According to The Sun, a University of Maryland School of Medicine professor returned from winter vacation in early January to find that strangers had moved into his Southwest Baltimore townhouse, changed the locks, and were presenting what he described as a fraudulent lease agreement.

Ze Wang called 911 on January 7 after discovering signs of forced entry at his Pigtown neighborhood home. He was unable to regain access to his property for 59 days, during which time the occupants allegedly demanded $5,000 in cash to leave, and upon their departure, contractors estimated the damage to the home would exceed $80,000 in repairs.

Wang's ordeal has drawn renewed attention to Maryland's legal framework surrounding squatters and fraudulent leases. Critics argue that current state law leaves property owners dangerously vulnerable, as police are often unable to intervene when an occupant presents any form of lease — even one the homeowner insists is fabricated. The issue has prompted ongoing debate among Maryland lawmakers over proposed changes to address these situations.

A Professor Locked Out of His Own Home

When Wang arrived at his townhouse after his winter break, he immediately realized something was wrong. His keys no longer worked in the locks. He told FOX45, "I was totally shocked."

Wang drove around to the rear of the property and opened the garage. Inside, he found a white vehicle bearing a paper Virginia tag. He then observed strangers unloading their personal belongings from the car into his home.

Before police arrived at the scene, a woman emerged from the house and approached Wang's vehicle. "Before the police came, the woman came out, and she knocked on my window. [She said] 'We can talk,'" Wang recalled. He said he refused, telling her, "No, no, you shouldn't be here, this is my house."

Police Responded but Left the Squatters Inside

When Baltimore Police Department officers arrived, the woman showed them a lease agreement displayed on her phone. The document was signed by someone identified as "Samuel," a person Wang said he had never heard of and had no connection to.

Wang pleaded with officers, insisting the lease was fabricated. "I said, 'This is a fake lease. I don't know Samuel at all, and I'm not Samuel, and I don't know this woman, so everything is fake," he told FOX45. He also pointed out physical evidence of forced entry, including a damaged window and a removed deadbolt casing that had been discarded in the bushes.

Despite Wang's protests, officers left the property. In Maryland, when an occupant presents a lease — even one the homeowner disputes — police typically treat the matter as a landlord-tenant dispute rather than criminal trespass or fraud, according to FOX45. Wang was left with nowhere to go, even though he was scheduled to teach the following morning.

Demands for Cash and Weeks of Displacement

During the weeks that followed, Wang was effectively rendered homeless. He spent some nights sleeping in his office while the squatters remained in his townhouse. He eventually filed a wrongful detainer lawsuit in an effort to legally reclaim his property.

While living elsewhere, Wang received messages from someone connected to the occupants demanding $5,000 in cash in exchange for vacating the home. The sender wrote, "We are both victims in this situation." Wang responded that he believed he was the true victim, pointing to the damage he had already observed when police first responded to the scene.

Through the legal process, Wang learned that a female squatter had provided a fake name. After nearly two months, the occupants finally left the property, and Wang was able to return, 59 days after he first discovered them inside his home.

Over $80,000 in Damage and Disturbing Remnants

What Wang found inside was devastating. Several rooms were filled with discarded items, including female clothing, children's shoes, socks, underwear, toys, multiple used pregnancy tests, and piles of debris. Contractors were already on site, beginning the extensive repair process.

In the master bedroom, Wang discovered burnt marijuana cigarettes, alcohol bottles, and drug paraphernalia. Dozens of soiled baby diapers were left scattered across two bedrooms. A medical pamphlet found near an air vent read: "Do you think your child has autism? Get tested today by a specialist!"

A section of the second floor's ceiling had collapsed entirely. Contractors traced the structural damage to a clogged toilet on the third floor, which caused water to cascade down through multiple levels and into the basement. FOX45 reported a strong urine smell throughout the home, along with thick substances on a table, sections of carpet, and walls that appeared to be feces. Wang said he hopes to complete the repairs and sell the property as soon as possible.

Lessons to Learn

1. Install security cameras and smart locks that send real-time alerts when doors are opened. Wang's home was targeted while he was on vacation, which underscores how properties left unattended — even briefly — can attract opportunistic criminals. Monitoring systems can help homeowners detect unauthorized entry immediately.

2. Have a trusted neighbor, friend, or property manager check on your home regularly during extended absences. A quick daily visit to confirm nothing looks unusual could mean the difference between catching an intrusion early and returning to find strangers fully settled. Timely detection gives homeowners a stronger legal position.

3. Familiarize yourself with your state's tenant and squatter laws before an emergency occurs, and consult with an attorney about protective measures such as filing a wrongful detainer action. Understanding the legal process ahead of time can save critical days. It is important to remember, however, that no precaution guarantees safety — crime can happen to anyone, and the blame always lies with those who commit it, never the victim.

Why This Story Matters

Wang's experience highlights a significant gap in Maryland law that can leave homeowners without legal recourse for weeks or even months when squatters present fraudulent documents. Maryland lawmakers are currently debating changes to address fake leases and alleged online networks that connect people with vacant homes to occupy for a one-time fee. As squatter-related incidents continue to surface across the country, this case serves as a stark reminder that property rights protections need to keep pace with evolving criminal tactics — and that communities must advocate for laws that protect honest homeowners from exploitation.

In summary, University of Maryland professor Ze Wang returned from vacation in early January to find squatters occupying his Pigtown townhouse with a lease signed by an unknown person named "Samuel." Baltimore police declined to remove the occupants because Maryland law treats such disputes as landlord-tenant matters when a lease is presented. Wang was displaced for 59 days, received demands for $5,000 to vacate, slept in his office, and ultimately filed a wrongful detainer lawsuit to reclaim his home.

Upon reentry, he discovered extensive damage — including a collapsed ceiling, drug paraphernalia, soiled diapers, and debris throughout the property — with contractor estimates exceeding $80,000 in repairs. Wang now plans to restore the home and sell it, as state legislators continue debating reforms to prevent similar cases in the future.