Police investigating man claiming million dollar Eastside mansions
KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Detectives believe squatters are attempting to take possession of three separate mansions on the Eastside, each worth more than a million dollars.
And detectives say they're investigating ties between these latest squatting cases and a man connected to the squatters, who set up shop in a $3.2 million Kirkland mansion back in June.
These latest cases first caught the attention of realtors, who found letters posted on three vacant properties in Kirkland and Bellevue earlier this week. The letters tell occupants "to surrender possession within three days of serving this notice" on August 17. Two of the properties are bank-owned; the third, listed at $2.1 million, is in foreclosure.
"I did see a paper on the door," said neighbor Courtney Caldwell, who lives down the street from the home in Bellevue. "I know that it's been empty for a long time, and on and off the market, so I guess I didn't really think about it," she said.
Realtors say red flags were raised when they saw the name James McClung at the bottom of the letters. McClung, a former Bothell-based realtor, is also listed on state records as the owner of NW Note Elimination, which bills itself as a mortgage elimination company.
The company has also been tied to a woman named Jill Lane, who was arrested for squatting at a $3.2 million mansion in Kirkland back in June.
State records list McClung as living at a home in Edmonds, but residents there say he moved out in the end of July.
Two of the letters with McClung's name and alleged signature were found on homes at 2007 and 2009 Market Street in Kirkland earlier this week. They are less than a mile from the $3.2 million mansion the squatters took residence in.
Realtors representing the Market Street Homes gave copies of the letters to police and removed lock boxes at the homes, according to sources. A "no trespassing" sign is now posted in the window at the home at 2009 Market Street.
Right now all three homes remain empty with no one living inside. Police visited the Bellevue home at 9804 NE 15th Street on Thursday and told neighbors to call if they saw anyone living there.
"I could see it being a target for someone but this street is very vigilant," Caldwell added. "It would be a real disservice to this street and to the neighborhood to have anything happen to that home."
And detectives say they're investigating ties between these latest squatting cases and a man connected to the squatters, who set up shop in a $3.2 million Kirkland mansion back in June.
These latest cases first caught the attention of realtors, who found letters posted on three vacant properties in Kirkland and Bellevue earlier this week. The letters tell occupants "to surrender possession within three days of serving this notice" on August 17. Two of the properties are bank-owned; the third, listed at $2.1 million, is in foreclosure.
"I did see a paper on the door," said neighbor Courtney Caldwell, who lives down the street from the home in Bellevue. "I know that it's been empty for a long time, and on and off the market, so I guess I didn't really think about it," she said.
Realtors say red flags were raised when they saw the name James McClung at the bottom of the letters. McClung, a former Bothell-based realtor, is also listed on state records as the owner of NW Note Elimination, which bills itself as a mortgage elimination company.
The company has also been tied to a woman named Jill Lane, who was arrested for squatting at a $3.2 million mansion in Kirkland back in June.
State records list McClung as living at a home in Edmonds, but residents there say he moved out in the end of July.
Two of the letters with McClung's name and alleged signature were found on homes at 2007 and 2009 Market Street in Kirkland earlier this week. They are less than a mile from the $3.2 million mansion the squatters took residence in.
Realtors representing the Market Street Homes gave copies of the letters to police and removed lock boxes at the homes, according to sources. A "no trespassing" sign is now posted in the window at the home at 2009 Market Street.
Right now all three homes remain empty with no one living inside. Police visited the Bellevue home at 9804 NE 15th Street on Thursday and told neighbors to call if they saw anyone living there.
"I could see it being a target for someone but this street is very vigilant," Caldwell added. "It would be a real disservice to this street and to the neighborhood to have anything happen to that home."