A “serial squatter,” who was allegedly last seen living fraudulently in a Texas home, is officially a wanted woman in the state, police said.
The Rowlett Police Department charged Heather Schwab this week with fraudulently obtaining execution documents worth more than $30,000 and less than $150,000, a felony, a police spokeswoman told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
The spokeswoman noted that the charge was unusual and one that she and a detective had never seen before, although that does not mean the department had never issued such a charge before.
Police said they believe Schwab is likely still in the state and are asking the public to come forward with any leads on his whereabouts.
Schwab is a convicted fraudster who was sentenced in 2018 in Colorado for felony identity theft in connection with serial squatting.
She was released in 2020 after spending just 16 months behind bars and returned to the public spotlight this year when a Rowlett homeowner, Jessica Davis, raised the alarm that a woman allegedly using a false identity He moved into his house rent-free.
“While I am happy that there is a warrant for Heather’s arrest, I feel that this could have been resolved sooner if Dallas County and Rowlett Police had not ignored my calls for help, my evidence of fraud, and my wishes in filing. . a report on Heather at the beginning,” Davis told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Schwab’s charge stems from a rental agreement he made with Davis, promising he would pay $3,100 per month on a 12-month contract, police said.
Alleged serial squatter Heather Schwab was charged in Texas with fraudulently obtaining execution documents over $30,000 and less than $150,000. Courtesy of Jessica Davis
Davis spoke to Fox News Digital earlier this fall, when Schwab was still occupying the home, and noted that he called many local officials for help on the matter, but was told it was a civil case.
“I called the police. I called the district attorney. I called the police chief. The deputy police chief. The Department of Justice and the courts, like I could get a number, I called him,” Davis said in September.
Davis and her husband, Colin Davis, bought their first home in December in Rowlett, about 20 miles from Dallas.
Schwab was allegedly squatting at a home in Rowlett, Texas. Google Maps Owners Jessica and Colin Davis rented the house after moving to Florida. Courtesy of Jessica Davis
The house, which has four bedrooms, a pool and a hot tub, was a dream for the family before Davis had to move to Florida for work about six months ago.
The couple did not want to sell the property so soon after purchasing it and decided to rent it out.
They posted listings on Apartments.com and Zillow to find potential tenants and ended up in a nightmare situation with Schwab, who allegedly used a fake identity to move into the house.
Davis said she received an initial message from a hopeful tenant about the property, which came with the name “Heather Schwab,” but the woman told Davis she was using her friend’s Zillow account and claimed her real name was Rayes Ruybal. .
Empty bottles and food on the kitchen counter of a house attacked by an alleged “serial squatter.” Jessica Davis
Everything seemed fine with the application, and Davis allowed the woman and her 17-year-old son, who Davis said has autism, to move into the home early while the house payments were processed.
However, the payments fell through, according to Davis, and the owners never received any money from the woman.
Davis began his own investigation into the woman after police repeatedly told him it was a civil matter, he said at the time.
Davis then researched Heather Schwab’s name and discovered news links from 2018 reporting her arrest and subsequent conviction on felony identity theft charges for alleged serial squatting in Adams County, Colorado.
The empty hot tub in the Texas home that was recently vacated by a squatter. Jessica Davis
She and her husband William Schwab were accused of renting and living in properties but never paying the owners.
Prosecutors called Schwab a “serial squatter,” while the judge presiding over his case in 2018 said his crimes were “appalling.”
Davis and her husband hired an attorney after discovery and began filing eviction notices without success. Local media began investigating the matter last month, which Davis credited with helping speed up the process of removing the squatter and her son from the home.
Schwab finally moved out late last month, Davis said, leaving the house reeking of urine and cigarette smoke, and littered with food and debris.
“They smelled urine. They smelled like smoke,” Davis said of what her husband and the police found when they entered the house. “Both toilets are clogged with piles of toilet paper and other fluids apparently.”
Davis lamented in his comment to Fox News Digital on Thursday that he hoped local police had acted much sooner when they discovered the squatter in his home, arguing that “negligence and lack of communication weigh on the department in this matter.” ” and that she is “paying for it.”
“They even told me that I was not a victim. According to Rowlett police, they even admitted that they ignored me. [until] Local news got involved,” he said. “…I hope that the superiors or the district attorney will look into what happened and fix the problems in the legal department.”
The homeowner said the squatting problem has left her in financial difficulties and she has to live with family members to save money.
Homeowner Jessica Davis says a squatter who took over her home tried to whitewash the chimney.Jessica Davis
The property was supposed to generate $2,850 in rent each month, plus a $300 monthly bill for weekly pool services.
Instead, Davis did not receive any payment from the woman for the three months he is owed and is facing a water bill, electric bills, legal fees, mortgage payments and costly $1,500 cleaning fees.
Police told Fox News Digital that Schwab was last seen driving a 2005 Dodge Ram with a Colorado license plate that read ZOS460.
If arrested and convicted, Schwab faces up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn