DA applauds Houses from Hell investigation
4:59 p.m. Thursday, December 27, 2007
District Attorney Robert Hecht says he was intrigued by the information we were able to gather during our Houses from Hell investigations, including photographs, video and reports from neighbors about rundown homes and the crimes they attract.
When 49 News turned over every piece of information uncovered, he worked with the Codes Department and city attorneys to put these fourteen lawsuits together.
"The factual basis for these cases is the work done by Channel 49, your Houses from Hell series which has been very helpful in identifying properties that have deteriorated to this condition," Hecht said.
Hecht says the conditions of some of these buildings make them extremely dangerous to the neighborhood.
"That it is a danger to children, that it's a location ripe for drug activity, and just the physical danger of collapsing structures," he said.
And Hecht says the attention our series brought to the issues of abandoned houses has brought several forces together to help clean up the Capital City.
"You were doing more than merely reporting," Hecht said. "You were proactive and trying to do something better for the community."
Houses from Hell
See 49's Houses From Hell series on neighborhood blight in Topeka
- Houses From Hell: One owner struggles with city to keep his house standing (May 6, 2007)
- Houses from Hell: House demolition a long, lengthy process (May 9, 2007)
- Houses from Hell: Problems after the demolition (May 13, 2007)
- Houses from Hell: Neighborhoods look into possible solutions (May 16, 2007)
- Buildings from Hell: Abandoned businesses attract crime and lower property values (May 20, 2007)
- Houses from Hell: County DA wants to put the law into action (May 23, 2007)
- Landlords Association offers to help clean up house from hell (November 27, 2007)
- City Council codes hearing (December 3, 2007)
- "Houses from Hell" series spurs action from the DA (December 18, 2007)
- New look for 615 SW Tyler...neat and tidy (December 19, 2007)
- DA applauds Houses from Hell investigation (December 27, 2007)
- Charges filed after Houses from Hell investigation (December 28, 2007)
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