Homeowner returns to find alleged squatter living inside his home

A Nevada homeowner returned from a three-week vacation to find someone had apparently been squatting inside his Lake Tahoe home, eating his food, wearing his clothes and leaving behind clues that investigators hope will help identify a person of interest.

The homeowner reported the discovery to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on June 5 after returning home.

Investigators said evidence inside the residence indicated someone had been staying there while the owner was away, and the homeowner also reported his birth certificate was missing.

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During the investigation, deputies recovered a wallet containing a Visa debit card issued to Clarence Zillman, along with a Safeway receipt for the purchase of two packs of Camel cigarettes.

Investigators later obtained surveillance video from the Safeway at the Round Hill Shopping Center showing the individual who made the purchase associated with the recovered receipt.

According to the sheriff’s office, the person captured in the surveillance image was wearing a shirt and hat the homeowner identified as his own. Deputies later recovered the shirt inside the residence, though the hat remains missing.

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A beach is shown at D.L. Bliss State Park after a weekend incident in which a boat capsized, killing several people, on Monday, June 23, 2025, in Lake Tahoe, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has released the surveillance image and is asking anyone who recognizes the individual or has information about the investigation to contact Investigator JT Davis at 775-586-7253. The investigation remains active.

Digital has reached out to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for additional information.

The case unfolded in the Lake Tahoe region, one of the nation’s premier vacation-home markets. The area is known for its luxury properties and attracts wealthy homeowners, celebrities and tech executives seeking privacy and year-round outdoor recreation.

The incident also highlights concerns about unauthorized occupants targeting homes that may be left vacant for weeks or months at a time. Experts warn some squatting incidents can involve more than simply occupying a vacant home.

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A Nevada homeowner returned from vacation to find someone had apparently been squatting inside his Lake Tahoe home, prompting an active residential burglary investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. (Stephen M. Katz/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Former Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Moses Castillo recently told Digital that some squatting cases have involved alleged identity theft, forged property documents and other criminal activity beyond unlawful occupancy.

“What we’re seeing now isn’t always someone just moving into an empty house,” Castillo said. “In some cases, there are forged documents, identity theft or organized fraud that complicate these investigations.”

Douglas County investigators have not alleged identity theft or document fraud in this case, though the homeowner reported that his birth certificate was missing. Authorities have not said whether they believe the document was taken for any particular purpose.

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Concerns over squatting have prompted several states in recent years to pass laws aimed at speeding the removal of unauthorized occupants and clarifying the distinction between criminal trespass and civil landlord-tenant disputes.

Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.