A 92-year old WWII decorated veteran successfully buys back his house from his daughter, thanks to the funds raised online.
“I had this house for over 50 years before this took place,” Potter said. “It just knocked me for a loop and I have worried all day every day ever since and now I am so happy I don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
Earlier this year, John Potter of Zaleski, Ohio received an eviction notice from his daughter, Janice Cottril, and son-in-law. The eviction hearing is set for October 3 at the Vinton County Courthouse.
With the help of his granddaughter, Jaclyn Fraley, 35, Potter raised almost $140,000 on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe.com.
“I want to express my appreciation for all those people who helped me,” Potter said. “It wasn’t one person, it wasn’t a hundred but over five thousand people and I certainly appreciate it more than they will ever know.”
The house has an appraised value of $47,000 plus a tract of land worth $2,830. Through his attorney, Potter made an offer to Cottrill through for the market value of the home and received a counter-offer that was about $85,000 plus about $4,000 and $11,500 for the eviction process and attorney fees.
Fraley refused to reveal the final price of the house, but she hinted that it was “five figures,” less than the total money they raised online. Fraley said that the remaining money will be used for her grandfather’s care and other basic expenses.
On Wednesday, Potter and Fraley learned that their offer on the home was going to be accepted. “I think I shrieked for 10 seconds and started bawling,” Fraley said describing her reaction to the news.
It all started in 2004 when Potter and his wife gave the general power of attorney to his daughter. Subsequently, Cottril took ownership of the 56-year old house when she used the power of attorney to allegedly transfer the deed under her name. Potter first learned about the transfer of deed sometime in 2010.
The relationship between the Potter and Cottril turned sour when Cottril took custody of her autistic older brother, now 64. The father and daughter always argue over visitation rights.
Fraley believed that Cottril finally accepted the offer due to public pressure. When Potter shared his story online, it sparked a lot of support.
“It’s his home and he can look at it and know that it’s his,” Fraley said. “It’s crowdfunding at its finest.”