A group of suspected squatters has taken over an elderly couple’s home in Colorado Springs, and now the squatters are reportedly getting access to free legal help to stay in the home they stole.

Alan Chang, founder of Vested Title & Escrow, said the squatter problem across the country is only escalating because of the availability of information on social media. Some squatters are essentially able to come up with a step-by-step guide on how to circumvent the law and target homeowners with vacant properties.

“This problem is not just affecting metropolitan areas, as bad actors are being looked out for across the country,” Chang said previously Newsweek. “Technology and availability of information have made finding a target much easier than in years past.”

William and Arlene Towns, a couple in their 70s living in Colorado Springs, were evicted from their home by alleged squatters and are now fighting to return to the home of 50 years.

“William and Arlene live on a fixed income and cannot afford the extravagant legal fees while the squatters receive free legal representation,” the family said in a GoFundMe post.

According to GoFundMe, cities are also struggling with skyrocketing utilities as squatters allegedly shower multiple times a day, leave the water running, and leave house lights on 24 hours a day.

“The squatters have taken over their house, are using the utilities for free and have even started a mushroom farming business,” the post says. “Their daughters are fighting for them, but without professional legal representation the process will take months and they cannot afford to wait.”

According to the family, the suspected squatters took over the elderly couple’s home when William, who suffered from dementia, was alone in the house while Arlene was staying with the family after a serious heart operation.

It is said that a homeless woman approached William while he was walking his dog and offered to do some household chores. However, this resulted in the squatter showering and sleeping in the guest room with William, under the impression that this would only be for a few days.

“She quickly took advantage of our father and his impaired mental state and has now moved many of her belongings into his home, brought two non-working cars onto his property, brought her 15-year-old son and a cat into the house, and is now a threatening and confrontational homeless man , her boyfriend, moved in with her on the property,” the GoFundMe says.

According to the family, the boyfriend harassed William, his family and friends when he was asked to leave and caused many arguments, leaving the elderly homeowners fearful for their safety and their home of 50 years who had lived for a long time, completely abandoned.

“Since our father no longer sleeps at home, they started growing mushrooms in the middle of the living room,” the family said. “They spend their days living in the house as if it were their own, rummaging through drawers and closets, searching through the storage items, using all the appliances, dishes, tools, food in the refrigerator and pantry, etc.”

After spending several days in the apartment, they gained rights as tenants under the law and now face legal eviction.

“This is not their first rodeo and they have taken full advantage of the system and know the law is in their favor and seem confident that they will have free housing and utilities for months through this process,” the family wrote.

While townspeople and their family members have called on police for help, reporting illegal license plates on squatters’ cars, underage drug use and mushroom farming, it often takes a full 24 hours for an office to come by when they all come by, according to data the family.

“If they do that, they talk to this woman and her boyfriend and don’t get permission from them to enter the property, so they can’t do anything,” GoFundMe said. “It doesn’t matter if our parents give them permission as owners and residents of the house. These people have the same permission rights for the property.”

While the towns struggle to afford lawyers because they live on their Social Security checks, the family said the illegal tenants can receive free legal services and have court costs waived because they are the defendants in the case.

“Everything is handed to them on a golden platter and they are essentially given a step-by-step guide on how to drag out the process and live for free for as long as possible,” the family wrote.

As William continues to suffer from dementia, the additional stress has worsened his ability to remember simple tasks or events.

“Our mother is also scared and very disturbed about not being able to return to her home safely, and our entire family is just sickened watching strangers living in our childhood home and searching through our treasured family memories and belongings,” said the family. They add that they feel “helpless.”

“Every day that passes and every new failed attempt to seek help from law enforcement means we have less and less confidence in the system’s ability to protect our community. We just don’t know what else to do and we’re just sitting around. “Watching our parents fear living in their home for months is unbearable, unfair and completely unacceptable.”

Newsweek was unable to independently verify details of the case.

So far the family has raised just under $1,000, but the going rate for lawyers in their area is between $400 and $500 an hour, plus an $1,800 deductible.

When homeowners find themselves in this situation, they often have to resort to unconventional methods to evict squatters from their homes or face high legal fees because state law often favors illegal tenants over homeowners.

“Because squatting appears to be on the rise, the courts have been overwhelmed for months or years, the police are unable or unwilling to help, property owners feel helpless and are told that the only way to take the squatters to court is up to them Property is coming back,” Lando Thomas, owner of California-based squatter removal service Squatter Squad, previously said Newsweek.

“Even the neighbors can be victims, because where there are squatters, bad activities such as drug trafficking and other crimes usually take place.”

U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz as the Lone Star State’s junior senator. This is the only debate the candidates will participate in before Election Day on November 5th. The debate begins at 7 p.m. and can be seen in the player below. NBC 5’s live coverage can be found below the live stream.

The Green Bay Packers are making a mid-season change at kicker. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Packers are releasing rookie Brayden Narveson and signing veteran Brandon McManus, who worked out with the team on Tuesday.

Narveson missed an NFL-high five field goals through six weeks, including at least one miss in four of six games this season. His most recent miss was a 44-yarder right at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Packers claimed Narveson’s final cuts in response to a failed kicker competition between Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph during the offseason and in training camp to release Narveson. Although he wanted to be patient, Narveson urged the team to take action because there was no progress.

The Packers will now turn to McManus, a 33-year-old kicker with 10 years of NFL experience.

Last season, McManus made 30 of 37 field goals (81.1 percent) and 35 of 35 extra point attempts for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He made 11 of 13 field goals of 40-49 yards and 5 of 10 field goals of 50 yards or more. He was one of only eight qualified kickers to make every extra point attempt in 2023.

McManus signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders this offseason but was released in June after allegations of sexual assault emerged in a lawsuit alleging inappropriate behavior by McManus on a flight to London during his time with the Jaguars last season. The NFL investigated the allegations but concluded McManus would not be punished for violating league policy, according to ESPN.

McManus won a Super Bowl in 2015 as a member of the Denver Broncos.

McManus has completed 45 kicks for 50 yards in his career. His career field goal percentage is 81.4.

The Packers did not immediately announce the roster moves, although both announcements – Narveson’s release and McManus’ signing – could arrive on Wednesday. Matt LaFleur’s team plays the Houston Texans 5-1 at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

LOS ANGELES (Kyodo) – A Japanese inmate who murdered a woman and her son in Hawaii in 1994 died Monday after being stabbed by his cellmate in a state prison, local media reported.

Raita Fukusaku, 59, who returned to his home country after the incident, became the first Japanese suspect in a murder case to be extradited to the United States under a bilateral agreement.

He was sentenced to life in prison by a Honolulu court in 1995 for fatally shooting fortune teller Kototome Fujita, 56, and her son Goro, 20, in the state.

The reports, citing police investigators, said Fukusaku was found bleeding from the neck after being attacked with a weapon by his 38-year-old cellmate at the Hawaii correctional facility.

The Prince William County Fire Department is working to contain the flames of a house explosion in Haymarket following a gas leak.

The family living in the home was evacuated and no injuries were reported, fire officials said. However, neighbors told News4 that some of the family’s pets died in the explosion.

Units were dispatched to the 5900 block of Coby Hunt Court in Haymarket at 4:17 p.m. in response to a reported outdoor gas leak. At approximately 5:36 p.m., these units reported that the house had exploded.

The Prince William County Fire Department says initial reports indicate an underground company struck a natural gas pipeline. However, it is not yet known what caused the explosion.

Units are still on site extinguishing the fire and the gas company is working to contain the leak.

Prince William County Fire and Rescue says there is no further threat to the community.

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