LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A North Las Vegas family has been fighting to reclaim their property from squatters for eight years, despite multiple arrests and eviction notices served to the unauthorized occupants.
The ongoing dispute began when Kira DeBarge Sullivan’s father, who owned the home for 20 years, rented a camper on the property to tenants who eventually stopped paying rent and took over the house as the elderly man developed dementia.
MORE: North Las Vegas woman battles squatters in father’s former home
“This spans at least eight years. I’ll kind of try to roughly go through the timeline because there is a lot to it,” said FOX5 reporter Evan Leake.
Arrests continue, but squatters return
FOX5 was called to the scene two weeks ago when North Las Vegas police arrested one of the squatters. That incident marked the latest in a series of arrests dating back more than a year.
Following that arrest, Sullivan and Johnnie Walters, a close friend of the family and the current property manager of the home, broke down the ongoing issue that has led to dozens of calls to law enforcement.
“Johnnie (Walters) gave us arrest reports from North Las Vegas police, seven of them, dating back from August of last year (2025) to the incident that we were at a couple of weeks ago. Police are showing up, and they’re arresting these people, charging these people, yet they’re still somehow coming back,” Leake said.
The family served official eviction notices to the occupants in September, but the unauthorized residents returned within days.
“The way that Johnnie said it is, ‘we served them in person on September 7th. By September 15th, people were back in the house,’” Leake said.
Property severely damaged
The condition of the home has deteriorated significantly during the eight-year occupation. Kruegel described extensive damage and unsanitary conditions throughout the property.
“Just the look, the smell, it’s not habitable,” Leake said after touring the house.
The squatters removed light bulbs, attempted to grow plants under bathroom sinks, and left the property filled with debris. Sullivan told reporters the unauthorized occupants had sold family valuables and used the backyard for drug sales.
“Kira had said at one point that they (squatters) were selling drugs out of the backyard. The whole backyard was as trashed as the inside was,” Leake said.
Family seeks legal resolution
Sullivan now holds power of attorney for her father, who no longer lives at the property due to his declining health. The family continues seeking a permanent resolution to remove the squatters and restore the home.
“It’s all within the family from that aspect of it, but now it’s just what can be done to permanently intervene in this situation without just demolishing the property because Kira talked about that, too,” Leake said.
The ongoing situation has taken an emotional toll on the family after years of legal battles and property damage.
“Honestly, how some of the emotions have left. They just seem exhausted,” Leake said. “Which is relatable. I couldn’t imagine having to do this if I were living there, if any of my loved ones were in this type of situation.”
Ongoing security concerns
The squatters have taken measures to prevent access to the property, including attempting to glue doors shut. During FOX5’s visit, reporters witnessed one suspected squatter trying to climb the fence to return to the property.
“While we were on scene for this, one of the supposed squatters was trying to hop the fence to get back on the property while we were there,” Leake said.
Legal questions remain
The case highlights broader questions about squatter laws and property rights enforcement. Despite multiple arrests and eviction notices, the unauthorized occupants continue returning to the property.
“I think that’s where the frustration is building for these people, in that they didn’t necessarily have anything wrong with law enforcement. They actually were very grateful for the work that the police have done to come handle these situations. It’s on the justice side of things. They feel like they’re being failed,” Leake said.
The family and property manager continue working with authorities to find a permanent solution to the eight-year dispute.
“Going through this from when I was out there to putting the story together, I feel for them,” Leake said.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like for them every day for, yeah, for eight years of trying to go through this.”
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
