A Colorado family alleges they have been left living in a freezing trailer with no running water after a contractor reportedly gutted their home and disappeared with their life savings before completing the work. Nicole Chaves, 43, and her husband Mario, 44, claim they and their three-year-old daughter Tillie have been rendered virtually homeless following the ordeal.
Alleged Construction Fraud Leaves Family in Crisis
The couple state they paid $219,000 to contractor Daniel Parker, owner of Stonebrook Construction Group, for renovations to their three-bedroom, four-bathroom Fort Collins home last fall. However, Parker allegedly walked off the job on January 9, leaving them with what they describe as an 'unlivable shell' of a property. The family has since been staying in a fifth-wheel trailer in their backyard and reports being forced to shower at a local gym.
Dire Living Conditions and Emotional Toll
The trailer, which features three bunk beds, a small kitchen table, a couch, and one queen-size bed, has become a cramped and uncomfortable temporary home. Colorado's harsh winter, with temperatures plunging to -10°F, has exacerbated their plight. The family says they must carry one-gallon jugs from a neighbor's spigot to dispose of toilet waste, and cooking has been abandoned in favor of microwaveable meals due to the lack of water for washing hands or food.
Nicole Chaves revealed the emotional impact on their young daughter, stating, 'She has been crying at night and just saying that she wants a house and she misses taking a bath.' Tillie has reportedly pleaded to visit her grandmother in North Dakota 'so she can take a bath at grandma's house,' leading to plans for the child to stay there, marking the first separation for mother and daughter.
Contractor's Denial and Counterclaims
Daniel Parker has strenuously denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his firm performed more work than it has been paid for. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Parker said, 'Stonebrook Construction Group categorically denies the allegations contained in the GoFundMe campaign and related statements circulated by the homeowners and related third parties.' He claimed the project was never abandoned and that funds were not 'pocketed,' but rather work ceased after the homeowners allegedly breached the contract by failing to comply with payment terms and interfering with subcontractors.
Parker added that the Chaves family still owes his company money and expressed a desire to resolve the matter. However, the family insists they are victims of 'devastating construction fraud,' with a GoFundMe campaign launched by Nicole's sister-in-law, Lucia, accusing Parker of having 'stolen' the money.
Financial and Legal Fallout
The Chaves family claims that Parker failed to pay subcontractors, potentially exposing them to liens on their currently uninhabitable home. Their 1,364-square-foot property, valued at around $682,000 prior to the unfinished renovations, was intended to be transformed from a '1972 fixer-upper into a forever home.' Now, their focus has shifted from a dream home to simply securing a 'safe, dry, and heated shell' to allow them to move inside and complete the work gradually.
A GoFundMe campaign aims to raise $35,000 for structural repairs and restoring heat and water systems, with about $8,500 raised as of Tuesday afternoon. Nicole Chaves expressed a desperate hope to occupy even 'just one small area of the house' during ongoing construction, stating, 'If we can all live in one bedroom, at this point, that would be better than nothing.'
The family's situation highlights broader issues in the construction industry, with both sides presenting conflicting accounts while the Chaves endure a winter of hardship in their backyard trailer.
