Brazen squatters have reportedly occupied a San Francisco Bay Area home owned by Przemyslaw Jeziorski, a UC Berkeley professor who was murdered in Greece in July 2025. According to the victim's family attorney, Erin Stratte, the occupants are using tenant laws to resist eviction, despite allegations of criminal entry.
Jeziorski, 43, was shot and killed in Athens, Greece, while visiting the country for a custody hearing for his twin children and to attend other family matters. The victim's family has alleged that his ex-wife, Konstantina Nadia Michelidaki, was the mastermind behind the murder. Michelidaki's then-boyfriend, Christos Dounias, confessed to being the shooter and was arrested along with others for allegedly plotting the educator's death. Michelidaki was later found dead in her Greek prison cell in an apparent suicide in June 2026.
Jeziorski and Michelidaki co-owned multiple properties and businesses, including a rental home on Marin Avenue in Berkeley. After Jeziorski's death, his brother, Łukasz Jeziorski, inspected the property and found it in order. However, in December 2025, neighbors reported a suspected robbery at the residence.
Berkeley Police Department officials stated that individuals believed to be squatters kicked in the front door around 2:30 a.m. Four masked suspects fled the scene before officers arrived. Later that morning, a woman identifying herself as a tenant arrived and told police she believed she was renting a room from the landlord. She claimed to have moved in on October 1, after touring the property in August with someone she believed to be the homeowner, and stated she paid $30,000 for a one-year lease and a $500 deposit.
Stratte claims the alleged squatters reported their own robbery to establish occupancy, thereby becoming protected by tenant laws. The Jeziorski family first noticed suspicious activity in January when evidence of people being present was found. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office was notified, initiating legal proceedings.
An individual representing the homeowners contacted the Berkeley Police Department on January 29 regarding suspected squatters. Officers found a man and a woman in the home who claimed to be renters. Investigators determined the dispute needed to be resolved in civil court, and eviction notices were filed on April 21. However, Stratte stated that a "loophole in California law" has complicated the removal process. According to the family attorney, the alleged squatters claim to possess a rental contract drafted with Michelidaki, who was in custody in Greece at the time of the alleged lease signing. Stratte asserted that such a contract is an "impossibility" and that the court is currently unwilling to evict, while police refuse to remove the occupants under current California law.
Neighbors have also reported items being stolen from the property, which Stratte described as taking advantage of orphaned children who are rightful owners of the property.
Jeziorski was described by his brother as a loving and family-oriented man who fought for his family. He was a highly decorated educator who had planned family trips and activities.