4 squatter suspects arrested

2 men, 2 women had been living in Orange Park woman's home for month

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Two men and two women arrested this week after police said they were squatting in a woman’s home in Orange Park had been in the home nearly a month, according to deputies.

Amanda Prevatt, 36, Shawn Pons, 30, Shanna Carithers, 23, and Hunter Webb, 16, were all arrested and charged with burglary by knowingly entering and remaining in a residence.

A concerned neighbor who had alerted the homeowner to the possible squatters said that when deputies arrived, it took four hours for them to take the suspects into custody.

“They told them to come out or they would have to come in, and they still wouldn't do it,” said the neighbor, who asked to be identified only as Brian.

Eventually deputies used a battering ram to force open the front door.

Webb walked out and was arrested, followed by Carithers.

Deputies said they had to pepper-spray a pit bull that was in the home with the suspects because it was barking aggressively at them.

Pons then came out of a room in the house and was told to lay down on the ground. He obeyed and was arrested.

Deputies found Prevatt hiding in a corner of the garage. She resisted, but was handcuffed and arrested.
Brian, who does yard work for the homeowner, said the woman is a frequent traveler and was out of town when the squatters moved in.

“I couldn't believe it, because if they hadn't changed the door lock and used the front door, we probably would have never suspected it, because they were going in and out of the back door most of the time,” Brian said.

He said that every night he would see a dim light coming from the living room, but this week he saw the light get a little brighter, which raised concerns.

Brian said those concerns were heightened when he saw a strange person going into the house with the dog.

“So I went over and rang the doorbell and knocked, and the dog barked once,” Brian said. “And then somebody hushed it up. And I couldn't get in because my key wouldn't fit.”

Brian said that's when he knew something was wrong, so he called his traveling neighbor and told her to call the Sheriff's Office.