Loletha Hale found herself spending a night in jail earlier this month, arrested on charges of criminal trespassing and terroristic threats. Her crime, she says, was trying to reclaim her late mother’s home in Livingston, Georgia, from an alleged squatter who had refused to leave despite a court order. The arrest has left Hale questioning a system she feels has failed her, while the woman occupying the property, Sakemeyia Johnson, continues to live there without facing charges.

The dispute began in August, when Hale discovered Johnson living in the home without permission. A lengthy legal battle ensued, culminating in a November court ruling ordering Johnson to vacate the property. However, when Hale returned to the house in December to begin cleaning and preparing it for renovations, she was confronted by Johnson, who had allegedly broken the locks and moved another individual into the home. A confrontation followed, during which Johnson and her companion reportedly forced their way inside while Hale attempted to secure the door.

When police arrived at the scene, they sided with Johnson, citing Hale’s lack of a signed writ of possession—a legal document required to enforce an eviction. Bodycam footage captured one officer appearing sympathetic to Johnson’s circumstances, noting, “Everybody isn’t as fortunate as you to have a bed.” Hale’s refusal to back down, combined with her alleged threat to retrieve a firearm, led to her arrest on Dec. 9. She was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and terroristic threats.

The incident highlights the complexities of Georgia’s eviction laws, which require landlords to follow strict protocols even in cases of unauthorized occupancy. Hale, who spent a night in jail, described the experience as deeply disheartening. “To see that woman walk into my mom’s house while I was in the police car, something is inherently wrong with this picture,” she said. Meanwhile, Johnson remains in the home, facing no legal consequences for her actions.

Hale’s arrest has sparked broader conversations about property rights and the justice system’s handling of such disputes. For Hale, the situation is a painful reminder of what she views as a flawed process. “I spent the night on a mat on a concrete floor in deplorable conditions while this woman, this squatter, slept in my home,” she said. Her case underscores the challenges many property owners face when attempting to navigate eviction laws and reclaim their homes.