A “serial squatter,” who was last reported to be seen fraudulently living 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 the execution of a document over $30,000 and less than $150,000, a felony, a police spokesman told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
The spokesman noted that the charges were unusual and that he and a detective had never seen them before — though that didn’t mean the department hadn’t issued such charges before.
Police said they believe Schwab may still be in the state and are urging the public to come forward with any tips on his whereabouts.
Schwab is a convicted fraudster who was sentenced in 2018 in Colorado for felony identity theft in connection with a series of squats.
He was released in 2020 after serving just 16 months in prison and returned to the spotlight this year when Rowlett homeowner Jessica Davis raised the alarm that a woman allegedly using a false identity had moved into her home without paying rent.
“While I am glad there is a warrant out for Heather’s arrest, I feel this matter could have been dealt with earlier if the Dallas and Rowlett County Police had ignored my calls for help, my evidence of fraud and my desire to file a report on Heather in the first place,” Davis said. to Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Schwab’s charges stemmed from a rental agreement he made with Davis, promising to pay $3,100 a month over a 12-month contract, police said.
Alleged serial squatter Heather Schwab is charged in Texas with fraudulently securing the execution of 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 squatting at home and emphasized that he called numerous local officials for help on the matter, but was told it was a civil case.
“I called the police. I called the DA. I called the police chief. Assistant police chief. The Department of Justice and the courts, like if I can get the number, I call it,” Davis said in September.
Davis and her husband, Colin Davis, bought their first home in December in Rowlett, about 20 miles outside of Dallas.
Schwab allegedly squatted in a house in Rowlett, Texas.Google Maps Homeowners Jessica and Colin Davis rented the house after they moved to Florida.Courtesy of Jessica Davis
The house, which has four bedrooms, a swimming pool and a hot tub, was the family’s dream before Davis had to move to Florida for his job about six months ago.
The couple did not want to sell the property right after buying 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 scenario 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, who came under 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 kitchen counter at home targeted by alleged “serial squatter.”Jessica Davis
Everything was above board 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 because the payment for the home was being processed.
However, the payment fell through, according to Davis, and the homeowner never received the 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 found a news link from 2018 reporting her arrest and subsequent conviction on felony identity theft charges from alleged serial squatting in Adams County, Colorado.
An empty hot tub in a Texas home recently vacated by squatters. Jessica Davis
She and her husband William Schwab were accused of renting and living in the property but never paying the landlord.
Prosecutors called Schwab a “serial squatter,” while the judge who presided over his case in 2018 said his crimes were “heinous.”
Davis and her husband hired an attorney after the discovery and began filing an eviction notice but were unsuccessful. Local media began investigating the matter last month, which Davis attributed to helping speed up the process of getting the squatter and her son out of the house.
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 smell urine. They smelled of smoke,” Davis recounted what her husband and police found when they entered the home. “Both toilets were clogged with piles of toilet paper and other liquid-looking stuff.”
Davis lamented in his comments to Fox News Digital on Thursday that he wished the local police would have acted sooner when he found the squatter at his home, arguing that “negligence and lack of communication burdened the department on this matter” and that he “paid for it.”
“I was also told that I am not a victim. According to Rowlett Police, they also admitted to ignoring me [until] local news is involved,” he said. “…I hope the higher ups or the DA will look into what is going on and correct the issues within the legal department.”
The homeowner said the squatting issue had caused him financial difficulties and was living with family members to save money.
Homeowner Jessica Davis said a squatter who took over her home tried to whitewash the fireplace.Jessica Davis
The property should generate $2,850 in rent each month, in addition to the $300 monthly bill for weekly pool service.
Instead, Davis hasn’t received any payment from the woman for the three months she owes and is looking at a $1,500 water bill, electric bill, legal fees, mortgage payments and expensive 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 caught and found guilty, Schwab faces up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
