A homeowner suffered a "stress-induced" heart attack after discovering a squatter couple had moved into his home in Northwest Arkansas.
Kelly DeShields, 54, and Matthew Villagran, 46, moved into homeowner Gary Brankel's residence while he was spending time at a treatment facility, as reported by the Northwest Arkansas Democrat.
According to an affidavit obtained by the outlet, DeShields told the police that she and her partner claimed ownership of the house after hearing that it had been "unoccupied for years" and googled instructions on how to claim it.
Deshields reportedly presented to investigators a receipt from the Gravette Revenue Office that revealed that she had paid $162 in assessment fees for the property, which led her to believe that she could occupy the property, and start owning the land and residence.
The 75-year-old rightful homeowner later discovered that his property was occupied by Deshields and Villagran after his caretaker arrived to pick up some personal belongings while he was receiving medical treatment.
The couple has been accused of burning the homeowner's items, including documents and home décor.
Authorities said they found a “fresh” burn pile on the land with numerous destroyed objects that belong to Brankel, per The New York Post.
This led to the senior man suffering from a heart attack that was "due to the stress of him worrying about strangers in his residence," per the documents cited by the Daily Mail.
While Brankel's current condition remains unclear, he was able to confirm that he did not recognize the couple, nor did he ever permit them to stay at his home.
The squatters were eventually arrested for residential burglary on Wednesday, June 5.
DeShields is being held in the Benton County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond while Villagran is held on a $15,000 bond.
Per the affidavit, an official with the Benton County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of trespassing at a Maysville home on Highway 43 around 11:30AM on May 30.
Deshields was asked by police if anyone at the revenue office told her she could occupy the property and she responded "no," and revealed that she was relying solely on her online research.
The couple's arraignments are set for 8:00AM on July 15 in Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green's courtroom.
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