Elderly couple loses home through grandson's alleged deceit

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- A California couple in their 80s has 60 days to leave their home after learning that they had unknowingly signed away the title to their grandson.

Hank Kawecki worked as an engineer for the Jewish Foundation and raised his family in their home for 56 years.

Now he is packing up everything in disbelief. He and his wife Helen never saw the eviction coming.

"It made a mess out of me," Hank Kaweciki said.

They suspected nothing when their grandson urged them to take a drive one afternoon.

While they were gone a neighbor noticed odd activity. Realtors and brokers were inspecting the Thousand Oaks property.

"I see 'For Sale' signs up and down the street," said neighbor Doug Emerson.

With Emerson's help, the couple followed a paper trail which has now led to a lawsuit against Chadd Moore, the couple's grandson. The Kaweckis say it was Moore who had urged them to sign some papers.

"What got us in trouble is because we trusted him," Hank Kawecki said. "He was part of the family."

According to their claim, they learned too late that they had signed away their house to Moore, who took out loans and then defaulted on payment. Their house was sold.

For months now, their lawyer has been battling eviction. Ventura lawyer Ed Elrod asked Moore what happened to the $515,000 in loan money Moore had obtained.

"He said it is gone. Those were his only answers. It is gone," Elrod said.

Moore could not be reached for comment.

Neighbor Doug Emerson is guarding many of their possessions in his garage. And he set up a GoFundMe account which has raised more than $78,000.

Word is spreading of the Kaweckis' plight, even across the country.

"Someone in South Carolina says, if they want to re-locate I will give them a house," Emerson said.

"I think they're wonderful. It is unbelievable that there are people out there who want to help," said Helen Kawecki.

Still she said she is grief-stricken and minces no words: "I think the day I have to leave this house, I will have a heart attack."