Homeowner stunned to discover family living in renovated property he was getting ready to sell
A family who thought they were moving into their dream home were shocked to find out they had fallen for a 'squatter scam'.
Homeowner Mike Haskell believed he was just hours away from finalizing the sale of his newly renovated home in Windsor Mill, Baltimore.
But what began as a routine real estate transaction suddenly turned into a housing nightmare which turned out to be a sham.
The day before closing the deal, Haskell received a phone call from a prospective buyer that upended everything.
He told a local news outlet: 'The buyer last night drove by and saw a moving truck in the driveway. They thought it was maybe being unstaged for advertising. I said, "No, that was done way earlier. There should be nobody there".'
When Haskell raced to the house, he saw a U-Haul van parked in the driveway, the locks had changed, and the for-sale sign had suddenly been removed.
Inside, a couple and their two small children had been living comfortably for at least a week and claimed they had a legal right to be there - despite Haskell owning the property.
According to the couple, they moved in after finding the property through an ad posted on social media offering access to a so-called 'last resort' home for a one-time payment of just $7,500 in cash.
The pair said they met the poster of the advert outside the Windsor Mill property, handed over the money, and signed what appeared to be a lease.
The family moved in claiming they were completely unaware that their lease was in fact worthless.
The family ultimately acknowledged they were 'unlawfully occupying' the home and that their presence had jeopardized Haskell's pending sale.
When Haskell called Baltimore County Police, he expected swift action but officers classified the situation a civil matter, despite there being clear signs of fraudulent entry.
According to the official report, the case was treated not as a criminal offense, but as a landlord-tenant dispute.
Civil courts are often the only recourse for homeowners facing unauthorized occupation, and the legal process to remove squatters can drag on for months or years, even for those with fake or nonexistent leases.
Attorney Bruce Ailion said: 'It is currently more difficult to get squatters out than getting a delinquent tenant out.'
'The key to protecting yourself from squatters is preventing them from entering in the first place,' Ailion added, urging property owners to invest in cameras, high-grade locks, and regular surveillance.
What makes the case especially alarming is the organized nature of the scam.
Victims who are often vulnerable families in desperate need of housing are asked to pay lump sums in cash in exchange for fraudulent documents and access to homes they do not legally control.
Haskell said: 'These are not isolated incidents. They know who the scammer is, and I'm not quite sure why an arrest has not been made.'
He claims the woman who showed the property to the couple is actively orchestrating similar scams across the county. Despite her alleged involvement in multiple cases, she has not been charged.
'I want to see law enforcement, prosecutors, and government officials hold these people accountable,' Haskell added.
Desperate to salvage the sale of his home, Haskell ultimately agreed to a 'cash for keys' deal, a controversial tactic in which a property owner pays the unauthorized occupants to leave quietly. He handed over $3,000 in cash to the couple, who then agreed to vacate.
At one point, the man who was illegally occupying the home reportedly asked Haskell: 'It would be nice if I could get compensated something… like a hotel? Something? Money?'
David Metzger, a real estate attorney, advises sellers to proceed with caution.
He said: 'As soon as you list a home for sale or lease, invest in cameras and security systems.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
More police officers hurt during fifth night of violence in Northern Ireland
More police officers were injured as heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown during disorder on Friday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said. A senior officer warned that the force is actively investigating people inciting the disorder through social media. The scenes on Friday night in Portadown were the fifth consecutive night of rioting in the region after serious disturbances in Ballymena on Monday. The violence, which followed an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl in the Co Antrim town, has since spread to several other parts of Northern Ireland. On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people attended a rally in Belfast city centre which heard calls for greater political leadership in opposing racism. More than 60 police officers have been hurt during the rioting. A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Disorder and violence broke out in Portadown with officers coming under sustained attack with heavy masonry and fireworks thrown at them. 'Officers used various public order tactics including water cannon to keep the public safe with no reports of injury to the public or damage to property.' Two males, aged 14 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and remain in custody. Police in Londonderry dealt with disorder in the Tullyally area. A police vehicle was damaged, with the front window smashed. One male was arrested at around 2.20am and remains in custody. Damage was caused to playing fields and property in the Killeavey Road area of Newry as a large group set a pitch and bins on fire. One 14-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riot. Stones were thrown at the windows of a hotel in the Newtownabbey area and a car was set on fire in the Hesketh Gardens area of Belfast, which police are treating as a racially motivated crime. The disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town last weekend. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged with attempted rape. A peaceful protest about the alleged assault on Monday evening was followed by attacks on properties housing ethnic minorities and police. The PSNI described the scenes as 'racist thuggery'. Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: 'It's deeply disturbing to see such young members of our communities involved in and in some areas driving criminal activity like this. 'I would appeal directly to parents and guardians to speak to your children about the impact their behaviour is having on the safety of our local communities and the impact this could have on their lives if arrested, charged and prosecuted. 'We continue to have a heightened presence in our local communities to de-escalate violence and we are making arrests and will continue to make public appeals with photos of suspects. 'Do you want your child, family member or friend directly associated with this disorder in this way? These actions are not without serious consequence. 'I am so grateful to our frontline officers who continue to put themselves at risk in protecting everyone from this hate-motivated criminality.' Ms Jones added: 'To those posting hate on social media, inciting disorder or being seen to commit disorder, we are actively investigating what you have said and what you have been captured doing. 'We have an ongoing physical and online presence. 'As our investigation continues, we have already released images of four individuals we want to identify and interview in connection with our ongoing investigation. 'In releasing these images, I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us. 'It is in all of our interests, and in the interests of justice, that those responsible are dealt with and I would urge anyone who may have information to bring it forward. 'It is important to know over the remainder of this weekend the public will continue to see a large policing presence across Northern Ireland to reassure our communities and protect our streets. 'This will include the deployment of mutual aid resources from Scotland. These officers, trained to work in our environment, will be working side by side with their PSNI colleagues. 'We repeat, once more, our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pheobe Bishop's boyfriend breaks his silence, revealing fresh details about her fateful trip to the airport - and the other tragedy that took them apart from one another
The family of Pheobe Bishop's boyfriend has revealed heartbreaking details of the trip she never made after she was allegedly murdered on her way to see him. Pheobe, 17, vanished en route from her hometown of Gin Gin in central Queensland, to visit her high school sweetheart, Levi, 18, in Western Australia on May 15. But she never made her flight after her housemates James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, allegedly murdered her on the way to nearby Bundaberg Airport. Pheobe rang her boyfriend as she was being driven by them to the airport - but he was unable to hear anything before the call cut off. Levi waited patiently in vain for her to arrive at Perth Airport, dutifully checking flight after flight, until he realised something had gone horribly wrong and raised the alarm. Now Levi's father Rick - speaking on his son's behalf - has opened up to Daily Mail Australia. (We are not revealing Levi's surname at the family's request.) Rick said Levi is still too traumatised by Pheobe's loss - but said the family wanted to pay tribute to the special bond between the lovestruck teenagers. 'Levi absolutely adored Pheobe,' he said. Rick revealed the tragedy is the second devastating heartbreak to hit the family after Levi lost his mother in a car crash in Bundaberg just four years ago - a tragedy that prompted the family to move across the country. Pheobe Bishop, 17, (pictured with her mother Kylie Johnson) vanished en route from her rural Queensland hometown to visit high school sweetheart, Levi, 18, in Western Australia on May 15 'They would video chat all night, every night, falling asleep - and then they would tell each other who was sleep-talking the next day,' Rick told Daily Mail Australia. 'It was a bit cute.' The father-of-six said the couple had been excited for weeks about their reunion and were busily planning out every detail. 'Levi had bought Pheobe a Canon camera worth $1000 because she wanted to get into photography,' he said. 'A week before she was supposed to land, Levi had packed the 4WD up with camping gear. 'He had planned a trip to Esperance in WA, camping on the beach with Pheobe. 'They were both really excited about that. 'It's so heartbreaking seeing what could have been a beautiful future together shattered into pieces.' Pheobe's tragic death comes only a few years after Levi, then 13, lost his mother Jade Warry, 35. 'Their beautiful mum had a car accident on New Years Eve 2020 and the kids would go past the site everyday on the school bus,' Rick said. 'It was too hard on them, the constant reminder.' Jade was travelling on Bucca Road in Bundaberg when her vehicle crashed into a tree just before 9pm. A passing motorist found Jade and paramedics were called to the scene - but nothing could be done to save her life. Rick and Jade had been planning their wedding for the following year and he admitted he was devastated by the loss. Pheobe and Levi both attended the same local school, but Rick then had to make the difficult decision to split them up and relocate his family for a fresh start. The family faced daily reminders of the horrific tragedy, and the father decided he needed to move far away to escape the confronting traumatic scene, day after day. 'Moving to WA was the best move,' he said. 'I never thought I'd see them happy again. 'And it meant the world to us for Pheobe to come over. 'I'm a widower with six children and she just wanted to come over and help and spend quality time with Levi's siblings.' Tragically, she never made it. Officers discovered the teenager's remains near Good Night Scrub National Park on June 6. It's alleged Bromley and Wood interfered with her corpse on May 15 and again two days later when Pheobe's body is said to have been moved to Good Night Scrub National Park. Court documents allege she was killed on Airport Drive in Bundaberg where she was last seen with her luggage, which police have yet to find. Detectives are understood to be relying on Pheobe's clothes and DNA from hair at the scene to identify her after her body lay for three weeks in a remote area where feral dogs and wild pigs roam. Police confirmed Pheobe's remains had not been buried at the site where they were found. Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said the remains had been at the location since Pheobe first went missing. He told reporters telecommunications data had led them to the second site. 'The national park is vast and unforgiving terrain,' Insp Mansfield said. He confirmed Pheobe's luggage is yet to be located and that police are still waiting for forensics to come back from the Gin Gin house Pheobe shared with Wood and Bromley. 'Significant forensic procedures still need to take place,' he said. Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson was informed that police had found human remains just moments before the discovery was made public. 'I didn't think my heart could break anymore then it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid, but this! This is ripping me apart,' she said in a post as the news broke.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Layton Carr: Bikers pay tribute to boy killed in Gateshead fire
Bikers have paid tribute to a 14-year-old boy killed in a fire at a disused industrial Carr's body was discovered in a building on Fairfield Industrial Park, in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead, on 2 month, his family described him as a "cheeky, happy lad" with "an absolute heart of gold".Twenty-six children have been arrested and released on bail in connection with the blaze as Northumbria Police continues its investigation. The service was held at South Shields Crematorium before the youngster was laid to rest at Harton Cemetery. In a social media post last week, funeral directors said Layton had "a true passion" for motorcycles and they invited anyone with a bike to ride in tribute and "make some much-loved noise in his honour".They added: "He would've absolutely loved that." 'Bright and beautiful' Layton, a pupil at Hebburn Comprehensive School, "was loved by all that met him, and it showed", his family had said in their tribute."He was a family boy that loved his mam and sisters more than anything in the world."Layton, we love you more than any words can ever explain. You will be missed more than you'll ever know. Our bright and beautiful boy." Firefighters were called to the blaze shortly after 19:50 BST. Crews were met with "a severe fire within a section of one of the buildings".It was brought under control just before midnight having broken out in a large building on the estate, which has largely fallen into disrepair in recent than £21,000 has been raised via a GoFundMe appeal set up for Layton's mother. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
