man hears 84 yr old is in hospital. Moves in, changes locks, doors, and utility bills to his name

[Demovictory9]

Jeffrey Goddard reportedly told onlookers in Clairemont, California, "It's alright, I'll be back" as he was taken away in handcuffs. Goddard had, a few days earlier, said that he had stayed in the home nearly every night for a week and deserved to continue living in it.


The would-be squatter reportedly heard about the home's owner, John Marrs, 84, in a news story from December. Marrs had been hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning after being found disoriented in the garage with a car running. His adult daughter, Lisa Marrs, 52, was later found dead in the same home.

Soon after, neighbors told NBC San Diego that they noticed Goddard at the residence, changing locks, replacing a door, and receiving a handful of Amazon packages. When confronted about his use of the home, Goddard cited squatter's rights. Neighbors later learned that, in the short time that he had been there, he had already begun to pay property taxes and had changed several utility bills to his name.

"The gentleman [homeowner] is still alive," one neighbor named Kathy told the news outlet. "There should be no reason that this person should be allowed in this house."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/squatter-tries-to-steal-home-from-elderly-father-in-hospital-after-co-leak-kills-daughter/ar-AASUq5j

A neighbor told the news outlet that they confronted Goddard — who allegedly claimed he had squatter’s rights. At some point, the neighbors contacted the homeowner’s niece, who lives in Texas.


Goddard is charged with theft, burglary, battery, identity theft, and contracting without a license. He remains jailed on $500,000 bail.

https://www.crimeonline.com/2022/01/18/ill-be-back-squatter-steals-elders-home-while-hes-hospitalized-for-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-that-killed-his-daughter/

[Deuxcents]

1. Lowlife prick

Keep em locked up n I hope the family sues his squatters ass.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. The term for adverse possession is usually

20 years, not one week.

[ToxMarz]

24. This guy deserves a term of 20 years

in PRISON!

[Nictuku]

3. Carbon monoxide poisoning?

Carbon monoxide poisoning? His adult daughter found dead as well?

Something is fishy here. I know who my first suspect would be...

[EastMeetsWest]

11. I was thinking the same thing

This story is just so weird

[PTWB]

12. The disoriented elderly man who was found in the garage with a running vehicle?

[ToxMarz]

25. Maybe he came home or was leaving and had a medical issue

and was left in the garage with the car running. Maybe dementia. His daughter may not have known. Story doesn't really say.

[RussBLib]

4. gotta be a Trumper

he said with no evidence whatsoever

[obamanut2012]

13. An obvious Sov Cit

[Casady1]

21. I don't know about that

He has a mask on.

[RussBLib]

30. chuckles. nt

[lpbk2713]

5. ... claimed he had squatter's rights

He has a fool for a lawyer.

[Shrike47]

6. In California, a squatter must adversely possess for 5 years to attain rights.

The a-hole probably has his own version of the law to rely on.

[Srkdqltr]

7. How is the home owner? The story doesn't say.

[haele]

8. Bet he's also a sovereign citizen type.

By the way, there are no official squatters rights in California. Historically, there had been few people have taken over long abandoned (as in a decade or so) property or housing sitting in probate limbo, paid outstanding taxes, and filed a claim to the property in court after doing so, but in most cases, those were either long time renters tired of waiting out probate and taking matters into their own hands, or someone who has been looking after the property after the original owner died.
But even in those cases, the claim went to court and if they were successful, it was because there was a deal made between the estate and the long time tenant or caretaker in court.
This guy was just a scumbag scammer. So he paid the property tax (due on December) when the poor owner ended up in the hospital in November. That was nice of him. But doesn't give him the rights to the house according to the state.

Haele

[wnylib]

19. Don't sovereign citizens generally refuse

to acknowledge a government's rights to tax people?

This guy just sounds to me like a low life scammer who makes up his own rules.

[LiberatedUSA]

9. Pacific Heights

Makes me think of the movie Pacific Heights from 1990.

[obamanut2012]

14. Yes!

[Amishman]

10. if he had presented a faked lease, this could have gone on for months

It is surprisingly difficult to draft tenant protections that don't also open the door to abuse by squatters

[localroger]

16. Pretending to be a tenant wasn't what he wanted

He wanted to own the house, not just live there awhile.

[cinematicdiversions]

15. This is a real fear.

I really hope he finds a home for the next ten years or so.

[lastlib]

18. ...with steel doors...

and bars on the windows.

[fwvinson]

17. wanna guess who this guy bows to as his "Dear Leader"

[Lucky Luciano]

20. Squatters should never get any rights ever

[Casady1]

22. Look at the bright side

He has a mask on.

[LetsGoBiden]

23. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often

In California with the whole homeless rates I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often and evil The guy literally was hoping the owner died in my humble opinion after reading about his daughter dying in the guy almost dying as well

[LakeArenal]

26. This happens in Costa Rica often.

They even manage to register fake deeds.

It’s actually legal if the owner has failed to pay taxes for 7 years.

Old Gringos buy houses. Go back to US and die. Check the tax history of a house that’s been idle. Bingo. Move in. All good.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

27. The other takeaway I have is that the 84 year old owner

is probably no longer capable of living on his own.

[Evolve Dammit]

28. Lock him up. What a slime

[question everything]

29. WTF is squatter's rights?