Women arrested after “squatting” in home, says Sumter County deputies

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– Two women are accused of entering an unoccupied home without consent and falsely claiming to be leasing the home while they lived there, say deputies.

Sumter County deputies say they 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 open a lock and damaged a door at the home before finding Megan Williamson and Karen Smith living in the residence along with a 15-year-old on Thursday, April 25.

It is alleged that when the two women were confronted, they claimed to have leased the home and provided a fraudulent lease.

Following an investigation, deputies arrested Megan Brooke Williamson and charged her with burglary third degree for entering an unoccupied home while committing the offense of malicious injury to personal property.

A search warrant was also executed at the home 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.

Investigators say as a result of the investigation, Karen Gail Smith was also charged with burglary 3rd degree.

Both Williamson and Smith were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal conspiracy, and chop shop (Alter, Deface, Destroy Vehicle Id. Number).

From evidence found during the investigation it was determined that the women who were from Spartanburg and Lake City were stealing from a local animal rescue and at least two of its employees, says SCSO.

Both women were also charged with financial transaction card theft, 6 counts of financial identity fraud, and grand larceny: value more than $2,000 but less than $10,000.

Williamson and Smith were taken to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

Smith is being held on a $59995 bond.

Williamson was originally arrested on Tuesday, May 21, and released on Thursday, May 30, after posting a bond of $28,495.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office says additional charges are possible.