Roommate split with half my stuff-- What can I do??

[Josianna]

I moved in with a friend of mine for nine months, at which point we were going to renew the lease for another month and look for a different place. However, right before the lease was up I took a two week trip to Michigan. My roomate stayed behind to clean up the place and renewed the lease for another month. I kept in touch with her the entire time, letting her know when I'd be back and checking up on the new house hunt.

After the first week I quit hearing from my roommate, so I cut my trip short and came home to find she'd abandoned the house and taken half of my things with her, totalling over $2,000. I can press fellony charges against her, but was told the DA probably wouldn't prosicute.

She also left me with two months rent and completely trashed the house, which I had to clean up and repair myself, and still lost the deposit. I would like to collect what is owed, and get my things back. She co-signed the lease... is it possible to collect her share of the bills?

When I infomed her that if my things weren't returned imediately I'd have her arrested, she checked herself into a mental instutution... can the police still get her?

 

[JETX]

It sounds like you certainly have a cause of action against her. Make an inventory of your lost items and try to determine the fair market value of them. Then, send her a letter (certified RRR) demanding that she contact you within 14 days of receipt to arrange return of all the claimed property and payment for her share of the bills and rent. Then, if she doesn't respond, you will need to make arrangements to file in court. And, no here 'voluntary committment' doesn't give her a free pass.

 

[Josianna]

So it would probably be more effective to take her to court than to have her arrested?

I am already late getting to Michigan for college classes, would I have to show up for court soon, or might they work with my schedual?

I don't know exactly where my roommate is anymore, I just know that she'd checked herself into an instution. I have tried getting notices to her through her parents, but they are non-cooperative. However, when I first got back, she was at her aunt's house, so I sent her three letters there with an inventory of what was missing and their cost. That was almost a month ago.

Also, she took 70 of my CDs, but gave them to somebody else, is she still liable or does it fall on whoever has them now?

One more thing, she was the signer on the water, gas, and electricity bills. My name was not at all associated with them, and I didn't sign anything, but her parents gave them my name and they are after me to collect past due bills. I'm not responsible for her bills, am I?


Thank you for all your help!

 

[JETX]

I was afraid there was more to this....

Q1) "I am already late getting to Michigan for college classes, would I have to show up for court soon, or might they work with my schedual?"
A1) I quit making schedules for the nations courts a long time ago and relegated that chore back to the local courts. Check with them.

Q2) "I don't know exactly where my roommate is anymore, I just know that she'd checked herself into an instution. I have tried getting notices to her through her parents, but they are non-cooperative. However, when I first got back, she was at her aunt's house, so I sent her three letters there with an inventory of what was missing and their cost. That was almost a month ago."
A2) Give the sheriff both addresses. Let them serve her there (or they will probably tell him where she is).

Q3) "Also, she took 70 of my CDs, but gave them to somebody else, is she still liable or does it fall on whoever has them now?"
A3) If you know who has them, send him/her a 'demand for return of stolen property' letter (certified RRR). Explain that the property was stolen and you demand a return of the property. Hope that they don't demand a copy of the police report. If they do, threaten them with legal action. They might just give the property back, especially if they realize that it wasn't hers to give.

Q4) "One more thing, she was the signer on the water, gas, and electricity bills. My name was not at all associated with them, and I didn't sign anything, but her parents gave them my name and they are after me to collect past due bills. I'm not responsible for her bills, am I?"
A4) Only if you let yourself be. Tell the utility companies to PROVE you are responsible. They can't just take someones word for it.