CLEVELAND, Texas – Defending our nation is Sam Burbank’s job. But it turns out, the Iraq war veteran’s Liberty County home needed defending, too.
Investigators say two parolees took over Burbank’s home while he was deployed and stationed at Fort Hood.
Johnny Wayne Bell, 47, and Faye Lisa Bailey, 30, are accused of squatting in Burbank’s home and using drugs there, all while selling the soldier’s belongings in what appeared to be an ongoing yard sale.
“This is certainly at the top of my list of deplorable criminal activity,” Capt. Rex Evans of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said. “[Bell and Bailey] kicked open the door and removed all of the items out of the house and literally started selling off the property of the homeowners.”
It’s not clear how long Bell and Bailey were living at the home, but neighbors said they took notice when Burbank’s belongings started taking over the lawn.
Deputies said it looked like a bomb went off, with blankets, bedding, furniture and other personal items strewn all around the yard.
Bell and Bailey were arrested Tuesday on drug charges.
“We discovered a significant amount of methamphetamine needles and the use of needles and other instruments to use methamphetamine out in plain view in the bedroom,” Evans said.
The Burbanks were rushing home from Fort Hood Tuesday to see what all was missing from their home.
Until they do that, burglary charges can’t be filed, investigators said.
“I’m just upset that they would break in to somebody’s house. They just came in there and just thought that they were gonna live there. Just take over somebody’s home that is not even there,” said Hollie Burbank, Sam Burbank’s wife.
Deputies said both Bell and Bailey were on parole for drug crimes at the time of their arrests Tuesday.
