'I’m not a squatter,' woman in half-million-dollar home claims as city responds to complaints

9NEWS investigates a case of a woman living rent-free inside a Lakewood home after the owner died. The owner’s granddaughter may be the rightful heir.


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9NEWS (KUSA) is located in Denver, Colorado.

[BaDazai]

She stole the house from the disabled granddaughter. I've never seen a squatter who isn't pure EVIL!!!

[NLADIES]

That woman has never had $2, 000 let alone $200, 000 to put in that home!

[phillhuddleston]

No way she spent anywhere near 200K on home maintenance and improvements! She's a thief and a liar!

[dlight]

How can a "vulnerable adult" who "lacks the mental capacity to make decisions" make a rental agreement with this squatter?!

[scotthanford]

Taking advantage of a disabled person. This thief has no shame.

[chriskobler]

Just kick her out. It's not her property. She is squatting period.

[tishannb]

She offered to buy a house while not paying anything but putting over 200k into the home. That is a lie, sickening.

[sdc]

house should be sold and used for the granddaughters care.

[dkmike]

She put 200k of renovations in the house?? That is such a lie, she is taking advantage of a deceased home owner and mental illness of the granddaughter. Squatters are so pathetic.

[GeeTheeStallion]

I she can put $200k into the house, she can buy her own house.

[AS-qnyg]

The woman deserves MINIMUM 10 years prison if not life.

[brasiboy]

They said the granddaughter doesn't have the mental capacity to make adult decisions, she lives in a living facility, so how can this woman claim a verbal agreement

[sue]

Anyone who puts $200, 000 into a property with only a 'verbal agreement' needs counselling.

[vivoyeur]

You know, body language speaks volumes. When asked if she was a "...squatter, " while she verbally said, "No..., " her head nodded, "Yes." Woman, get out.

[debramiller]

Make her prove she spent any $$ on that property. She should have contracts, receipts and bank records.

[BetterTextLex]

It’s really not a complicated legal issue. If there is deed for the property with one fee simple owner, who died without a will, then the property passes to his heirs, which is his disabled granddaughter. The verbal lease agreement is void because the granddaughter did not have capacity to enter into a binding contract. Even if granddaughter had capacity, a contract effecting an interest in property for longer than a year must be in writing or it is void. The squatter cannot claim her voluntary repairs or 1 year occupancy give her a right to the property. The squatter is not entitled to reimbursement for the cost of repairs unless she has proof of $200, 000 in expenses and permission from the owner or that the repairs were a necessity to live in the home .

[whammy]

Verbal leases should not be allowed... Everything should be documented, PERIOD

[whou]

All squatters say that they aren't squatters. Thieves say that they aren't thieves, and robbers say that they don't rob. Step one in criminal playbook - Deny that you do what you do. No matter the evidence to the contrary.

[grumpyoldlady_rants]

I don’t believe she even has a verbal agreement. Her history of felony identity theft says it all. Once a thief….

[meloon]

How is it a lease if she didnt pay rent? Totally rubbish.