In a shocking incident in Fort Worth, Texas, a woman was injured after confronting squatters trying to steal her belongings. The attackers, who had broken into her house, dropped a refrigerator on her head, causing serious injuries.
What Happened in Fort Worth?
The woman, Noel Patrick, had been living in the house for over a year. From the beginning, she felt something was wrong. The house was in bad condition, with holes in the walls and floors. Later, her landlord informed her that he had previously spent two years dealing with squatters on the property.
After a year of trying to make it work, Patrick — who is also a mother of three — decided it was time to leave the home for good.
Everything was going smoothly with the move, until one Sunday when she returned to the home to collect the last few items. As she entered the kitchen, she was shocked to see a man and a woman inside, trying to steal the refrigerator.
When she told them to leave the property, one of them pushed the refrigerator onto her, breaking three of her teeth. The attackers then fled the scene through the front door.
Injuries and Medical Costs
The refrigerator injury left Noel Patrick with painful and expensive damage. While she managed to fix one of the broken teeth, the other two still need replacements. She says the dental operations will cost her around $7,000 just to get started.
As a single mother, these costs are not easy to bear. But beyond the money, the trauma and fear from this attack are hard to ignore.
Squatter Rights in Texas: A Growing Concern
This violent encounter is now part of a larger discussion happening in Texas about squatter rights. Many people, like Noel Patrick, believe that squatters — people who illegally live in abandoned or rented properties — often have too many legal protections.
House Bill 32, introduced by Rep. Angie Chen Button, aims to give tenants more power to remove squatters, possibly without needing a formal court hearing. After her attack, Patrick voiced her support for this bill, saying:
“We need more rights for us and less rights for them.”
A Heated Debate
While many support the proposed bill, not everyone agrees. Some critics worry that such changes could affect low-income renters or those going through hard times. They say that fast-track evictions without court hearings could be misused.
Still, supporters argue that the safety of renters and homeowners should come first. Cases like Patrick’s show how dangerous squatters can be, especially when they refuse to leave and become violent.
What Can Be Done?
This incident has opened up an important conversation in Texas and across the country. Many believe laws should change to better protect people like Noel Patrick. Others feel that care must be taken to avoid unfairly hurting vulnerable groups.
But one thing is clear — people deserve to feel safe in their own homes, and the laws need to reflect that.