Some people in Huber Heights were surprised to find their homes are up for sale.
Huber Heights renter Jamie King told Newscenter 7’s Lauren Clark that her landlord, a former pastor of St. Peter church, never notified her. Instead, she got a visit from a realtor.
“He told us the house was going up on the market and they wanted to get it sold quickly,” King said.
Less than two weeks later, this news organization found her address – and a handful of others owned by Father Earl Simone – listed online, as promised.
King said Simone never notified her. Last spring, the pastor admitted to being under investigation for financial irregularities at the church he ran for twenty-three years. It was also discovered at that time that, unbeknownst to the Archdiocese, he owned $2.9 million worth of property – most of it listed under “Flynn Realty” in Huber Heights.
Attempts to contact Simone were unsuccessful. His property management company, McGregor Management, refused to comment.
“I don’t go to that church; I had no clue who he was,” King said. “And then I hear all this stuff on the news and I’m like, ‘Okay, is that going to affect us?’”
King is on a month-to-month lease. She said she has no idea when she will be evicted. “I don’t know if that’s ‘Hey, you got thirty days. You got the day it’s sold. I have no clue… which is a little upsetting considering the fact it’s three weeks before Christmas,” she said.
The realtor listing King’s house told this news organization Thursday that she would have at least thirty days’ notice. Long-term renters leases will be honored. Prior to our inquiry, King said her questions as well as her phone calls to McGregor Management were left unanswered.
Neither the Huber Heights Police Division nor the Archdiocese of Cincinnati would comment on the ongoing investigation involving missing funds at Saint Peter church. They were also unable to provide a time frame for when they believe the investigation will wrap up.
