90-year-old fights to keep Prospect Heights home after alleged deed theft scam
The fate of his home remains uncertain, as they continue to battle to prove that the man was scammed.
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Ray Cortez bought his home on St. Marks Place with his wife back in 1969.
Cortez says in 2006, he planned on making renovations to the home, when a man he once confided in told him to sign the deed of the home over to him to do the repairs quickly. The 90-year-old says that man took a nearly $700,000 line of credit for the home. Cortez found out about this years later, when the home was sold at foreclosure.
“Here my son grew up, my daughters also grew up here. I’ve been here for 55 years living in this home," Cortez said.
The fate of his home remains uncertain, as they continue to battle to prove Cortez was scammed.
“Mr. Cortez didn’t know for many years that his house had been stolen," said Adam Grumbach, Cortez's attorney. "We are asserting his rights in court and we are hopeful the court system will be able to respond to it.”
Despite the turmoil, Cortez remains hopeful his home will remain his, and he says once he gets it back, he is going to put his paintings in an art gallery.
