Man Returns Home To Find Stranger & Her Kids Living In His House

The woman and her children were wearing clothing that Kent Foster recognized as belonging to his wife and children.

February 22, 2019
Savannah Rhinehart [Union County Jail]

Savannah Rhinehart [Union County Jail]

Savannah Rhinehart [Union County Jail]

By: Catherine Townsend

UNION, SC — A South Carolina man has described the shock and horror he felt after returning home to find a stranger living in his house.

Kent Foster said that he was floored when he came home and discovered that a woman and two children had taken up residence in his home. The woman opened the door and said, “What are you doing at my house?”

“I said, ‘Excuse me?’ I said, ‘I live here,’” Foster told People.

The squatter then shut the door in his face — and Foster called 911. When police arrived, the woman opened the door and said, “Can I help you?” according to Foster. He replied, “Yeah, the first thing you can do is leave my house.”

The woman and her children were wearing clothing that Foster recognized as belonging to his wife and children. They had also helped themselves to food Foster had in the house.

Union Public Safety Captain Kevin Powers told People that they were not sure how long Foster had been away from the home.

Foster said that in addition to stealing clothes, the family trashed his house and allowed their dog to urinate on his floor. There was also evidence that someone had been smoking inside and furniture had been moved around, according to WHNS, Fox Carolina.

The intruder turned out to be Savannah Rhinehart, 25. She was taken to the hospital to be evaluated, and later arrested and charged with burglary, neglect of a child, and petty larceny. Her two children have been placed in emergency protective custody, according to police.

Foster said police told him Rhinehart claimed that "in her mind, she thought she lived there" — and that the incident left him feeling "violated."

Read more: FOX Carolina, People

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