In a shocking incident in Colorado Springs, a couple's daughters have accused a homeless woman, her boyfriend, and her son of exploiting their dementia-stricken father and taking control of their parents' home, a place they've called home for half a century.
The daughters of 76-year-old William Towns claim that their father encountered the homeless woman while walking his dog and noticed she was living in her car. At the time, his wife, Arlene, was recuperating from a significant heart surgery at one of their daughters' homes.
According to The New York Post, the daughters narrated the ordeal through a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds for legal expenses. They wrote, "[The homeless woman] offered to do some household chores for him, to which he agreed. Chores turned into using his shower on occasion and then sleeping in a guest room of his home for what he understood to only be a number of days." However, they allege that the woman swiftly exploited the situation, moving her non-functional vehicles, personal belongings, her 15-year-old son, her boyfriend, and her cat into the house.
The daughters further claim that the boyfriend has been harassing their father and their family and friends, provoking altercations and engaging in disputes with unknown groups who visit the property. They wrote, "[The boyfriend] harasses our dad and our family and friends when asked to leave. He has provoked altercations with our dad on numerous occasions and gets into arguments with a number of unknown other groups of people that come by the property to seek him out." As a result, Towns now feels extremely uncomfortable and fears for his safety in his own home.
The daughters' distress doesn't end there. They allege that the unwelcome guests have initiated a "mushroom growing operation" in the living room, there is "underage drug use" in the house, and they "intentionally flash" firearms at the installed security cameras. They also accuse them of wasteful behavior, such as leaving faucets and lights on around the clock. The GoFundMe page states, "They spend their days living in the home as if it is their own, rummaging through drawers and cupboards, going through storage items, using all appliances, dishes, tools, food in the refrigerator and pantries, etc."
The daughters insist that there was never an agreement allowing these individuals to take permanent residency in the home or on the property. However, they lament that the law seems to favor the squatters, who have stayed in the home for more than a few days and thus have rights to the home. They wrote, "This isnt their first rodeo, and they have taken full advantage of the system and know the law is in their favor and seem to live confidently that they will have free housing and utilities for months through this process."
The Towns couple, who live on a fixed income from Social Security, cannot afford the hefty legal fees required to evict their uninvited guests. The daughters claim that the squatters receive free legal services and have their court fees waived, while an attorney for the Towns family would charge a $1,800 retainer and $400 to $500 per hour.
The family has repeatedly sought help from the Colorado Springs Police Department, but to no avail. They wrote, "We feel so helpless, and each day that goes by and each new failed attempt to ask for help from law enforcement leaves us feeling less and less trust in the systems ability to keep our community safe. We just dont know what else to do, and just sitting around for months watching while our parents are scared to live in their home is unbearable, unfair, and absolutely unacceptable."
The Colorado Springs Police Department informed Fox 21 that since the alleged squatters were invited inside, it does not constitute trespassing. Evictions are handled by the Sheriffs Office, and the case will likely require a court order, judges decision, and enforcement by El Paso County.
Kevin Hughes, a real estate litigator and partner at California-based Foundation Law Group, explained to Fox News Digital that the key issue here is the permission granted by the homeowner. If the individuals were not invited, they would be considered squatters or trespassers, and law enforcement could be directly involved. However, even in such cases, a legal eviction process is necessary as the squatters have rights and are entitled to due process.
Hughes suggested that the family should hire an eviction lawyer and issue a clear notice demanding the termination of any tenancy rights the squatters may have. If they refuse to leave, the couple can file an eviction complaint. After another 30 to 45 days, a judge may issue an order allowing sheriffs deputies to remove the unwanted family.
However, the father's alleged compromised mental state could complicate the situation further. Hughes said, "Its just a question of whether the parent has the cognitive capacity to be a good [legal] client and to advise and instruct the lawyer if not, you get into a situation where you may need either a power of attorney, a legal guardianship or conservatorship. And that is complicated and thats time-consuming and thats expensive, and thats a different lawyer. But we just want to get the squatters out. And already, were thinking about how much time thats going to take and how much money its going to cost."
The situation raises serious questions about the law's stance on such incidents. Hughes questioned, "Whats the difference between what happened in Colorado and a home invasion? Except the people who invaded got comfortable? And, you know, and brought their toothbrushes. Well, it doesnt seem like the law should favor that. Thats crazy. And because its crazy, the law should be different." The case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and potential pitfalls of the legal system, particularly when it comes to property rights and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
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