Locked out of their own home
BRONSON, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - An elderly couple that lost their home say that was bad enough, but now they've told Newschannel 3 that they have been locked out of their home and can't get their belongings, including medical equipment. Nobody seems to know why, and that's when they contacted us for help.
Henry and Ruthie Leaf admit that the mortgage company could be within their full legal rights to foreclose and basically lock them out of their home, but they say all they really want to do is get inside and get the things they need.
"We were pretty much grabbing at straws, sorry, I couldn't involve him because he was so sick," said Ruthie.
Henry Leaf has the end of his life staring him in the face, so it's not the greatest time for the terminal cancer patient to be locked out of his home, but that's what he and his wife say happened.
"All we're interested in is what's ours," said Henry.
The Leaf's home in Bronson went into foreclosure in April 2008 after they took out a mortgage to help with the medical bills and upkeep on the home.
"My main thought was to keep a roof over his head, at least until he passes away," said Ruthie.
The Leaf's say their interest rates jumped in a few months to a point they could no longer afford, so they say they stopped paying, and it cost them their home.
"We were in a medical position," said Ruthie, "we couldn't do anything but what we did."
Ruthie says that after being in and out of hospitals in late 2008, they finally came home in December to new locks, and all their stuff still inside. An attorney that has worked with them says the locks were changed in November.
The company that foreclosed their home says it doesn't know who changed the locks.
"I don't know what's going on to be honest," said Tom Maleski from Bond Corporation, "why the locks would be changed in November. If the locks were changed in November, nobody called me and told me that."
Maleski also said no home-owner would be locked out until an eviction hearing. The Leaf's have their hearing on January 23rd. Maleski adds that it's normally simply to help people move out.
"It's easier if it comes to the point where they're not paying and they know they're not going to pay, for me to give them two weeks or three weeks for them to get their stuff together in order to move out," said Maleski.
Branch County lists Northpointe Bank as the new owners of the home, but in a statement to Newschannel 3, Northpointe said they would have never ordered the locks to be changed.
Meanwhile, the Leaf's tell us they never received any eviction or lock-out notification and are willing to let the house go, but they do want their stuff back.
"That's all I want, the opportunity to get what's mine," said Henry, "people fall, but they have a right to get back up too."
Ruthie told Newschannel 3 that in light of what has happened to her husband she is hopeful that she will now gain access to her home and get their belongings back soon.
