101-year-old Detroit woman evicted in foreclosure

DETROIT (AP) — A 101-year-old woman was evicted from the southwest Detroit home where she lived for nearly six decades after her 65-year-old son failed to pay the mortgage.

Texana Hollis was evicted Monday and her belongings were placed outside the home. Her son, Warren Hollis, said he didn't pay the bill for several years and disregarded eviction notices.

"I kept it from her because I didn't want to worry her," Warren Hollis told WXYZ-TV for a report that aired Monday night. "I was just so sure it wasn't going to happen."

Wayne County Chief Deputy Treasurer David Szymanski told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Hollises took out an adjustable-rate mortgage in 2002. A default and foreclosure notice was filed in November.

"They ended up owing $80,000 on the home," Szymanski said. "Warren indicates he did not make the payments. He got the notices, but threw them away."

County records show that property taxes were paid on the home through summer 2010. A winter tax bill of $55.95, including interest and fees, was unpaid, and a $778.44 summer tax bill was due this month.

A neighbor was letting Texana and Warren Hollis live in a rental house across the street from the home they shared, and Texana Hollis' belongings were being moved there. Others, including a nonprofit organization, were working to get her back into her home.

On Monday night, she was taken to a hospital for evaluation after she became disoriented.

Szymanski said county officials were asking questions and looking into what they can do to help. He said the county has worked with 10,000 taxpayers to keep them from going into foreclosure.

"The teachable moment here is for people not to stick their head in the sand," he said.

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Comment by kcrunchone on September 21, 2011 at 3:05pm: @ Lisa Watson I would have to agree NO WHERE else. In other places the elderly are revered and respected even after death.

Comment by Lisa Watson on September 21, 2011 at 9:43am: Only in #%<€ America!!!!!!

Comment by Gerard Bryan on September 19, 2011 at 5:53pm: Her son needs a ass whipping!

Comment by dao on September 18, 2011 at 1:12am: only in america

Comment by Ripper on September 17, 2011 at 7:45pm: Both of them are very old. Time for government assistance. (Yeah right)

Comment by Blackinese on September 17, 2011 at 6:40pm: We can all learn from this story. Be financially educated and read things before you sign them! Her son probably took out another mortgage on the house so he could palace he ass with the money thinking the mother would die and he wouldn't have to pay the debt back. It's not no plot by anybody but her dumb ass son.

Comment by Onika Evans on September 17, 2011 at 4:13pm: Her son is 65. i'm sure he's been taking care of his mom for the greater part of his life. a house is not just the light bill and phone bill. Bills add up, i'm sure he was struggling. what's sad is him waiting for his mom to kick the bucket so he wouldn't have to tell her.

Comment by Whatta Gwan on September 17, 2011 at 12:32pm: BIG F*...YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I FEEL SORRY FOR MAMA. SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THIS MESS. YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE PARENTS AFTER THEY TAKE CARE OF YOU!! SAME THING WITH MY EX-HUSBAND & HIS FAMILY. THEY DID SOME SIMILAR CRAP & WHEN HIS MOM PASSED AWAY...THE S*** HIT THE FAN. THE HOUSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID FOR 3 TIMES OVER AFTER ALL THEM YEARS.....SMH. I PRAY THAT MAMA IS OK FOR THE REMAINDER OF HER LIFE HERE ON THIS WICKED EARTH.

Comment by Vinny Pat on September 17, 2011 at 8:41am: All a plot so the banks can be the biggest land owners

Comment by BIG F* on September 17, 2011 at 1:19am: THIS IS A REALLY SAD STORY AND BEFORE EVERYONE START TO GO OFF ABOUT, YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE TRUE FACT OF THE STORY. NOW, IF THERE IS ANYBODY TO REALLY BLAME IT'S THE STUPID ASS SON OF HER'S!!! NOW, THE STORY SAID THAT THEY TOOK OUT A MORTGAGE BACK IN 2002. THIS IS WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, THEY SAID SHE BEEN LIVING THERE NEARLY SIX DECADES (FOR EVERYONE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEAN, IT MEAN SHE BEEN LIVING THERE ALMOST 60 YEARS). SO, SHE HAD TO MOVE IN THAT HOUSE WHEN SHE WAS IN HER EARLY40'S. THE MOST POPULAR MORTGAGE THAT ARE TAKEN OUT IS A 30 YEAR MORTGAGE. WITH THAT BEING SAID "THAT HOUSE COULD OF BEEN PAID FOR TWO TIMES". NOW, IF THEY TOOK OUT A MORTGAGE IN 2002 SHE WAS 92 YEARS OLD "VERY BAD MOVE". BECAUSE MOST LIKELY SHE WAS ON A FIX INCOME BECAUSE OF HER AGE AND THE SON SHOULD NEVER HAD PUT HIS MOTHER IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT. BUT MOST MESSED UP PARTIS THAT,THE SON ADMITTED THAT HE WAS GETTING THE NOTICES BUT HE WAS THROWING THEM AWAY!!! THERE IS HELP OUT HERE FOR PEOPLE IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS BUT YOU GOT TO GO OUT AND GET IT, INSTEAD OF THE SON THROWING THE NOTICES AWAY HE SHOULD BEEN OUT THERE TRYING TO GET HELP FOR THE SITUATION!!! IF YOU ASK ME IT COULD BUT ONE OR TWO THINGS WITH HIM AND THAT'S EITHER HE DIDN'T CARE FOR HIS MOTHER AT ALL OR HE DIDN'T THINK HIS MOTHER WOULD LIVE TO 101!!! ME PERSONALLY, I WOULDN'T NEVER HAD PUT MY MOTHER IN NO S*** LIKE THIS AT 92 YEARS OLD I DON'T CARE IF WE GOT TO LIVE IN A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT AND I SLEEP IN THE LIVING ROOM!!! NOW, PEOPLE IS GOING TO HELP THEM AND DO THE BEST THEY CAN BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE OF THE 101 YEAR OLD LADY. I THINK THE SON SHOULD BEEN LEFT ON THE DAME STREET FOR PUTTING MOTHER IN SOME S*** LIKE THIS!!! Y'ALL GOT TO REMEMBER, THIS WORLD WORKS UNDER A SYSTEM THAT WE ALL HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT, YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT THE LAWS AND RULES THESE COUNTRIES HAVE AROUN THE WORLD..........