Squatter Mom Moved Kids, Cats, Ex-Hubby Into Lux Estate

June 16, 2010 — -- Jill Lane just couldn't resist calling a brand new $3.2 million mansion in suburban Seattle, flush with nine bathrooms, six bedrooms and a deck overlooking a lake, home.

But it wasn't her home, so when she moved her family in last week -- bringing her own bed, TV and cats with her -- and began squatting in the residence, neighbors alerted the authorities.

Lane, 30, was arrested Tuesday evening by police in Kirkland, charged with criminal trespassing after authorities discovered that she had never actually owned the home and the records she had produced to prove that she had were false.

"I've never had this type of case. It's definitely different," said Kirkland Police Detective Allan O'Neill.

O'Neill told ABCNews.com that Lane was arrested and booked at the King County Jail but has since been released pending the investigation.

Calls and e-mails sent to Lane and her former husband and co-squatter, James Grenz, were not immediately returned. It was not immediately clear whether Lane was being represented by a lawyer.

Lane and Grenz are listed as co-owners of the Urban Tanning Spa in nearby Puyallup, Wash.

While O'Neill says authorities are still not quite sure what date Lane and her family moved into the house, he knows it was sometime before June 6, when neighbors first began complaining of the constant foot traffic in and out of the mansion.

The real estate company handling the listing confirmed to police that the property had not been sold, and authorities then went to both the First Citizens Bank and to Lane herself to inquire about ownership.

"Officers went to the house and contacted [Lane] and she supplied paperwork showing ownership of the house. Later we found that they were all falsified," said O'Neill. "The bank requested that the family be removed from the home and wanted to press charges."

Squatter Mom Calls $3.2 Million Manse Home

"On June 15, officers went to the house and [Lane] was not there, so they called her and asked her about the property," said O'Neill. "When she returned, she was placed under arrest."

Lane had apparently treated the house well during her week-long stay, according to O'Neill.

"The house was not damaged, there were a few odds and ends she had moved in and a couple of cats," he said.

There was food in the kitchen and the pantry, and Lane had even let workers in the house during her stay to remove the furniture that had been put in the house to make it more appealing to potential buyers.

According to the VDB Real Estate, which did not immediately return messages left by ABC News, the brand new home is worth more than $3 million and is equipped with a fitness room, a home office and boasts city and mountain views.

The 7,680-square-foot-mansion also has a formal dining room and living room.

And, of course, a no trespassing sign put there by Lane herself.

"She was really claiming ownership of that house," said O'Neill.