A lawyer for the man accused of squatting in a $2 million New York mansion has claimed he is the real victim and they are ready to “turn the story on its head”.
Dennis O'Connell claimed his client Brett Flores, a 32-year-old nurse locked in a months-long eviction battle, was “misrepresented” in reports that he had refused to move into the home purchased by an elderly couple and their disabled son to leave .
Flores says he acted as carer for Bernard Fernandez, an elderly gay bachelor who died last year at age 80, and insists he is entitled to the house.
“There is a hidden story,” the lawyer told on Friday. “There's definitely more to it than that…the buyers aren't the victims they say they are.”
The buyers, Joseph and Susana Landa, both 68, say they bought the home in October before the “nightmarish” realization that Flores lived in the house and claimed he had the legal right to live there.
Brett Flores, 32, was seen in eerie surveillance footage surrounding the multimillion-dollar Long Island mansion he refuses to vacate
Flores' attorney says there is “more” to the story of the squatter who refused to leave the home where he previously worked as a round-the-clock caregiver.
Flores says he acted as carer for Bernard Fernandez (pictured), an elderly gay bachelor who died last year at age 80, and insists he is entitled to the house
He lurks in this $2 million “dream home” that was purchased by an elderly couple from New York City and left derelict and abandoned after it was taken over by the shameless squatter
Susana (right) and Joseph Landa (left), both 68, bought the Little Neck, Long Island, mansion in October where they planned to retire before their hopes were dashed
A couple living in the neighborhood told on Friday that Fernandez was a wealthy gay bachelor who had an occasional boyfriend named James.
The Landas said they bought the Long Island home because their family knew the area well and had relatives in the area who could help their disabled son, Alex, if something were to happen to them.
However, they have not been able to move into the villa for more than four months. Flores filed for bankruptcy to delay the process while he claims former owner Bernie Fernandez left it to him when he died.
However, O'Connell told that their requests for help were intended to “misrepresent” the case and that they “know the reality.”
“(Flores) is being victimized by the current owner and the information and the Internet are fundamentally false and misleading. “The real word is incomplete.”
Flores worked as a housekeeper for Fernandez before the older man's death last year, receiving $3,000 a week for his services.
His lawyer confirmed that he was a property manager for Fernandez who worked “24/7” but did not work for an agency and had found the role himself.
Amid the ongoing delays, the Landa home has fallen into disrepair, exclusive images obtained by showed this week.
Months after the property was sold for millions, it has fallen into disrepair
Strewn trash and random splashes of white paint remain around the million-dollar home
Despite a winter storm that swept through New York this week, many of the vacant property's windows and doors were left wide open as the owners are forced to foot the utility bill
Flores has filed for bankruptcy, claiming that the previous homeowner left the property to him – which the family's attorney says is false because it was actually left to a nephew
The sprawling home is located in Little Neck, about 18 miles from Manhattan
Scattered white paint remains on several doors, windows and even surveillance cameras. Dozens of surveillance cameras can be seen throughout the property, including in trees.
The Landas say they have been forced to pay thousands of dollars in utilities and bills while Flores lives rent-free with the windows wide open despite a cold breeze that blew across New York this week.
A note Flores allegedly left on the home's door told the new owners that they “do not have my consent to enter” and that their attempts to contact him “would be interpreted as harassment.”
When asked about their inability to live in the home they spent millions on, O'Connell insisted the Landas were “not allowed.”
“I assume they would be arrested if they entered. “He has full legal ownership and the Landas are evicting him and they have a false narrative about the story,” he said.
While the house has fallen into disrepair since the Landas still cannot move in, the Landas also claim Flores advertised rooms in their future home on rental sites.
In the online listings, which appear to have been deleted, Flores advertised “The Prince Room” for $50 a night to men, women, couples, families or students seeking accommodation.
His rental services had even received three reviews, suggesting that Flores could have accommodated paying tenants in the Landa's home.
The couple have three sons, one of whom has Down syndrome. They wanted to live with him in the home to stay close to his brothers
The Landa family has already had five hearings in civil court and complains that the process is continuing to be delayed
The family hoped the house would be an ideal place to settle with their disabled son Alex, and some of their other family members also live in the neighborhood
When asked about the possible rental, Flores' attorney said he was not aware of it, but claimed the squatter had a right to do so if he wanted to.
“I'm not a landlord lawyer, but there are roommate laws.” I don't know if they apply exactly under this fact pattern, but this state of New York has a roommate law. “If I live in a place legally, I can bring a partner or roommate,” he said.
While the Landas say the situation has become a “nightmare,” he stressed that “there is more to the story” than has already been seen.
“This is all the Internet stuff, and the spin and misconceptions that are being spread are on a whole new level.” “It wasn't even five or six days ago,” he said.
“There's definitely more to it.” And when we're ready to reveal that, I think the story is turned on its head. “The buyers are not the victims they say they are.”
Prior to O'Connell's claims, the Landa family attorney, Anthony Mordente, disputed Flores' claims to the house, claiming the house was actually left to Fernandez's nephew.
He insisted that the frustrated family would finally have their day in court and finally move in once Flores was kicked out.
“We are in the process of lifting the automatic bankruptcy stay so we can go back to court and start a case,” Mordente told Fox News.
“I think we'll be successful. “I don't see any reason why the bankruptcy judge should have any reason to keep the stay in effect.”
Mordente initially represented Fernandez's nephew, saying he had had similar problems with Flores and took legal action against the squatter because he never provided evidence of his right to remain in the villa.
He said the nephew fought the Flores squat for months before deciding to get rid of the hassle over the property and sell it to the Landas in October.
'[The house] is not part of his bankruptcy estate because he doesn’t have a 10-year lease that would give him time to stay here,” he said.
“So without a rental agreement and without a residency agreement, the bankruptcy judge will say: What is this about?”
Joseph Landa said his efforts to evict the squatter had become “a nightmare, a total nightmare.”
While no one in the area had anything to say about Flores, an elderly couple told on Friday that former owner “Bernie” Fernandez was the “sweetest man and most beautiful person.”
They said he was known to have been living in the villa with a friend who was only called James, but they had been “on and off for years”.
“Bernie had a lot of money,” they said, noting that he made his millions in Florida and was known for selling high-end watches like Rolexes.
“He was the kindest, most beautiful person you could ever meet,” they said. “Bernie had as good a heart as could be.”
They said they met Flores only once, when he was working at the property, and felt he was “probably taking advantage of the situation.”
“(Bernie) would feel terrible if he knew about this,” they said. “Just awful.”
Carmen, who has lived in the area for 21 years and lives a few blocks away, was amazed that this was “the house” making headlines in her neighborhood.
'Wow! This is the famous house. I can't believe it,” she told as she stood looking at the house during her Friday morning walk. “I recognize the house.”
“I go for walks very often. I know he's sold, but when I walk past the house it's always very quiet.'