M., Winona Police Officers (Officers) were dispatched to a residence in the City and County of Winona, Minnesota, regarding a report of sexual assault that had just occurred. A resident (Victim) at the address stated Terry Carlton Ross, [DOB REDACTED] (Defendant), had broken into her house and touched her while she was sleeping. When Officers arrived at the scene, they spoke to Victim. Victim told Officers that prior to calling 911, she had been asleep in her bedroom, which is on the first level of the home.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] was woken up by Defendant rubbing her buttocks. At first, Victim [NAME REDACTED] one of her kids, but when she opened her eyes, she saw that it was Defendant. Victim [NAME REDACTED] in the bed next to her and had rubbed her buttocks with his hands for a couple of seconds. Victim [NAME REDACTED] was sleeping in a T-shirt and sweatpants, and Defendant rubbed her buttocks over her sweatpants. Victim stated when she realized it was the Defendant she began to yell and told him to get out of her home.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] had permission to stay at her residence and she had not seen him for an extended period. Officers noted Victim [NAME REDACTED], crying, and had to take breaks to catch her breath when she was reporting what happened. Victim [NAME REDACTED] told her, Victim’s daughter (Witness) had let him in. Victim believed her door may have been unlocked at the time Defendant entered. After Defendant left, Victim asked Witness if she let Defendant in. Witness stated she may have forgotten to lock the door after she came home.
Officer spoke to Witness. Witness told Officer she arrived home around 8:10 P.M. Witness stated that Victim [NAME REDACTED] in her room sleeping. Witness said she went to take a shower and while in the shower she heard Victim yelling and calling her name in a panic. Witness told Officer she did not let Defendant into the home. Officer asked Witness if it was common for Defendant to come over and she stated it was not. Witness stated the last time she saw Defendant had been a while ago. Witness thought Defendant was homeless.
Witness showed Officer a video from their Ring doorbell camera. Officer observed that Witness had arrived home at approximately 8:09 P.M. And entered through the front door. At approximately 8:29 P.M., Defendant appears to come around to the front of the house from the side of the house. Defendant does not knock on the front door, does not speak to anyone, and he lets himself inside pulling the storm door closed behind him. Defendant later exits the home with jacket in hand and smoking a half-burnt 2 85-CR-26-71 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 1/14/2026 cigarette.
Defendant leaves the area by walking around towards the side of the house toward the alley. A review of Defendant's criminal history shows a prior conviction for 5th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct on December 6, 2021, in Goodhue County, Minnesota. Victim [NAME REDACTED] was unsure where Defendant went after leaving her home. While Officer was speaking to Victim, she observed a bottle of Bacardi on the living room table. Victim [NAME REDACTED] had been in the backyard for about six months and neither her nor Witness had brought it into the home.
