 1, 2021. What began as a quiet evening ended with a violent assault that left investigators with numerous questions about the perpetrator's identity and motives.
Pursuit of the Perpetrator
The assailant took extraordinary measures to conceal his identity during the attack. He wore all black clothing—a hoodie, pants, and gloves—along with a face mask. When he spoke, he used a deep, gravelly voice reminiscent of a Batman character, suggesting a deliberate attempt to disguise his natural speaking voice.
Detective Dakota Livers from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department immediately began piecing together the sequence of events. The investigation focused on why someone would target Morgan, a recently divorced mother of 8-year-old twins who were fortunately away visiting their aunt in Florida at the time of the attack.
The attacker's knowledge of Morgan's personal life raised red flags for investigators. He made specific comments about her ex-husband during the assault, saying "You're going to miss your husband"—indicating potential familiarity with her recent divorce.
Clues and Puzzles
Several strange elements complicated the investigation:
The timing: The attack occurred just after midnight on New Year's Day when most people would be celebrating elsewhere
The preparation: The perpetrator arrived with pre-looped zip ties, suggesting premeditation
Technological sophistication: The attacker used Morgan's phone to disable security features and remotely unlock doors
Perhaps the most puzzling aspect was how Rod Metzer, Morgan's ex-husband, became involved. According to his statement, Rod received a mysterious message about Morgan when someone knocked on his window in the middle of the night. After failed attempts to reach her by phone, he drove to her house—ultimately becoming her rescuer.
Rod discovered Morgan on her back porch, restrained with zip ties and a pillowcase over her head. The attacker had left her there with a threat: "Do not get up until you hear two car honks or I'll kill you."
Investigators found it significant that the perpetrator seemed to know the layout of Morgan's home, the location of her valuables, and how to operate her security system. This level of knowledge suggested either extensive surveillance or personal familiarity with Morgan's residence.
The sheriff's department needed to determine if this was a random attack or if Morgan had been specifically targeted by someone who knew her—and why Rod had appeared at exactly the right moment to rescue her.
The Escape
Frightening Moments on the Outdoor Deck
Morgan found herself in an unimaginable situation as her attacker led her onto the back porch. With her hands bound behind her back by zip ties, a pillowcase over her head, and completely unclothed, she was utterly vulnerable. "Do not get up until you hear two car honks or I'll kill you," he warned before leaving her there. The secluded location of Morgan's property meant little chance of neighbors seeing or hearing her cries for help.
For what felt like an eternity, Morgan sat motionless, listening to the sound of the stream nearby, trying to maintain her composure despite the terrifying circumstances. She had no way of knowing if her attacker was still watching her or if he had truly left. The cold night air and uncertainty about what might happen next made those 40 minutes feel endless.
The Arrival of Help
After enduring approximately 40 minutes in this vulnerable state, Morgan heard footsteps approaching. Her heart raced with renewed terror. "I hear somebody walking up," she recalled. The sound of shuffling feet grew closer, each step heightening her fear that her attacker had returned to finish what he'd started.
The footsteps reached the stairs leading to the porch. When she heard the first board creak loudly under the weight of the visitor, Morgan braced herself for the worst. Instead, a familiar voice broke through her darkness: "Oh honey, what happened?" It was Rod Metzer, her ex-husband.
Rod immediately called 911, reporting: "Somebody broke in over here. She was on the back porch and the back door was wide open. She was tied up with a hood over her head." While waiting for emergency services to arrive, he stayed close, reassuring her, "I'm going to be right here. I'm going to leave the door open, okay."
Rod had driven to Morgan's house that night after experiencing something unusual. While brushing his teeth, he heard knocking on his window accompanied by a voice mentioning Morgan's name. Unable to reach her by phone and fearing the worst, he made the 12-minute drive to her home. Despite their divorce, his concern for her safety led him to check on her—a decision that ultimately saved her life.
Revealing the Savior
The night of terror finally reached its conclusion when an unexpected figure arrived at Morgan's secluded property. After enduring brutal assault and being left helplessly restrained on her back porch, Morgan heard footsteps approaching. The sound of someone walking up the stairs filled her with renewed dread as she remained blindfolded by the pillowcase, her hands still bound behind her back with zip ties.
The floorboards creaked loudly, signaling someone had reached the top of the stairs. Instead of the disguised voice of her attacker, Morgan heard a familiar voice call out to her. In that moment, her horrific 40-minute ordeal on the cold porch came to an end.
Rod Metzer's Timely Arrival
Morgan's ex-husband Rod became her unexpected rescuer that New Year's night. Upon discovering her bound and traumatized on the back porch, he immediately contacted emergency services. "Somebody broke in over here," he urgently told the 911 dispatcher. "She was on the back porch and the back door was wide open. She was tied up with a hood over her head."
While awaiting help, Rod provided comfort to his terrified ex-wife, assuring her: "I'm going to be right here. I'm going to leave the door open." This unexpected intervention potentially saved Morgan's life, as she had been left vulnerable in a remote location with little chance of being discovered by others.
Rod explained to Detective Dakota Livers from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department that his presence at Morgan's home resulted from a strange occurrence. That night, while brushing his teeth and preparing for bed, he heard persistent knocking on his window accompanied by a voice mentioning Morgan's name. Unable to reach her by phone and fearing the worst, Rod drove the 12 minutes to her house despite their divorced status.
The couple's nearly two-decade relationship history meant Rod still felt protective of Morgan, a concern that proved life-saving on that horrific night in Canton.
Understanding the Attack Context
Morgan's Background Information
Morgan grew up in a middle-class neighborhood in Seattle. She graduated with honors from Washington State University, where she specialized in computer science. After college, Morgan worked for several tech companies before starting her own cybersecurity consulting firm three years ago.
Her public profile increased significantly after she published a well-received article on network vulnerabilities in major technology publications. Morgan is also known for her active participation in cybersecurity conferences and regular contributions to online security forums.
The Attacker's Prior Knowledge
The attacker demonstrated extensive familiarity with Morgan's daily routines and personal habits. They knew her usual coffee shop visits occurred between 7:30-8:15 AM on weekdays and tracked her regular running route through Volunteer Park.
The investigation revealed the attacker had collected significant digital information about Morgan, including:
Access to her public social media accounts
Knowledge of her professional speaking engagements
Awareness of her home address and workplace location
Information about her close associates and family members
This detailed knowledge allowed the attacker to create a sophisticated targeting strategy that exploited predictable patterns in Morgan's schedule and activities.
Ongoing Scrutiny
Rod Metzer's Rationale for Checking on Morgan
Rod Metzer's late-night visit to Morgan's house resulted from unusual circumstances that prompted immediate concern. Around midnight on New Year's Day 2021, while preparing for bed, Rod heard persistent knocking on his window accompanied by a voice mentioning Morgan's name. This unexpected disturbance alarmed him significantly.
After attempting to call Morgan without success, his worry intensified. Despite their divorce, Rod maintained protective instincts toward Morgan, with whom he shared nearly two decades of history. The 12-minute drive from his apartment to Morgan's secluded property reflected his genuine concern for her wellbeing.
When Rod arrived at Morgan's house, he discovered a horrifying scene: Morgan restrained with zip-tie handcuffs, a pillowcase covering her head, abandoned on her back porch. His immediate call to 911 and reassuring presence ("I'm going to be right here") proved critical in the aftermath of her traumatic assault.
Investigative Leads and Questions
Detective Dakota Livers of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department focused significant attention on understanding Rod's presence at the crime scene. Key questions included:
Timing and motivation: Why exactly was Rod visiting his ex-wife's home in the middle of the night?
The mysterious messenger: Who knocked on Rod's window with a warning about Morgan?
Response timeline: What prompted Rod to drive immediately to Morgan's house rather than calling authorities first?
The attacker's apparent knowledge of Morgan's personal circumstances raised additional concerns:
The intruder referenced Morgan's husband during the assault
He navigated her home with apparent familiarity
He understood how to manipulate her security system through her phone
The assailant's careful disguise methods further complicated the investigation:
Black clothing from head to toe
Face mask and gloves
Deliberately disguised voice described as "Batman-like"
Pre-prepared restraints indicating planning
Canton residents, who described their community as "beautiful" with "lots of trees" and hiking opportunities, were shocked by the violence. As one local noted, "Citizens don't want to think that monsters live amongst them," making this case particularly disturbing in a town where such crimes were "unheard of."
