May 22, 2025
Marcia and Carlton Lee’s month‑long property nightmare on Chicago’s South Side is finally over.
The couple have reclaimed their vacant house — one they’re trying to sell — after police arrested and removed a stranger who moved in with her family, with paperwork to suggest she owned it.
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"I knew the ID was fake," Marcia told ABC 7 Chicago. “I knew the documentation was fake. I'm just super excited that they finally got her out."
The woman in question — Shermaine Powell‑Gillard — now faces a stack of felony and misdemeanor charges.
The Lees have to clean up a mess of trash and some minor damage in the home before they put it back on the market, but they’re just grateful to have it back.
"It brings peace to my household," Carlton said. "That's what I need."
Why it took four weeks for the stranger to vacate
The Lees’ trouble began in early April, when they arrived at the vacant property to show it to a realtor and prospective buyer and discovered a woman who introduced herself as “Stacy” living inside.
She presented mortgage documents and photo ID that, at first glance, appeared legitimate. Officers called to the scene treated the confrontation as a civil dispute and said they lacked the authority to remove her.
Illinois law requires property owners to evict squatters under the Forcible Entry and Detainer Act, a process that can drag on for months.
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Frustrated by the situation, the Lees approached ABC7 for help. Marcia noted that on the supposed mortgage documents the woman presented, the property PIN matched a different home.
Following media coverage, police revisited the evidence and concluded the ID and mortgage file were indeed fakes.
Officers escorted Powell‑Gillard out of the home and charged her with forgery, burglary, obstructing identification, and criminal trespass. She has since been released and is awaiting her trial.
The Lees have boarded up every window and door of their vacant home to make sure they don’t have to deal with a repeat of the situation.
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Meanwhile, Illinois state representative La Shawn Ford is looking to change the existing eviction legislation so owners don’t have to go through the Forceable Entry Act and go to court to evict squatters.
Under his proposed law, police could remove a squatter as soon as the legitimate homeowner can prove they own the home. The Illinois Senate has passed the bill but it awaits a House vote.
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Protect your vacant property from squatters
Reports of squatting are on the rise across the United States, though it remains relatively rare.
Experts say that a tight housing market, slow civil courts, and social-media how-to guides have emboldened squatters.
Until legislation catches up, here are a few practical safeguards to protect your own vacant property:
Get surveillance cameras
Install cameras in secure, difficult-to-reach places. If a squatter claims a legal right to the home, footage can prove they broke in and move the case from civil to criminal court.
Ask neighbors to keep an eye out
Talk to your neighbors and let them know the home is vacant. Ask them to call or text you if they see anyone at the house so you can take action quickly.
Remove or replace lock boxes
If you're using a lock box for realtor access, make sure it has a hard-to-guess code. For example, don't use 1234 or the street number. Consider installing a keypad lock, which can have longer codes, or leaving the key with a property manager instead.
Consider the pros and cons of for-sale signs
While signs can help sell or rent your home, they also let squatters know a house is empty. If you're worried about squatters, consider sticking to online listings.
And if squatters do move in? Get the police involved and turn over as much information as possible. Don't take matters into your own hands — you could wind up with legal trouble of your own.
Hopefully, legal reforms will give homeowners across the U.S. more power to remove squatters. Until then, preventive measures remain your first and best line of defense.
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Danielle is a personal finance writer based in Ohio. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love.
