Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Family finds home vandalized after returning from aiding ailing son

A little old-fashioned Christian charity is needed to help a family in need.

It seems while a mother and her son were in California helping another son suffering with the AIDS virus, their home was broken into, vandalized and robbed.

Erma Reece, 69, and her son, James, 47, returned from California Wednesday, July 9, to find their home in shambles.

They had spent the last two years on the coast helping Erma's son, J.C., who has AIDS. They returned after representatives from the federal government told them their benefits would be cut out if they didn't come back to Arkansas.

In spite of their returning, James, who is mentally challenged, lost his SSI benefits because he owns six acres of land, and it's considered an asset.

The house is an older Housing and Urban Development (HUD) structure, but the Reece's still owe on it, and pay $214 a month on the mortgage. This comes from Erma's Social Security check. She said she will fight to get Jame's SSI restored, but has no way to get to Texarkana. Instead, they will walk to Prescott when the SSI representatives are in town next.

Upon their arrival back home,on County Road 1103 in Nevada County, which is less than a mile from the Hempstead County line, they discovered the windows in the house broken out.

The vandals/thieves took the hot water heater, all of the appliances, a ceiling fan from the living room, outlets from the wall and even removed the wiring from the well pump.

In addition, a portion of the ceiling in a bedroom was pulled down, and holes were knocked in the Sheetrock walls.

They discovered a lawnmower and their gardening tools were missing, with the electric loop to the house damaged. AP&L was supposed to be out Wednesday, July 16, to hook electricity back to the house after a Samaritan repaired the loop.

Liz Hill found out about the Reece's plight Sunday, July 13, and began helping them out.

"I want to reach out to the community," Hill said, "and help them. People shouldn't live in these conditions."

The conditions are rough as there is no type of air circulation in the house other than open windows and whatever breeze there may be.

The Reece's also have no running water at this time, and won't until the wiring to the well pump is repaired.

"People ought to be able to leave their home and have it the way they left it when they get back," Hill said.

The Reeces basically need everything possible to restore the house.

Hill is looking to obtain air conditioners, fans, a refrigerator, cook stove, hot water heater, beds and manual labor to make the necessary repairs.

The Reeces could also use items of clothing, including shoes. Erma wears a size eight or nine, while James wears size 12.

The property needs to be bush hogged, as the place is overgrown with weeds and grass.

The place is unsightly because of the weeds and is also dangerous, as the grass offers hiding places for snakes.

When Erma and James walk to town, a trek of more than five miles, they pull a "little red wagon" with them to carry their purchases back home.

However, because of the lack of utilities, they are having to eat unheated canned foods.

Erma said the Hempstead and Nevada County sheriff's offices were notified and have looked into the crime.

Hill is looking for donations of time, labor and money to help the Reeces. Along with the other items mentioned, she said they need some cabinetry and trim, along with some kind of floor covering  which was also stolen while they were gone.

The only thing apparently left alone at the house was a closet with some of their clothes and bedding materials.

There is one twin bed in the living room, along with a couch. This is where the two sleep at this time, as the beds were also apparently taken while they were away.

Hill said she has managed to find a freezer, washer and drier for Erma and James.

"It was a hard choice to make," Reece said, "having to leave a dying son to come back here. I wrote him a nice letter, but didn't tell him what happened. I didn't want him worrying about it."

Erma and James said they are survivors and will get through this. However, she added they'll take any help they can get.

Anyone wanting to help can contact Hill at 870-874-3353.