A 77-year-old grandmother in Houston is fighting to keep her home of nearly 30 years after learning her son allegedly forged her signature and sold the property without her knowledge — just before dying by suicide.
Barbara Arnold told Fox 26 that her son, Jeremiah “Jerry” Arnold, 53, transferred ownership of her home through a forged deed. The shocking discovery came after Jerry took his own life in August 2024 following a police chase for a bank robbery.
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“He said, ‘If I stop, I’m going to kill myself,’” Barbara recalled. “I asked him not to do that, and then he hung up the phone.”
Shortly before his death, Jerry reportedly told Barbara to “check the deed.” When she did, she found documents showing that her home had been fraudulently transferred and sold — without her ever signing anything.
“She never signed anything, and she couldn’t understand how her house isn’t her house,” said Nicole Poolwhite, a friend from Barbara’s church.
Barbara has owned the home outright since 1996 and raised her family there. Now, she’s facing eviction by investors who purchased the house after the fake deed was filed.
So far, she’s spent about $17,000 on legal fees trying to undo the damage, but says she can’t afford to keep going without help. Her attorney is seeking to void the fraudulent sale and reclaim her property, but the case is ongoing.
“We have two properties,” said civil attorney Rex Mann. “One is Miss Arnold’s homestead, that was one of the fraudulent transactions, and another was a property she was trying to fix up and lease for income in her later years.”
Despite the betrayal, Barbara says she has forgiven her son.
Friends and fellow church members have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support her legal battle and are asking for any attorneys willing to help pro bono to come forward. As of now, the fundraiser has collected $1,075 toward its $22,000 goal.
