Terri Boyette, a Texas woman, shared her harrowing experience of her home being turned into a squatter’s “drug den” and her furniture being sold in a yard sale. She had hired the man as a recommended repairman from TikTok.
Appearing in front of a Texas Senate committee, Boyette recounted the nightmare she faced while trying to remove the vagrants from her home.
Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt expressed outrage at the situation, calling it burglary and breaking and entering, promising that such incidents will not be tolerated in Texas once new legislation is passed.
Boyette’s ordeal began when she hired the worker off social media last June to make repairs on her home while she was away caring for her elderly mother in Florida.
Upon her return, Boyette discovered that the repairman had started squatting in her Mesquite home and allowed other strangers to join him, turning her home into a biohazard zone.
Despite her efforts to evict the squatter, the process was prolonged due to various reasons, including a judge’s decision to extend the appeal by 30 days over the holidays.
After months of legal battles, the squatter was finally evicted in March, but Boyette still faces challenges in moving back in due to the disarray left behind.
Boyette’s case is one of many in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, prompting lawmakers to address the issue with new legislation to prevent such incidents in the future.
The committee, led by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, aims to close legal loopholes that allow vagrants to occupy homes illegally.
Boyette highlighted the difficulties she faced with law enforcement, as the police initially deemed the situation a civil matter, leaving her without proper assistance.
Despite the eviction, the alleged squatter returned to the home, leading to his arrest on a criminal trespass complaint.
Legislators have demanded answers from the Mesquite Police Department regarding their handling of the situation and have requested their presence at the next meeting to explain why the squatter was not removed promptly.
