The family of Przemyslaw Jeziorski, a University of California, Berkeley professor who was murdered in Greece amid a custody dispute, is now engaged in a legal fight to remove individuals they allege have taken over his home in Berkeley, California. Jeziorski was shot and killed in Greece in July, and authorities state the boyfriend of his ex-wife later confessed to the killing. His ex-wife, Nadia Michelidaki, reportedly died by suicide in a Greek prison in May.
Back in the United States, Jeziorski's former home, which had been used as an Airbnb rental, has become the subject of a contentious legal dispute. The family claims the property is occupied by individuals who have refused to vacate despite multiple eviction attempts. Court records indicate the occupants assert they signed a one-year lease with Michelidaki and paid $30,000 upfront. However, the family's attorney, Erinne Stratte, disputes this, noting that Michelidaki was in custody at the time the lease was allegedly executed.
Berkeley police were initially alerted to the property in December following reports of a break-in and suspected squatting. Officers encountered a woman at the residence who maintained she possessed a valid lease. Since that encounter, the occupants have remained in the home, notwithstanding eviction notices and ongoing legal proceedings. Efforts by reporters to gain a response at the property were unsuccessful, and a phone number listed in court documents has been disconnected.
The family also alleges that items from the home have been seen being sold at yard sales, although these claims have not been independently verified. The core of the dispute highlights California law, which in certain circumstances can classify long-term occupants as civil tenants rather than immediate trespassers, particularly after they have resided in a property for approximately 30 days. This legal framework, common in states with strong tenant protections like California, can complicate and prolong eviction processes, even when lease validity or ownership is contested.
Stratte commented that this system can leave homeowners in protracted legal battles, even when they believe their property has been unlawfully occupied. Jeziorski's brother, Lukasz Jeziorski, is currently raising the professor's 11-year-old twin children and continues to pay the mortgage on the Berkeley home, which is slated to be inherited by the children.
The situation has also brought attention to legislative efforts aimed at addressing such issues, including SB 1303, a bill passed to expedite the removal of unauthorized occupants in specific residential cases by streamlining parts of the eviction process. Additionally, law enforcement in some jurisdictions has shown increased willingness to pursue criminal trespass charges when allegations involve forced entry, break-ins, or the presentation of fraudulent leases, especially if property owners act promptly before occupants can establish long-term residency.