A woman in Colorado, Wendy Clark, tragically saw her life take a tumultuous turn following the death of her mother after her relationship with a man named Jack Cole spiralled out of control. This story has gained attention after being featured in the Hulu docuseries “Squatters: Get The F*** Out of My House,” which explores the outrageous circumstances that unfolded after Wendy’s untimely death in 2017.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/woman-opening-door-091925-3d27635130bc4544a3d6b76905de2cbe.jpg)
Wendy, a single mother, faced loneliness in 2015 when her two adult daughters moved out. In an effort to combat this isolation, she connected with Jack Cole through a dating app. Initially, the two struck up a friendship, which led to Cole moving into Wendy’s home as a housemate. However, her family noted that the relationship was purely platonic. Her sister, Michelle Clark, revealed that Wendy felt no romantic attraction to Cole and was only looking to help someone in need.
Financial difficulties compelled Wendy to rent out a room in her house to Cole, but issues quickly emerged. After a month, he ceased paying rent, which prompted concerns from Wendy’s daughter, Taylor Clark. Taylor insisted that her mother should evict Cole, as Wendy had shared her desire to remove him from her home. However, as Wendy’s health deteriorated, this eviction became increasingly complicated.
Wendy fell critically ill and was placed on life support, leaving her family stunned by the sudden turn of events. Her mother, Gerry Clark, expressed disbelief at how much Wendy had been struggling alone. Despite the family’s concern, Wendy sadly passed away in October 2017.
Following her death, the situation escalated dramatically. When Wendy’s family attempted to access her home, they were met with resistance from Cole, who claimed he was Wendy’s “common law husband” and asserted he had a legal right to remain in the property. According to friends, including Meghan Cobern, these claims appeared dubious, as Cole had not even been present when Wendy passed away.
The family’s pleas for assistance from law enforcement led nowhere. Officers informed them that Cole had established residency, even as they alleged he was attempting to remove Wendy’s belongings and inviting others to stay in the house. Gerry recounts the frustration as the police insisted the matter was civil rather than criminal, despite their desperate situation.
Months later, a judge finally ruled in favour of Wendy’s family, allowing them to evict Cole and reclaim their home. Upon entering, they were met with distressing scenes; the property was left in a state of disarray, with personal items, clothing, and furniture missing. Michelle described the moment as like “losing Wendy all over again,” highlighting the emotional toll of witnessing their family home in such a pitiful state.
The damage inflicted upon the property was extensive, with repairs estimated to exceed £40,000, compelling the family to sell the house. Cole, however, denied any wrongdoing regarding the condition of the home and the disappearance of Wendy’s possessions.
In a bizarre twist two years post-eviction, Michelle received a letter indicating that she owed Cole $400,000 after allegedly losing a lawsuit to him. This added layer of confusion revealed that the court documents were believed to be forged, as Cole had been imprisoned for an unrelated crime during the proceedings.
The legal issues surrounding Cole culminated in dismissal, with Michelle reportedly moving to a new home to evade further harassment from him. Cole has since maintained through a statement that he was in a committed relationship with Wendy. In response to allegations against him, he remarked that “there’s usually truth mixed in with lies.”
The harrowing saga of Wendy Clark and Jack Cole underscores the complexities that can arise in the wake of bereavement, particularly when it comes to matters of housing and the rights of individuals following the death of a loved one. “Squatters: Get The F*** Out of My House” serves as a troubling reminder of the potential for exploitation during vulnerable moments. The series is available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.