The Jacqueline Murray Story

Hello,

My name is Pastor Henry Louis Adams. I want to share the story of my sister. Her name is Jacqueline Murray. She and her son was hospitalized with Double Covid Pneumonia in Cobb County. The doctors didn't expect for her to pull through this. She spent weeks in the hospital fighting for her life. Before her Covid battle, she was an essential worker, a truck driver. She traveled the country delivering loads to keep stores stocked so that people like me, and you, could continue to survive during the pandemic.

Jacqueline recently changed jobs to another function, still an essential worker, she became a truck driver for a residential trash removal company that removes trash from residential neighborhoods in North Georgia. We are not sure how or where she contracted Covid. However, she informed that she became ill after others on her job recently had a bout with the virus. Before her hospitalization, Jacqueline was in the middle of searching for a new place to live for her and her son. The current residence in Cobb County in which she was renting had become inhabitable, and she could not afford to replace a collapsed ceiling again in a residence that did not belong to her. After saving her money, going to court and getting additional time to move out, she suddenly became ill with COVID-19 and was hospitalized. After she was hospitalized, her son also contracted the virus and was hospitalized also.

During her hospitalization, she kept in touch with me, her brother and Pastor about her situation. Not to alarm the family, we kept this a secret. I started researching places for her to live when I came across a listing on Zillow for a property located in Conyers, Ga. I was prompted to call the listing because it was affordable and was listed as a Private Owner. The picture of the property said to call the Private Owner. I called the Number on the listing and spoke Thomas Gonzales, who identified himself as the property owner. Mr. Gonzales said that the property in Conyers was not available, however he had some other properties that were. He emailed me the address of another property in Lithonia, Ga. I went to view the property in which he had me register for a site called Rently and scan my driver's license and pay a 99cent fee to self-tour the home. I followed the directions with him on the phone as I retrieved the code and self toured the property. At this time, I called my sister, Jacqueline and connected with her via facetime to show her the property. She loved the property and wanted to fill out a application and secure the place with a deposit.

I filled out the application with Jacqueline's permission and submitted the application via email to Thomas which identified himself as the Landlord. The next morning, I received an email back from Thomas that the application had been processed and congratulated us on being approved. He also requested a deposit to be sent to his wifes assistant via Paypal . He informed us that he had previously had the home on the market as a "Rent to own" property at 1795 a month but previously decided to remove it and rent it for 1400 a month with water and electric included.

Thomas emailed me a lease to sign and a request for 2800 which is first month rent and deposit. Jacqueline didnt have all the money needed to make the deposit. She explained to him that she had just gotten out of the hospital but could send 2000. Thomas agreed on the 2000 and we sent the funds via Paypal on October 7th, 2021.

Thomas agreed that we would pay the remaining 800 dollars on 10//9/2021 at the move in. Thomas and I agreed to meet at the property at 12 noon. Thomas never showed up at the property. After several calls and text, Thomas finally called back and informed that he had a flat tire, and he needed one hour more to get to the property. After one hour past, I called Thomas several times and he would not pick up his phone. I finally reached Thomas via phone around 3 PM that evening, approx 3 hours after our scheduled meet time for the key exchange. He informed me that he needed 2 more hours and that he would meet me at the property in a few more hours. I informed Thomas that if he didn't want to do the deal that he could refund the 2000 dollar deposit that he received from us, and we would look elsewhere. He informed that he wanted to do the deal and that he would be there. He informed that he would call me before he arrived at the property.

Thomas never showed up at the property. Thomas scammed us and now Jacqueline is out of her savings of 2000. We sit here wondering what could possibly be in a person's mind to scam a middle-aged essential worker that has been on the front line of this pandemic, serving the public. We shared with him her hospital fight with double Covid pneumonia and her being on oxygen, all the while being reeled into a scam to steal her money. I sit back and think, if she got the vaccine and was never hospitalized, would we have seen the red flags? Because of sickness and a near-death experience, maybe we were just blind. No one knows for sure. He was so poised and elaborate. But in the end, a diabolical scam artist.

Now Jacqueline needs a home to rent for her and her son. The 2000 dollars that she had saved to help with that has now been stolen from her due to no fault of her own. And Paypal will not refund the money.

It is my Prayer that she receives enough money to not only find a place to live but to pay her rent up for a year as she continues to recover. She is on oxygen, for now. For as a woman that has given so much to the world, maybe the world will return a helping hand. Thank you and God Bless.