A Texas couple, Yudith Matthews and Abram Mendez, endured a two-month ordeal to evict a contractor-turned-squatter from their new home in San Antonio. Despite repeated calls to the police, they claimed law enforcement treated them as wrongdoers, leaving them feeling powerless and financially drained with an estimated $17,000 in damages and legal fees.
The squatter allegedly vandalized the property, endangered their safety, and refused to leave. After multiple court appearances and a writ of possession, they finally secured the home. The couple criticized the legal system and police for allegedly prioritizing squatters’ rights over homeowners’ rights, even when safety was jeopardized.
According to Matthews and Mendez, the contractor, a man in his forties, was initially hired to do work on the home but never completed any of it. He then moved into the house and refused to leave, claiming he had the right to live there. The couple reported the incident to the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) on February 29, but officers allegedly made no efforts to verify his account or check his identification.
The couple claimed that the squatter broke windows and doors to enter and exit the property, installed an extra door in the living room, and left behind debris. They also alleged that he damaged plumbing work, barbecued inside with a propane tank, sprayed mahogany cabinets with a bleach mixture, smoked and urinated indoors, and used a blender to run throughout the day to disrupt their peace and quiet.
Matthews and Mendez said they felt frustrated and abandoned by the police, who they claimed told them the matter was a civil issue. They expressed concern for other families who may face similar situations, especially those where both parents work full-time and do not have the time or resources to deal with squatters.
Officer Ricardo Guzman of the SAPD told Fox News Digital that law enforcement’s hands are tied in these situations due to squatter’s rights laws. He explained that once a squatter establishes residency, even in an abandoned building, it becomes their property, and removing them requires an eviction process.
The couple’s story highlights the challenges faced by homeowners in dealing with squatters. They called for stronger laws to protect property owners and criticized the legal system for allegedly favoring squatters over homeowners, even when safety is at risk. They also emphasized the importance of community support and the need for neighbors to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
