Two people have been arrested for stealing items from a house in Lakeview, a house they had broken into and have apparently been living in for nearly a month. Forty-six-year-old Tabetha Jean Hoyt and 36-year-old Jose Armondo Martinez-Paz, both of Bull Shoals, are facing three charges.
According to the incident report, from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, a neighbor called to report two people taking items from the home when no one is supposed to be there.
When the deputy arrived, he was met by Hoyt in the driveway who told him she was hired to clean the house because the homeowner had passed away. She could not remember the person’s name who had hired her and later stated she was doing the work for free.
The deputy went across the street to talk to the person who made the call. She was on the phone with the son of the woman who owns the home. He did not know Hoyt and said no one is supposed to be in the home.
When the deputy returned to the residence, several items that were on the sidewalk when he first arrived were no longer there. He again asked who hired her to clean the house and Hoyt gave several names, but could not remember.
The deputy walked through the house and it appeared the house was being lived in. There was food in the refrigerator, cups on the tables next to beds, kids’ toys in the house and a fresh pan of cookies on the stove.
The deputy asked Hoyt how she had gotten into the house. She said the home had been broken into and she had to replace the deadbolt. The deputy noted all of the deadbolts on all of the doors matched except the one on the side door that had been replaced.
At this point, the deputy placed Hoyt and Martinez-Paz under arrest. Hoyt asked why, “they have been there a month now.” Her five-year-old granddaughter lives with her. Family members came to pick her up.
During the investigation, Lakeview Police discovered pry marks where the old lock had been removed.
Stolen items included scuba gear, fishing gear, spear guns, a TV, a YETI cooler, and kitchen items.
Both Hoyt and Martinez-Paz are facing a felony charges of residential burglary and theft of property and a misdemeanor charge of second degree criminal mischief.
Hoyt is free on $25,000 bond.
Martinez-Paz is being held in the Baxter County Detention Center on $25,000 bond. He also has a detainer hold from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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