Returns to Mansion After Less Than Two Weeks in Custody

A 40-year-old woman, previously arrested for illegally occupying a $2.3 million mansion in Bethesda, Maryland, has returned to the home just over a week after her detention, according to local media reports.

Tameika Goode faces charges of trespassing and burglary after being found living in the luxury home in the Washington, D.C. suburb. According to The Baltimore Sun, she was detained for less than two weeks during months of litigation, causing frustration in the neighborhood.

19-Year-Old Neighbor Discovers the Incident

Ian Chen, a 19-year-old student at William & Mary University in Virginia, was the one who reported Goode's occupation of the home to Montgomery County police more than a year ago.

Less than two weeks after being detained, Tameika Goode returned to the house.

Chen is now urging state lawmakers to tighten laws to address illegal squatting. He believes this issue has persisted for years and occurs in many communities across Maryland.

Controversy Over Squatters' Rights

Goode's attorney, Alex Webster, told The Baltimore Sun that his client "did her research" and believed the house had "title issues." He stated that she relied on regulations related to "squatter's rights" — a legal concept that allows individuals occupying a property under certain conditions to claim rights if state law requirements are met.

According to some sources, when Goode returned after her detention, her belongings had been placed outside the house.

The civil and criminal cases related to property ownership are still ongoing in court.

National Debate Widens

The issue of illegal squatting is sparking debate in many U.S. states. Recently in New York, the Queens District Attorney prosecuted two individuals accused of falsifying documents to seize the homes of elderly residents. In 2024, a woman dubbed the "Range Rover squatter" by media was sentenced to two years in prison after occupying a $1 million home.

The Bethesda incident continues to draw attention as local residents demand authorities strengthen measures to protect property rights.