They told deputies the homeowner, who was in Pennsylvania, had leased the home to them, Hernando deputies say.

SPRING HILL – A man and woman were arrested after they moved into a vacant home in Spring Hill, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Lucille Mare Abeyta-Guzman, 33, and Robert J. Guzman, 39, were each charged with one count of Burglary.

Deputies said they were called Monday (Sept. 16) to a residence in Spring Hill regarding a Residential Burglary in progress. The homeowner, who currently lives in Pennsylvania, contacted the HCSO after
receiving information from her property maintenance crew that there were people inside the residence that was supposed to be vacant.

When deputies arrived, they found the Guzmans on the premises. The couple showed deputies a “lease agreement” that appeared to have been signed by the homeowner, along with a story about how they knew the home was vacant so they contacted the owner by phone to inquire about a lease. Deputies said the two told them the lease was arranged via fax and that they had moved in Sept. 7.

Ms. Guzman’s brother, who was there at the time, told deputies he is the great-great-grandson of the homeowner, and he had flown to see her one time, years ago, in Pennsylvania. He also told deputies that the homeowner has dementia, and she might not remember signing the lease.

Deputy V. Flynn called the homeowner who said she did not know any of the people who were in her home and that she had not given anyone permission to be there. The homeowner told deputies she never received nor signed a lease agreement. She also confirmed that she could not possibly have a great-great-grandson, as she only has one child, a daughter, who doesn’t have any children.

Deputies asked law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania to meet with the homeowner to get a statement and a sample of her signature. Once obtained, the signature sample was relayed to deputies on scene. The signature did not match the signature of the “homeowner” on the lease.

On Thursday (Sept. 19), District Two Detective Greg Garman again contacted the homeowner to confirm all the information that was originally provided to patrol deputies. All information was confirmed, including  information regarding the suspects’ using the home’s electricity, which was on, and causing the bill to go up.

Later Thursday, detectives went to the home and met with the Guzmans, their two children and Ms. Guzman’s brother. The Guzmans denied the allegations, denied falsifying the lease agreement, and claimed
they were scammed.

Both were arrested.

The investigation is ongoing.

Photo shows Lucille Mare Abeyta-Guzman, left, and Robert J. Guzman.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News | News Tampa

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