Memphis home invasion bandit captured 17 years after victim chopped off his finger at crime scene

Robbery suspect Terence Stewart lost his finger to a sword-wielding victim in the 2006 home invasion, court records allege

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He left more than just his prints at the scene, police say.

A Memphis home invasion suspect who lost his finger when a victim fought back and sliced it off with a sword in 2006 has been captured after eluding justice for nearly 17 years, according to court documents.

Police arrested Terence Stewart, 45, on July 27 at the scene of an accident after discovering multiple active warrants, a Memphis Police Department spokeswoman told Fox News Digital. 

In the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006, Stewart and another man barged into a home guns blazing, firing shots and demanding money from the eight people asleep inside, according to the original criminal complaint.

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memphis home invasion bandit captured 17 years after victim chopped off his finger at crime scene

Armed robbery suspect Terence Stewart poses for a mug shot at the Shelby County Jail in Memphis, Tennessee, on July 27, 2023. (Shelby County Sheriffs Office)

The suspected home invaders allegedly pistol-whipped one victim, identified as Guillermo Tobar, knocking him out before dragging him into another room, police alleged at the time.

They took cash and wallets from four other victims.

But Tobar woke up.

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memphis home invasion bandit captured 17 years after victim chopped off his finger at crime scene

A Memphis police vehicle pictured on Sept. 3, 2022, near the University of Tennessee campus. (Fox News Digital)

Then he "armed himself with a long saber-type sword" and charged the attackers, according to court documents.

"He fought back against one of the robbers, cutting the end of one of that suspect's fingers off in the process," Memphis Police Lt. M.R. Williams wrote in an affidavit.

The suspects fled, and responding officers recovered the finger at the scene — reminiscent of the 1999 movie, "The Boondock Saints."

After running its fingerprint, they identified it as Stewart's severed finger.

Police obtained an arrest warrant, but he remained on the run until his capture on July 27.

Stewart was freed on $200,000 bond and is due back in court on Aug. 15, court records show.

He faces four counts of aggravated robbery and three of attempted robbery — all felonies.

His prior record includes another aggravated robbery conviction in the 1990s and crack cocaine possession shortly before the 2006 robbery.

The second suspect's name was not included in court documents.

Michael Ruiz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and on Twitter: @mikerreports

Authored by Michael Ruiz via FoxNews August 7th 2023