NYC squatter who refuses to leave couple’s $2M dream mansion is ‘wonderful’ man who cares for infant son on ventilator: friend
A woman claiming to be “close” to the Queens squatter who has refused to leave a couple’s $2 million dream mansion they purchased to live in with their disabled son insists the deadbeat is actually a “wonderful” man who is caring for his own ailing child.
The woman, who said she is “very close” to the squatter, Brett Flores, explained that the hanger-on is caring for his sickly infant in the luxe Douglaston manse purchased by retired couple Susana and Joseph Landa in October — from which he has refused to depart.
“The lungs did not inflate at birth. He’s on a ventilator,” she told The Post of Flores’ child, echoing claims by the squatter’s lawyer, Dennis J. O’Sullivan.
The woman, who declined to confirm whether she was the squatter’s relative or friend, said the child’s mother is married to Flores and that they are living together, but refused to clarify whether the couple were slumming it as a family in the Shore Road haven.
“I couldn’t tell you where they are living,” she said of the child and its mother.
Other neighbors who spoke to the Post said they haven’t seen a baby or a woman in the house, and that Flores hasn’t been around much since the prior owner died.
Flores, 32, has repeatedly claimed he had an agreement with the home’s previous owner, Bernie Fernandez, who died in January 2023, to continue living in the residence — and has done so even as the property’s new owners want him out.
Flores worked as a 24-hour live-in caretaker for Fernandez, according to O’Sullivan. He was paid $3,000 a week for the gig, court documents show.
Flores’ associate said she couldn’t recall him mentioning any agreement that the house was to be left to him nor plans to continue living there, but described the community backlash surrounding his rent-free occupancy as “just horrible.”
“There is no end to what people will do,” she cried.
Keep up with The Post's coverage of a Queens family's fight to regain their $2 million dream home from squatter Brett Flores
- How Queens squatter Brett Fisher-Flores cozied up to $2M home’s ailing former owner — and never left: source
- Why can’t squatters like Brett Flores get evicted, and how did it get to this point
- Squatter who refuses to leave $2M NYC home is a model who was once arrested for allegedly assaulting wife
- Queens couple buys $2M dream home to care for disabled son, only to find squatter living inside
- NYC squatter who refuses to leave $2M mansion is ‘wonderful’ man who cares for infant son on ventilator: pal
The Landa family were excited to settle down in the 3,100-square-foot home, which is near their relatives and perfect for their son Alex, who has Down syndrome.
“I just want to know that I can die tomorrow and he’s next to his brother,” Susana Landa told ABC 7.
Neighbors have been outraged by the couple’s struggle to move into their own home, pounding on the door and shouting while driving by “Get the squatters out!”
The couple, who have not entered the house, have hired a celebrity security guard to monitor their home.
Amid the ongoing battle to evict their property’s squatter, the Landas have been coughing up the cash for the property’s bills, including thousands of dollars in utilities — all while Flores has been listing rooms in the mansion for rent.
The couple have struggled to evict Flores in part because he recently declared bankruptcy and have had five civil court hearings since purchasing the property in October.
A landlord-tenant court hearing is set for April.
