FORT MYERS, Fla — This day was a long time coming for Terrie Pearce. Her brother's home in LaBelle, which had been in the family for 30-years, was sold to a woman Fox 4 is all too familiar with. Carrie Lee was first investigated by Fox 4's Lisa Greenburg. Greenburg uncovered documents showing Lee, an interior decorator and self-described general contractor, took thousands of dollars for work never done and furnishings never delivered.
This particular case began when Lee purchased the home in LaBelle in a special deal in which Lee was to pay Pearce for the home in full with monthly payments over a year. Pearce and her attorney say Lee not only missed months of payments but while technically the owner of the home - guttered it. Converting what was a quaint cottage into trash.
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Pearce was in court Thursday in LaBelle to gain possession of what's left of the home. Lee was a no show. The judge ruled Terrie can take possession of the home in about 3-weeks. "Very, very relieved. A little bit worried when I went to court today, didn't know if I was going to have to face her, but they were prepared for me to testify - she never showed," Terries was quoted after today's appearance.
Meanwhile Terrie's daughter Jamie Bartley says it's a sad end to a family home that was filled with memories, "I had friends who lived there - who rented from her. And I always told her that would be like my little retirement spot - it was just so cute and quaint. There was so much potential."
It will take about 3 weeks for Terrie to get repossession of the home. She says at that time she will sell it, and the half-acre of land it sits on, and try and make as much money as she can.
