Corruption, foreclosure, a dead dog and a skeleton
This one comes from Chicago -- a long way from L.A. Land -- but it is one of those stories you can't make up. It's too bizarre.
Here's the headline from the Chicago Tribune: "How fraud led to this property changing hands 3 times as son of owner sat dead inside."
"The new buyers of a rundown graystone on the South Side showed up Jan. 9 to look at the house they won at a foreclosure auction. They took the plywood off the front door and went inside to make sure the utilities had been shut off. Then they called the police.
"Sitting upright in the corner of a bedroom off the kitchen was a human skeleton in a red tracksuit. Next to him lay a dead dog. Neighbors told police the corpse was almost certainly Randy Johnson, a middle-age man who lived alone in the North Kenwood house.
"The cause of Johnson's death has not yet been determined, but it is just one of the mysteries about 4578 S. Oakenwald Ave. Somehow, Johnson's house was transferred three times to new owners without anyone noticing he was inside. It's a story involving forged deeds, a corrupt title company and a South Side family that has been under investigation for mortgage fraud."
Wild, wild stuff.
Hat tip: pseudo100, via e-mail
Thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com.
At least the poor guy can still vote.
Posted by: Mitch | February 25, 2008 at 02:30 PM
so how much do they want for it now?
Posted by: mike | February 25, 2008 at 02:58 PM
That's why the dog did not bark.
Posted by: MyLessThanPrimeBeef | February 25, 2008 at 03:18 PM
In a word, oy! Or, ohmahgod! You're right, Peter. This is a story that can't be made up. It should be a movie. How 'bout "Murder on the Real Estate Express ... A Story of Greed, Corruption and Flippers."
Sick ... sick ... sick.
Posted by: Martin | February 25, 2008 at 04:12 PM
I heard they got the house for a bare bones price.
Posted by: JSBFORUCLA | February 25, 2008 at 04:55 PM
You guys are really cruel and are going to hell! Shaking my head trying really hard not to laugh... Damn! Sorry! It didn't work! Snicker! ... God forgive me!
Posted by: JK | February 25, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Who let the dog(s) out?
answer: nobody, so the poor fella died in starvation.
The sad part is that nobody even bothered to jingle mail the keys...
I guess the bank can foreclose even if it does not get the keys back....
Thank god we got locksmith...
Posted by: Laker | February 25, 2008 at 11:47 PM