Chicago woman overtaken by squatter hopes to work with Illinois lawmakers this summer on property rights

A Chicago woman is looking to have discussions with lawmakers this summer about how to increase penalties for squatters and decrease the blow for homeowners in the state of Illinois.

Darthula Young's property that she inherited from her mother was taken over by a "professional squatter" in Sept. 2022. She received a phone call at the time from a neighbor that a shooting had occurred outside the property.

When she arrived, the locks were changed and there was a bullet hole in the window.