SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Two women have been arrested for “squatting” in a Sumter County home, according to Sumter County deputies. Those arrests led deputies to discover theft from a local animal abuse shelter and its employees.
Two women, one from Spartanburg and the other from Lake City, are alleged to have entered an unoccupied home without consent and falsely claimed to be leasing the property while they took up residence in the home.
On Thursday, April 25, 2024, Sumter County deputies responded to a call and met the property manager at an address on Valleybrook Court. The property manager of the home discovered someone had pried a lock and damaged a door at the home before finding Williamson and Smith living in the residence along with a 15-year-old juvenile.
When the two women were confronted, police say they claimed to have leased the home and provided a fraudulent lease. Following an investigation, Deputies arrested Megan Brooke Williamson and charged her with third degree burglary for entering an unoccupied home while committing the offense of malicious injury to personal property.
A search warrant was also executed at the residence at the time of Williamson’s arrest and a stolen vehicle from the City of Sumter was located with a VIN sticker removed from the inside of the vehicle.
As a result of the investigation, Karen Gail Smith was also charged with third degree burglary.
Both Williamson and Smith were subsequently charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal conspiracy, and chop shop for altering or defacing a vehicle identification number.
Police say investigators determined that Williamson and Smith were stealing from a local animal rescue and at least two of its employees because of evidence located during the search warrant of the residence on Valleybook Court and subsequent interviews with victims and witnesses.
Investigators have charged both suspects with financial transaction card theft, six counts of financial identity fraud and grand larceny more than $2,000 but less than $10,000.
“It may be hard for the average person to believe there are people in this world who will lie, cheat, steal, and even worse while taking no thought about the needs of others, but these suspects appear to be another example of criminals without a conscience," said Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis.
"Our investigators go the extra mile to find the truth, and if it were not for their tenacious hard work, many of these charges may have been missed," he added.
Williamson and Smith were transported to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.
Smith is being held on a $59,995 bond.
Williamson was originally arrested on May 21, 2024, and released on May 30, 2024, after posting a bond of $28,495. Since that time, as the investigation continued, eight additional warrants have been issued for her arrest.
The investigation that began on April 25, 2024, continues and additional charges are possible.