A family in Hemet, California, discovered a clandestine living space beneath their rental home, raising concerns about their safety and how long the unauthorized occupant may have been present. Charnita Matthews, who rents the home with her husband and four children, reported hearing strange noises and doors closing for some time before investigating.
The family traced the sounds to an alarm originating from beneath their backyard deck. Upon removing a wooden board, they uncovered a sizable crawl space that appeared to have been inhabited. Inside, they found cleaning supplies, a fan plugged into the home's electricity, and a tarp containing a black tube that seemed to hold drugs.
"You can see the door with the fan plugged in down there," Matthews told KTLA. "So they've been using my electricity."
Matthews stated that she was not informed about the existence of this hidden space when she signed the rental agreement. She contacted Pro Management, the company managing the property, but said she received no response. The Hemet Police Department dispatched an officer to investigate the discovery, advising the family to call if they observed anyone entering or leaving the area.
Since the board was removed, Matthews has not seen any activity in the crawl space. However, she remains unsettled, questioning who might have known about the hidden area and if others could potentially be using it. Neighbors reportedly indicated that the home has had a history of tenants, some of whom were described as problematic. Mage5 "I feel like management should have done better because I have four children and my husband travels," Matthews said. "I’m scared to be here alone."