Wanted: Serial squatter charged with felony fraud in Rowlett
ROWLETT (CBSNewsTexas.com) — Heather Schwab, the woman dubbed a serial squatter by eviction attorneys, is a wanted woman.
For the first time ever, there is a felony warrant for her arrest in Texas.
Rowlett police have charged Schwab with third-degree felony fraud for using a false identity to rent property.
The case involves Jessica and Colin Davis, whose story CBS News Texas reported last month.
After a job transfer forced the couple to move, they rented their Rowlett home to a woman using the name Rayes Ruybal.
Then, checks started to bounce and they dug deeper, discovering past reports on Schwab. And when CBS News Texas showed up at the home, that's exactly who was found living there.
The Davis family says when they first went to police, they were told it was a civil matter. That changed when CBS News Texas started asking questions.
"In most cases, altercations or differences between landlords and renters usually goes to the civil court, but we did get contacted by CBS 11 and that's when we decided to give it a second look," said Rowlett police detective Cruz Hernandez.
The key difference in this case that makes it a criminal matter, police say, is the fact that Schwab was using a false identity.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to give the department a call.