Imagine living in the same place for almost five decades, only to suddenly find yourself forced out with no memory of ever agreeing to leave. That’s the heartbreaking reality for Wanda Jackson of Houston, Texas. Since 1977, she’s called her residence at 5119 Stuyvesant Lane home sweet home. But in September 2023, she was shockingly evicted, leaving her bewildered and devastated.
In an emotional interview with KTRK, Jackson expressed her disbelief. She never intended to leave her beloved home, especially after investing in repairs just a few years prior. When the pandemic hit, she enlisted the help of a contractor named Malcom Pryor, recommended by a friend, to handle some necessary fixes. Little did she know, this decision would lead to her downfall.
After paying Pryor out of her own pocket for the repairs, Jackson’s life took a drastic turn. She fell ill with COVID-19 and spent an extended period battling the virus. During her recovery, she underwent therapy to regain her strength, but her memory of that time is foggy at best.
Trouble began brewing when Pryor accused Jackson of failing to pay for the repairs. He went as far as filing a mechanic’s lien against her property. Before she knew it, records showed that Jackson had unknowingly transferred the deed to her home to Pryor in September 2022. In the haze of her illness and recovery, she had signed away ownership of her cherished abode.
To add insult to injury, the property changed hands multiple times without Jackson’s knowledge. Pryor sold her home to a local investor for a mere $50,000, only for it to be resold for a hefty profit of $262,500 after a short while. Eventually, the home fell into foreclosure due to missed payments on a loan Pryor had taken out against it.
In April of the following year, Jackson received the gut-wrenching news that her home was being foreclosed upon, and she was being forced to vacate. Now, she finds herself struggling financially, living in a nearby apartment, far from the place she once called home.
Tragically, this wasn’t the only property Jackson lost. Another home, inherited from her late mother in Marshall, Texas, suffered the same fate at the hands of Pryor, who promised repairs but ended up transferring ownership without her consent.
The Houston Police Department is actively investigating the situation, recognizing the vulnerability of older adults to such scams. Financial crimes investigator Esminda Gomez-Nicholas shed light on the modus operandi of these scammers, preying on isolated seniors with the intent to exploit.
While Jackson remains hopeful of reclaiming her home, her legal battles have been an uphill struggle. Despite hiring an attorney and fighting her eviction, she hasn’t been successful. Now, her beloved home rests in the hands of yet another investor, leaving Jackson feeling betrayed and angry.
“I’m mad at everybody concerned,” Jackson expressed during her interview. “It was more than Pryor who had something to do with this. You do not walk around to take people’s property just because you can.”
Her story serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by vulnerable seniors and the importance of safeguarding their rights and assets. As Jackson fights for justice, her plight serves as a rallying cry to protect our elderly from exploitation and ensure that they can age with dignity and security in the homes they cherish.
