A Malibu real estate agent warns homeowners about the dangers of serial squatters, using the case of Ellie Mae McNulty, who allegedly swindled dozens of homeowners by using charm and manipulation to gain entry into their homes. The recent Los Angeles wildfires are raising concerns about an increase in such cases.
A Malibu real estate agent has issued a warning to California homeowners about the dangers of falling victim to serial squatters, particularly in light of the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Liz Benichou, a lifelong Malibu resident and realtor, spoke to Fox News Digital about the alarming case of Ellie Mae McNulty, an actor and screenwriter accused of swindling dozens of Malibu homeowners over the past decade.
McNulty allegedly used her charm to gain entry into the homes of unsuspecting homeowners, often portraying herself as someone in temporary need of shelter. Once inside, she would gradually become a nightmare roommate, making excuses for non-payment of rent and engaging in psychologically manipulative behavior. Benichou believes McNulty's success in operating for so long stems from her ability to exploit the trusting nature of Malibu's close-knit community. 'I don't know how she got away with it for so long in Malibu with the amount of people that she did,' Benichou said. 'It's a very small, tight-knit community. You see the same people. You get this familiarity. You think that everyone's like you because we're all doing the same thing, so you kind of gain that trust. You live in this bubble in Malibu.'One case highlighted by Vanity Fair involved 65-year-old Alden Marin, who met McNulty at Point Dume beach in 2021. Marin, believing her story of temporary housing needs, allowed her to stay in his Malibu home. However, weeks turned into months, and Marin's sister noticed a disturbing change in her demeanor. McNulty began making excuses about her inability to pay rent and subjected Marin to psychological abuse. Ultimately, Marin's family had to take legal action to evict McNulty from the property. Benichou fears that the recent wildfires in California could exacerbate the problem of squatting, as homeowners may be more vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation. She emphasizes the importance of being cautious, especially in offering temporary shelter to strangers. 'I feel like it's something that, unfortunately, we see a lot of, especially out here in California, because people do have really big hearts and they want to help, and they want to see the best in people,' Benichou said
SQUATTING MALIBU CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES CRIME HOMELESSNESS REAL ESTATE
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