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Eugene

(62,767 posts)
Fri Dec 1, 2023, 11:08 AM Dec 2023

Florida Couple Famous for Over-the-Top Christmas Light Display Revealed to Be Squatters

Source: People

Florida Couple Famous for Over-the-Top Christmas Light Display Revealed to Be Squatters

An investigation by the Broward County Property Appraiser’s office concluded the pair has been living in the home illegally for 15 years

By Antonia DeBianchi Published on December 1, 2023 08:30AM EST

A South Florida home known for its over-the-top Christmas lights was revealed to have been illegally occupied for almost two decades, an investigation found.

Kathy Hyatt, a realtor, and her ex-husband Mark, who died in 2020, allegedly “squatted” in the Plantation, Florida, home for 15 years, according to legal documents obtained by PEOPLE from the Broward County Property Appraiser’s investigation. Per the report, there was never a title on the property and it had a “forged deed.”

The Appraiser’s office dubbed the investigation “The Nightmare Before Christmas” as the Hyatts were known for going all out with their holiday decorations, covering the house in thousands of colored string lights, festive figures and large glowing lawn ornaments, earning it the nickname the “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” house. Even that caused some conflicts with neighbors and the city of Plantation over the years.

"There were some legal issues and complaints between the city of plantation and the Hyatts that stemmed from the Christmas lights situation,” Vivian Gallinal, Crimes Against Property Investigator at the appraiser’s office, tells PEOPLE.

-snip-

Read more: https://people.com/christmas-house-squatters-florida-couple-hyatt-extreme-light-display-8409321

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Florida Couple Famous for Over-the-Top Christmas Light Display Revealed to Be Squatters (Original Post) Eugene Dec 2023 OP
Screenshot FakeNoose Dec 2023 #1
I live close by. Was a nightmare for their neighborhood. Marcus IM Dec 2023 #2
that pic belongs in the dictionary next to mopinko Dec 2023 #3
15 years. Chellee Dec 2023 #4
It's Florida. 😊 SergeStorms Dec 2023 #8
It's Florida. Need one say more? Wonder Why Dec 2023 #11
How much space would these decorations take up? Probably rented a suite of storage spaces to accommadate. OAITW r.2.0 Dec 2023 #5
They probably.... SergeStorms Dec 2023 #7
Electricity rates in Florida..... SergeStorms Dec 2023 #6
The next news story will probably... Chellee Dec 2023 #9
Is the house.... SergeStorms Dec 2023 #10
 

Marcus IM

(3,001 posts)
2. I live close by. Was a nightmare for their neighborhood.
Fri Dec 1, 2023, 11:49 AM
Dec 2023

The Plantation police had to set up a perimeter on each end of the street. Idiots would just park their cars in the middle of the street blocking it. Or the neighbors couldn't get to their house or use their driveways or easement there were so many gawkers. Plus the usual garbage tossed on the ground by these x-mas visitors. Lots of angry confrontations requiring police intervention at all hours on the night. It was a real clusterpuck.

mopinko

(71,953 posts)
3. that pic belongs in the dictionary next to
Fri Dec 1, 2023, 12:35 PM
Dec 2023

the word chutzpah.
can u imagine the stones?

Chellee

(2,219 posts)
4. 15 years.
Fri Dec 1, 2023, 02:15 PM
Dec 2023

They were in that house illegally for 15 years. What I don't understand is if you're breaking the law, and getting away with it, why would you draw such attention to yourself? He died before he got caught. She probably could have lived the rest of her life, and never been caught if only she hadn't decided to inflict this chaos on her neighbors.

OAITW r.2.0

(28,656 posts)
5. How much space would these decorations take up? Probably rented a suite of storage spaces to accommadate.
Fri Dec 1, 2023, 03:56 PM
Dec 2023

Insane on so many levels...

SergeStorms

(19,339 posts)
6. Electricity rates in Florida.....
Fri Dec 1, 2023, 06:22 PM
Dec 2023

are astronomical. They had to choose: pay a mortgage, or pay the electricity bill. You can't do both in Florida, obviously.

Chellee

(2,219 posts)
9. The next news story will probably...
Fri Dec 1, 2023, 08:49 PM
Dec 2023

be "Famous FL couple with OTP Xmas display hasn't paid electrical bill in more than a decade. We don't know how this happened, says Broward County electrical company."

SergeStorms

(19,339 posts)
10. Is the house....
Sat Dec 2, 2023, 12:10 AM
Dec 2023

called Mar-ma-lardo? These certainly sound like a deadbeat family we all know and despise. 😉

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