‘She’s dangerous’: Judge bans San Diego woman from her former home after 2 suspicious fires and $200K insurance payout vanishes — neighbors say hoarding, threats and chaos went on for years

Years of issues and refusal to clean up

In California, a court cleanup order can be issued when a property becomes a public nuisance due to severe neglect, code violations or hoarding. If a homeowner fails to comply with city cleanup notices, the court can assign a receiver — an independent third party authorized to take control of the property, perform repairs and, in some cases, sell it to recover costs.

But the receiver's cleanup efforts at the Mariner Drive home didn’t go smoothly. CBS 8 reported that fires broke out on the exact days crews were scheduled to remove debris. Police have not named a suspect in either blaze, but neighbors claim to have seen Golden at the property around the time of the fires, in defiance of court orders.

"She had promised that if anyone were to take that house away from her, she would burn it down,” neighbor Eddie Mead told reporters after the second fire. “Thus, I believe it's her. She's dangerous. I just call her a violent criminal.”

During a court hearing, Deputy City Attorney David Miller told the judge that $200,000 in insurance money from the first fire has vanished. The payout was issued to Golden’s ex-boyfriend, Jeffrey Rogers, who is on the mortgage. Authorities have not confirmed what happened to the funds or whether Golden had access to them.

After the second fire, the judge approved slashing the sale price of the home by $92,000, bringing it to about $500,000 — about half of what similar properties in the area sell for. To secure the residence, CBS 8 reports that officials have installed metal panels over all doors and windows and posted 24-hour security on site.

Golden, who appeared virtually at the hearing, argued that she still needed access to retrieve her belongings.

“We are trying to do this the right way, and the receiver is completely thwarting every effort for me to get clothing that I need and my personal supplies,” she told the judge.

The court ruled that Golden must work through her attorney and a third party to arrange the retrieval of her items, but she herself must maintain the 100-yard distance.

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Plagued by problem neighbors? Here's what you can do

Lisa Golden’s case is extreme, but not unique. Neighbors in Ocean View Hills told reporters that they felt unsafe and unheard for years before officials stepped in. If you're dealing with a similar situation, here are steps you can take:

• Document everything. Keep a record of incidents, including dates, photos, and witness statements. If you don't currently have security cameras, consider installing them.

• Report code violations. In California, you can file complaints with your local code enforcement office for issues like hoarding, pest infestations and unsafe structures.

• Contact police for harassment. If a neighbor is threatening or harassing you, file a report. Repeated incidents may qualify for a restraining order.

• Work with your homeowners association (HOA) or city official. Organized pressure from a neighborhood group can push officials to act more quickly.

• Petition the court. As seen in this case, city attorneys and residents may petition the court to appoint a receiver when all else fails.

Golden’s next court hearing is scheduled for June 13, reports CBS 8. Until then, neighbors hope the judge’s latest order brings some peace.