Police kill homeowner who lost home to foreclosure

[Moe Bedard]

Sunday evening Phoenix police shoot and kill distraught homeowner who refused to leave his foreclosed home


This is a sad story of a man not accepting his fate of losing his home or deciding to make one last stand. I would like to think that this man did not die in vain, but died protecting what he felt was his property rights.

With a gun on one hand and a beer in the other, this fighting homeowner was not leaving his home without a fight. He was no match for the Phoenix police swat team who shot a killed the man in his foreclosed home's doorway.

Many homeowners may fantasize about going out with a bang. This man decided yesterday to just that and be a martyr for you all.

Police said the problems started Tuesday when two men drove to a house near 31st Avenue and Sandra Terrace and told the former owner, Kurt Aho, that they’d just purchased the home at auction.

“He obviously became upset, made some comments, and went inside and came back out with a gun,” said Detective James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department.

Investigators said Aho, 64, fired at the new owners’ cars. The new owners ran and were not hurt.

Officers arriving on scene reported the man at the house had a gun in one hand and a beer in the other. Police said negotiators tried talking him down, but at some point in the negotiations, Aho pointed his gun at a police vehicle.

“At that point, (the SWAT team) fired two sage bullets, which are rubber bullets, at the gentleman. At that point, he raised his weapon and officers returned fire,” said Det. Holmes.

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[nativelasvegan]

This is very disturbing. What is happening to this Country?

[Moe Bedard]

Losing your home is one of the most traumatic experiences that a person can experience. It is our shelter and secuirty. These banks treat you all like scum and act like this is no big deal.

I have seen many deaths and suicides over someone losing their home.

These mortgages are just toxic, but deadly. I think we have crossed the line of bad choices to crominality and repmediated misery of millions at the hands of Wall Street.

Woman Chooses Death Over Foreclosure - CBS News

(AP) A 53-year-old wife and mother fatally shot herself shortly after faxing a letter to her mortgage company saying that by the time they foreclosed on her house that day, she would be dead.

Police said that Carlene Balderrama used her husband's high-powered rifle to kill herself Tuesday afternoon, shortly after faxing the letter at 2:30 p.m.
The mortgage company called police, who found Balderrama's body at 3:30 p.m. The auction was scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and interested buyers arrived at the property in Taunton, about 35 miles south of Boston, while Balderrama's body was still inside, according to Taunton police chief Raymond O'Berg.

Police did not immediately release the name of the mortgage company. O'Berg said Balderrama's fax read, in part, "By the time you foreclose on my house I'll be dead."

Foreclosure-Related Suicide: Sign of the Times? - ABC News

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[Moe Bedard]

If ANY OF YOU feel depressed or suicidal, PLEASE call or email me for help. I will personally step in and handle your loan modification for you.

I have to be honest and admit to you all that I have been suicidal over losing my home, wife and kids in the past. The year was 2002 and the darkest time of my life. I know what it is like to be in debt, depressed and not have any hope. At the time, I didn't have the mental tools to cope with my problems and no one to talk to or help.

That is one of the reasons I started this forum was to offer hope and people you all could talk to and not feel alone.

I am here for you all and so are many other members.

[dan m]

Addie Polk was the first one I remember doing this. Fannie Mae wrote her loan off after the media got her story out.

[caldwellb02]

Moe - you are so sweet. Thank you. Frankly I was having a hard time, but due to the wonders of modern medicine I'm ok.

That said, I am a good listener. If you hear of anyone who doesn't have a listening ear and you are too maxed, call me. I may not be able to do their mod (given my current lack of success) but I can sure be someone they can talk to with a non-judgmental ear.

[Moe Bedard]

Thanks Caldwell! We have to all help one another through these dark times.

On the medicine note, that was what happened to me when I was going through my divorce, foreclosure and loss of my kids. I went to see a doctor because of insomnia and anxiety. They prescribed my xanex and sleeping meds. Soon thereafter, my addiction came back full force and I started to mix these with alcohol. Before I knew it, I was hooked on both and could not get through a day without these vices. These vices ended up bring me down and hitting rock bottom.

Bottom line, and this goes to anyone reading this thread, be careful if you are being prescribed anti anxiety drugs or sleeping pills. They can be very dangerous and extremely addicting.

I belive marijuana is the best to help some people (if you live in California because it is legal) would be a better choice for these ailments you are suffering from.

[caldwellb02]

I'm okay Moe - got a good doc who never overprescribes, but thank you so much for the concern. It's the anxiety that gets me more than anything, so a little help was needed. I also have a new mantra when I am really down:

Do not judge (myself or others)
Do no harm (to myself or others)
This (the feeling) will pass

It does work for me. It gets me through the really hard times when the stress/anxiety is out of control. Usually my spin takes me back to judging myself for having gotten into this mess in the first place, so this little mantra is primarily directed at how I treat myself.

[Moe Bedard]

That a great mantra Caldwell.

It is so true. I never thought that the misery and anxiety would end, but it does. It made me so much stronger and wiser in the end.

Good advice and I hope others that read your words take them to heart

[nativelasvegan]

Thank you Moe for this forum. I do not know where I would be today without it. I am here to help too. If anyone needs someone to talk to, I will be a listener.

[BobandArlyn]

What a very sad thing to happen. We need to fight in memory of that poor man. God bless his family.

You know, this forum is terrific. I have yet to see anyone be judged here. It is truly a wonderful group of members. I thank you all and thank you Moe for taking the bull by the horns and becoming healthy!

Arlyn

[pdsfoley]

Moe...Thank you!! If it were not for this forum...I don't know where I'd be...I'm a pretty strong person...but I really thought these last 18 months would do me in...Especially when CW let me go for posting here...It was like the icing on the cake. BUT I have a son a husband and friends...and that helps...so does this forum...It made me realize I'm NOT alone. So keep up the GREAT work...Youre appreciated MORE than you know!!!

[caldwellb02]

pdsfoley - what do you mean CW let you go for posting here?

[Melanie702]

Man, that is so sad. Poor dude.

Today, I am full of anxiety, couldn't sleep last night, heart was pounding, felt stabbing sharp pains today, headache. I'm about ready to walk. This is stupid. No one should feel like this over something material. Nothing wrong with renting.

[Believe]

Oh Melanie, I'm sorry for what you're going through. I don't know what else to say - try to relax by having a good cup of coffee or getting a massage - anything! We're going to get out of this mess somehow. I didn't make my mortgage payment this month for the first time ever. I'm scared to death, too. But, at least I could buy some groceries. Try to treat yourself to something nice that you can afford, okay?

[nativelasvegan]

Hey Believe. Right there with you. I am frightened too because I couldn't make the mortgage payment. Thinking about contacting the bank and offering to let them put me on forbearance, but afraid of the consequences of that type of an arrangement.

[nativelasvegan]

Hang in there Mel. I too have thought the same thing about renting. This is a long treacherous road but I do believe there is light at the end.
Let's stick together. We can make something happen if we are all willing to stand up and fight for our rights.
Get some good sleep tonight. Tomorrow is a new day.

[caldwellb02]

Melanie - ditto. there are many of us out here that go around with part of us scared to death but remember this little motto when the stress is really bad:

Do not judge (yourself or others)
Do no harm (to yourself or others)
This will pass

Yes it will pass. Either we'll get our mods or not. It's how we do it that counts, and if you can handle it, giving them a run for the money and NOT walking away is the only way some of us at least may have a chance to stay in our homes. Si se puede. Isn't that what he said? Well, now it's our turn.

[Melanie702]

Hi guys, I know. It's so tough for all of us. So glad we all have each other to lean on. Thanks for the kind words. I know you are all going through the same thing. My husband is so sweet. He's so calm. I wish I could be like him. He tells me to "screw 'em" (no thanks, not my type), but it's so hard. I feel much much better after taking Mortin and doing deep breathing.

[Believe]

Melanie, God bless your husband! My "husband" is in denial and is buying lottery tickets to save our home.

[caldwellb02]

Well I bought a lotto ticket cuz Chase thinks my hardship is "not a permanent situation," so I thought they must have a crystal ball and I better get on it and buy a ticket. That was three weeks ago..... oh dear, does that mean that Chase doesn't know what it's talking about? I wonder.

[mintdeer]

This is all so sad! Hey Believe my husband is on the lotto kick too! So far it isn't working LOL!!!

Today I got a denial again stating that I was denied because the "principal forbearance needed to make the loan affordable would outweigh the cost of a foreclosure" WHAT????!!!!

I am starting to see why some people really flip out over all of this. Thank god I have a family to keep me sane! This site has really helped me too! Keep up the good work everyone!

[lonaland]

When will the madness end.

I am new at this and like others am frustrated and afraid. Live in Phx AZ where property values have declined 38-50%. Owe 550K/1st (GMAC/5.625% fixed/ $3825mth/322mths remaining) & 46K/2nd (M&I/ 4% IO/ $164mth/8yr remaining). FMV = $388K per comps. Have over re-searched and am so worked up I am paralyzed. I fear if I say or fill out the wrong info then my son and I are out of our home. I am a single 44 y/o mother (7y/o son) and am tired of working 65+ hrs per week to maintain income level to afford what use to be my retirement/college fund. Also cannot continue to miss out on the growth of the most precious gift I have ever been given. Not sure this is a justifiable reason to claim hardship would like some advise good, bad or indifferent. Sorry for the emotional tone of this message just feeling like I am on the edge of a cliff and the bottom is about to fall out. Thank you all in advance for any advise you might have.

[NotinPA]

Well I will admit, I came close to suicide over the house..my darkest time was in December 2008. I have been slowly getting ME back...its been a tough road..and I am no where at the end..I just feel once I can get this house off my plate and off my shoulders..I can start anew fully.
Thanks again Moe for this site and everyone on it!

[caldwellb02]

mintdeer - that's a new one. So - it would cost them less to foreclose than to modify your loan.

That's a slap. Have you sent in a QWR?