Recover Stolen Funds for Rent and Car Repair

Hello, my name is Leslie, you may know me as Mano. I started this gofundme because in March my car broke down, and the repair was going to cost several thousands of dollars, so I called a local mechanic I had kept a flyer for and asked if he could take a look at it.

He assessed the issue and gave me a quote and it was about half of what the dealership wanted to charge me. Of course, I jumped at the thought of saving, because I did not have the amount the dealership wanted but I did have enough to pay half up front and half a week later when the work should have been done. He had done a couple of small jobs for me in the past and I had no reason to believe I was going to get scammed.

Long and frustrating story short- the guy took my money and ran. This was after coming back for more money for parts as he was encountering more issues that needed to be repaired for my Honda Pilot to even run at all. I shelled out around $4600 by the time this was over and ended up paying for three tow jobs to other mechanics and then to my home eventually which totaled to about $450.

It was about three weeks in when his calls and texts were unanswered and he became unreachable. I knew his address since I had sent the tow truck there, but it was an apartment complex and I never knew his exact apartment number. I swung by to see if my car was still there several times, and it was parked on the main road next to the apartments. This guy also had my one good key, my other being broken in shambles but taped together still worked. My look inside the car revealed some work was in progress and some of the engine was taken apart with parts inside of the car. There was no sign of the new parts he had been buying for 4 separate issues keeping the car from running.

I had a good samaritan pay for my tow to another repair place she recommended but sadly this guy did not do much but declared it a useless cause but did not charge for his diagnosis. I got it towed to the Honda Dealership for the actual testing that would determine if there was no pressure in the system. It turned out that my car had no signs of new work done, had a busted timing belt and needed new tensioners as well, which would be around $2K. That was the work just to be able to even test my car! Beyond that, I am certain more factors originally caused my engine to shut down. The report they handed me totaled over $15K of repairs they could see needed work without being able to run tests.

I tried to reach the mechanic over and over, and eventually, his number was disconnected for good. I am trying to track him down so I can get my money and parts back (if he even ever bought them as he said he did), but in the meantime, this issue has brought me months of hardship. We have not had a car, and I am suffering from fibromyalgia which has affected me so strongly that I have barely been able to manage any of my businesses. I am adrift in the consequences of my finances being drained, and I have tried all I can to fix it myself, but I am just drained and at the point of exhaustion and deep stress.

I have put my goal as the original amount he took from me, including the tow fees I owe my Good Samaritan.

As August arrives I know I have nothing whatsoever for rent. I am covering my bills, but I cannot recover from the financial blows happening in those couple of months, so I am asking for your help so we can keep our roof over our heads. I provide for my young son who just turned 5, myself and my older kids, though two of my sons have jobs, it is not always enough to cover everything. Also, have my grandchild living with me and her mom and mom's family- who recently are unable to pay any rent or bills (for several months) but help with food.

My fibromyalgia has debilitated me to the point of being barely able to do anything, my hands and arms are weak, my past injuries are aflame and incredibly sore/painful, my overall pain is high, and my remedies are costly. I am trying now to heal from the inside out which will involve a huge dietary change I have begun and exercise I feel still too weak to do, but I am going to get myself up and out of this funk!

It is so hard to ask for help, I just hope it is well received, as I am truly hoping if I can just restore what I lost on the mechanic that I can turn around a lot of the recent misfortunes and climb back up to a place where it is conducive to healing.

Thank you for reading my ask, thank you for being my community, and thanks if you are a stranger who just cares about a single disabled mom on some bad fortune. I will always do what I can to help others but now it seems to be my turn and I am here to admit that I have no options and can't do it alone anymore.

In order to create some transparency about what I will use the funds for, the first $2600 is my rent for the month of August. The next $500-600 are my bills for the month of August, $300 are some past-due bills that are accumulating. Anything left ($1500 if I reach the goal!) should help me to get my axle repaired on my little bus, which I can then use around town if needed.

I am hoping to reach a bit over the halfway mark within the first few days of August. If I could raise the rest of it by the middle of August then I will be caught up on things!