An 80-year-old widow began a passionate affair with a homeless, reformed, drug-addicted handyman 23 years her senior, who began demanding large sums of money from her.
Carolyn Holland's husband Joe died in 2015 at the age of 74, leaving the mother of two lonely and lost in a long and happy retirement.
Living in the quaint Southern California beach town of Cayucos, she struck up a friendship with 57-year-old Dave Foute, a churchgoing man she had originally hired to do odd jobs around her $1.7 million home incredible success views of the Pacific Ocean.
Dave was known as a homeless person in the 2,500-strong community.
He could often be found sleeping on the street near the town's pretty pier.
Carolyn Holland, 80, found an unlikely lover in Dave Foute, 57, a former drug addict who was homeless and had a lengthy criminal record
Daughters Sally (left), Carolyn and Susan (right) celebrate Carolyn's 80th birthday in 2022
Within two weeks of meeting, Dave moved into the $1.7 million ocean-view home
Carolyn's family began to wonder whether he was a carer or a con man out to trick her and break her heart before taking her money and possessions. The couple is pictured at home
He was a skilled carpenter, but it went further when Dave simply came around with a plank of wood and a screwdriver – and the two soon became a loving couple, with Carolyn expressing shock at finding herself in her ninth decade of a passionate sexual relationship Affair began.
Within two weeks of meeting, Dave had moved in.
Alarm bells immediately rang for Carolyn's daughters Sally and Susan, who believed Dave had ulterior motives and was simply after their mother's hard-earned money – and ultimately her inheritance.
Although Carolyn had not been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, like any octogenarian, her cognitive abilities were declining and she admitted to being forgetful.
Her middle-aged daughters, who lived a five-hour drive away and were starting families of their own, were all too aware of this.
Her biggest concern was her mother's finances and the fact that Dave would easily exploit her for all the money he could while simultaneously causing her emotional distress at a vulnerable time in her life.
Carolyn (left) is seen on a cruise in 2014 with her late husband Joe, who died in 2015 at the age of 74
It turned out that Dave was a former crystal meth addict, someone who had dealt drugs and even spent a decade in prison
Carolyn's daughters believed she had entered some kind of fantasy world, when in reality she was a vulnerable older woman in need of companionship. Dave and Carolyn can be seen here
But Carolyn persisted: she had deep feelings for Dave and deserved to be romantically involved again. After all, she had a special connection with her new found love.
“He gave me something special because of his caring nature.” We share a lot. “I love his personality and I hate it when he's gone,” she told the BBC.
Other relatives of Carolyn's, including her niece Kim, were particularly concerned about the age difference and wondered if Dave was simply using her as a place to stay – their multimillion-dollar home was a dramatic change from sleeping on the beach.
“The age difference really bothered me – that was a red light. “Why would someone that age act like they're in love with her other than to have a place to stay?” Kim said.
Their fears were well-founded, as Dave seemed to have had a troubled and dangerous past.
Carolyn insisted she was far from losing her mind and defended her ability to make decisions about her finances
Concerns remained as Dave could often be found drinking alcohol and smoking weed
Dave insisted he would be there to look after Carolyn “until the wheel falls off”. The couple is seen walking down their street in Cayucos
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Dave was a former crystal meth addict, someone who had trafficked drugs and even spent a decade in prison for making pipe bombs to blow up a local Walmart.
It was also revealed that Dave had a history of domestic violence and child neglect, raising further concerns about his suitability as a partner for Carolyn.
Dave protested that such anti-social behavior was a thing of the past and that he had been redeemed and undergone a religious transformation while being rehabilitated from his vices.
“I'll take care of her as best I can, unless I can't.” All the boys know that Carolyn is my girl and I don't joke around. I don't stay out late because I have someone to go home to. “I’ll stay until the wheels fall off,” he said.
“Look what Jesus has blessed me with. I couldn't leave her because I was supposed to be here with her.”
However, concerns remained as he could often be found drinking alcohol and smoking weed.
It was Carolyn's daughters who were most disturbed when they noticed a drastic change in their mother's behavior after meeting Dave.
They believed she had fallen into some kind of fantasy world, when in reality she was a vulnerable older woman in need of companionship.
Dave told people that he had long been rehabilitated from drugs and alcohol
Dave protested that such anti-social behavior was a thing of the past and that he had been redeemed and undergone a religious transformation while being rehabilitated from his vices
Dave and Carolyn spent a lot of time together and gave her a newfound sense of adventure
“It's like a fantasy world, it's so bizarre,” Sally said. “She was like a teenager when he came over. She giggled and laughed so funny.'
The possible fear that Dave's arrival might prompt Carolyn to make sudden changes to her will, which included an extensive real estate portfolio built over generations, only increased her anxiety.
Dave was also seen around town bragging to his friends that one day soon he would never have to work again.
“It's our family's money, my parents worked hard for this money. “Should we be okay and just give it to some loser?” Sally asked.
The daughters began looking for possible legal solutions to obtain power of attorney and declare their mother mentally unfit on the grounds that she may lose her cognitive abilities.
But Carolyn was far from crazy, she told them, defending her ability to make decisions by accusing her daughters of failing to support her adequately after her husband's death.
“They never came to me before Dave, honestly, they didn’t,” Carolyn explained.
The family dispute led to a financial rift, with Carolyn co-signing a loan agreement for a $40,000 van for Dave, despite her daughters' objections.
Carolyn asserted her right to choose her partner and emphasized the positive influence Dave had on her life.
“They think they're protecting me from David, but David is the best thing that could have happened to me,” Carolyn said.
Eventually, Carolyn agreed to sell one of her properties, prompting accusations from her daughters that Dave was taking advantage of their mental fragility.
Carolyn always asserted her right to choose her partner and emphasized the positive influence Dave had on her life
When Carolyn agreed to sell one of her properties, it sparked accusations from her daughters that Dave was exploiting their mental weakness to get their money
Carolyn had promised to give Dave a portion of the $600,000 sale proceeds to give him a stable future
“When she called I came, I miss Carolyn, I loved Carolyn. “I was on my little mission trying to make her proud,” Dave said after her death
Carolyn had even promised Dave that she would donate a portion of the $600,000 sale proceeds to give him a stable future.
The estate sale went through and a check was waiting for Carolyn, but at that moment her physical and mental condition began to deteriorate.
COVID-19 only worsened her health problems and she decided not to get vaccinated after Dave advised her against it, convinced that the entire vaccination program was a process under government control.
Eventually, her daughters managed to obtain power of attorney before Carolyn died.
“The Covid wasn’t what killed her, but it definitely didn’t help because she was already getting worse,” said daughter Susan.
After her death, the daughters neither told Dave that their mother had died nor allowed him to visit her in her final days.
A year later, the daughters cannot shake the feeling that their mother was indeed exploited and do not believe that local doctors, police or nursing services were able to adequately address their concerns.
After her death, the daughters neither told Dave that their mother had died nor allowed him to visit her in her final days
As for Dave, he's once again alone and homeless, hanging out on Cayuco's pier – although he can now use his $40,000 van, paid for in full and gifted with love by Carolyn
Dave never got his million dollar home and now lives in a van on the pier
“Everyone’s hands were tied. “They didn’t see what we saw,” Susan explained.
Her death leaves the family with a lasting sense of frustration and sadness.
As for Dave, he's once again homeless and hanging out at the Cayuco pier – although he now has use of his $40,000 van, paid for in full and gifted with love by Carolyn.
“When she called I came, I miss Carolyn, I loved Carolyn. “I was on my little mission trying to make them proud,” he said.
You can find out more about Carolyn and Dave's story in a 10-part BBC podcast: Million Dollar Lover.