D’Andrea Turner could scarcely believe her ears when she received the news. The home she had lovingly purchased and nurtured alongside her former husband in Phoenix, Arizona—where precious memories of her children growing up remained etched into the very walls—had been quietly sold behind her back.
Turner and her ex-husband, Keith, originally bought the property together, creating an environment where family moments flourished. Eventually, when life took a different path for the couple, Keith remained the sole occupant, his profession as a long-haul truck driver often requiring lengthy absences.
The prolonged absences left the house vulnerable, a circumstance that would soon prove disastrous. Little did Keith and D’Andrea know that their vacant property would attract the attention of a pair of squatters determined to seize a unique opportunity.
These squatters, later identified as Aaron Polmanteer, 51, and Lledera Hollen, 37, allegedly entered the property illegally and wasted no time in setting their plan into motion. With remarkable audacity, the pair reportedly rifled through personal documents left behind, piecing together enough information to falsely assume the identities of the rightful homeowners.
Using these stolen identities, Polmanteer and Hollen allegedly fabricated fraudulent identification documents, complete with convincingly forged signatures. This elaborate charade enabled them to successfully pose as the Turners, fooling even seasoned real estate professionals.
Next, the pair reportedly enlisted the services of an unsuspecting third-party real estate agent to market the house. Completely unaware of the scam, the agent listed the property for sale, attracting the attention of interested buyers looking for a worthwhile investment.
Two investors stepped forward, eager to capitalize on the opportunity. They toured the home twice, each time met by Polmanteer and Hollen, who convincingly portrayed themselves as Keith and D’Andrea. With carefully rehearsed responses and a confident demeanor, the imposters managed to persuade the investors that everything was entirely legitimate.
Before long, the deal was closed, the investors parting with a substantial $200,000 for a home they believed was lawfully acquired. However, trouble arose when the suspects attempted to cash checks made out in the Turners’ names—a misstep that eventually revealed the depth of their deception.
When D’Andrea discovered what had happened, shock quickly gave way to disbelief. Speaking emotionally about her ordeal, she told ABC15, “Squatters stole my house. They actually moved in, posed as me, and sold my house. It feels so surreal. I feel like I’m trapped in some twisted episode of the Twilight Zone.”
She was stunned, not just by the scale of the deception but by the glaring breakdown of checks and balances designed to prevent such fraud. “That’s not my name, and that’s certainly not my signature,” she explained, frustration evident in her voice. “How does something like this even happen? Clearly, someone dropped the ball.”
Experts agree that the situation was alarming. James Carrieres, an experienced investigator specializing in document fraud with the Phoenix Police Department, shed further light on the matter. According to Carrieres, the responsibility to rectify the situation falls squarely upon Pioneer Title Agency—the company tasked with overseeing and authenticating the paperwork for the sale.
“In circumstances like these,” Carrieres elaborated, “the title company must fully reimburse the investors who were defrauded. Additionally, they’re required to restore the home’s original title back to the rightful owners and handle any associated financial complications that have arisen due to this fraudulent sale.”
Meanwhile, the two accused squatters, Polmanteer and Hollen, have since been indicted and now face serious charges. Their fraudulent activities have set off a complex legal process, aiming to untangle the layers of deceit that ensnared the Turners and the unwitting buyers.
Yet despite these legal actions, D’Andrea remains troubled by lingering reminders of the intrusion. She pointed out, somewhat incredulously, that mail addressed to the alleged imposters continues to arrive at her property. This ongoing presence serves as a bitter reminder of the audacious crime that stripped away her sense of security.
This incident underscores a broader vulnerability many homeowners unknowingly face. Properties left vacant—even temporarily—can swiftly become targets for criminal activity. Legal experts and law enforcement officials continue emphasizing the necessity for tighter security protocols and more rigorous identity verification measures within the real estate industry.
Ultimately, while the rightful ownership legally remains with D’Andrea and Keith, the emotional trauma caused by the incident lingers. The case vividly illustrates the frightening ease with which determined individuals can manipulate systems, identities, and documents for illicit gain, leaving innocent victims stunned and searching for answers.