posted on November 22, 2006 08:23:19 AM new
House given to pair of evacuees was flipped for profit
Church feels betrayed by Katrina couple
By WOODY BAIRD
Associated Press
MEMPHIS, TENN. — A church that wanted to do something special for Hurricane Katrina victims gave a $75,000 house, free and clear, to a couple who said they were left homeless by the storm. But the couple turned around and sold the place without ever moving in, and went back to New Orleans.
"Take it up with God," Joshua Thompson told a TV reporter after it was learned that he and the woman he identified as his wife had flipped the home for $88,000.
Church members said they feel their generosity was abused by scam artists. They are no longer even sure that the couple were left homeless by Katrina or that they were a couple at all.
"They came in humble like they really needed a new start, and our hearts went out to them," said Jean Phillips, a real estate agent and member of the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ. "They actually begged for the home."
The church was also shocked by an ungrateful interview the couple gave with WHBQ (Channel 13) in Memphis.
"I really don't like this area," said Delores Thompson. "I really didn't, and I didn't know anybody, so that's why I didn't move in and I sold it."
Thompson, reached in New Orleans on Tuesday, thanked the church for its generosity but said she saw nothing wrong in selling the three-bedroom, two-bath house.
"Do I have any legal problems? What do you mean? The house was given to me," she said. "I have the paperwork and everything."
She refused to comment further and hung up.
The church had decided that it would do something special for one Katrina-displaced family, in addition to its other efforts to help evacuees. The church set up a committee to find the right family and conducted several dozen interviews.
Delores Thompson told the committee that she and her husband lost their jobs, their home and their possessions, committee member Joy Covington said.
The family said it wanted to resettle in Memphis.
Thompson took possession of the house in February and sold it in September. Property transfer records for the resale list her as unmarried; the papers from the original sale list her as married.
"I feel like it was a sham or a ripoff," Covington said. Church members felt the house could have gone to a more needy family, Covington said.
"“More Iraqis think things are going well in Iraq than Americans do. I guess they don’t get the New York Times over there.”—Jay Leno".
posted on November 24, 2006 05:46:27 PM new
Sounds like out and out FRAUD to me.
If I were a part of the group who chose to help ths couple???? out....I'd suggest we now SUE them to regain the money THEY received from the sale of this home.
I can't believe a judge or jury wouldn't see their actions as out and out fraud...and make the judgement in favor of the Church.
Just goes to show what lowlifes some people are. It's sad.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on November 24, 2006 07:51:37 PM new
I understand mingo.
You think what they did is A-okay. You would.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
