RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — New details have emerged in a Troubleshooter investigation surrounding a multimillion-dollar home in North Raleigh, where a woman, Dawn Mangum, filed a warranty deed on the property despite not owning it. She now faces felony charges for attempting to obtain property under false pretenses, with more potential charges on the horizon.
Mangum made her initial court appearance on Tuesday via video conference from jail. The charge stems from her filing a warranty deed for Craig Adams’ 8,300-square-foot residence on August 12 with the Wake County Register of Deeds. Adams was present in court to see the woman accused of attempting to take his home. “A little bit of relief, but you know, it’s still a nightmare to try and unwind this mess,” Adams remarked.
Prosecutors explained that Adams only became aware of the false deed when his HOA’s property management company inquired whether he had sold his home. Mangum had contacted them to gain access to the gated community where Adams’ home is located. Adams believes her intent was to squat in his property.
Adams expressed concern for others who may not discover that their homes have been fraudulently claimed. “What happens to the people that don’t find out their houses had a false claim warranty deed?” he questioned.
In an interview, Mangum claimed she believed the property was in foreclosure, which led her to file the deed, asserting that the law allows claiming abandoned properties. Once she discovered the home was not in foreclosure, she claimed to have ceased all related paperwork.
While the online listing for the property had indicated foreclosure, Adams clarified it was a mistake that had been corrected.
During the court hearing, Mangum made no statements except to request a public defender. Her attorney argued for a bond reduction, stating she was not a flight risk due to her three children and lack of prior felony convictions. The judge, however, increased her bond to $150,000, citing the possibility of additional charges against her.
Despite the fraudulent deed, Adams is reassured he still owns his home. He noted that the deed will not appear on a title search should he decide to sell the property. However, he has filed a civil lawsuit against Mangum, seeking to have the fraudulent deed officially recognized as such by a judge.
“I don’t want another person’s name on my house,” Adams said. He is working with North Carolina lawmakers to advocate for legislative changes that would simplify the process of removing fraudulent deeds from property records.
Adams emphasized the need for common-sense laws to provide checks and balances, allowing for easier removal of false filings. He highlighted the potential vulnerability of homeowners unaware of similar situations.
Mangum is scheduled to return to court in October for her current charges.
In response to this case, the Wake County Registry of Deeds has stated that they are taking the situation seriously and are committed to assisting the homeowner. They clarified that, under North Carolina law, they are obligated to register documents as presented without verifying their legal validity.
As a preventive measure, the Wake County Register of Deeds encourages homeowners to sign up for a free fraud alert system. While this won’t prevent unauthorized deeds from being filed, it will notify homeowners immediately if any documents involving their names are recorded, potentially allowing them to take quick action to mitigate further issues.
To sign up for fraud alerts, homeowners can visit the Wake County Register of Deeds office website. They may also want to explore additional fraud coverage options with their homeowner’s insurance or title insurance companies.