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Man loses $100,000 property in Delaware beach community after neighbor claims squatter’s rights

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Man loses 0,000 property in Delaware beach community after neighbor claims squatter’s rights


Whose land is it anyway?

A person misplaced his greater than $100,000 property in a Delaware beachside neighborhood after his neighbor claimed squatter’s rights throughout a court docket battle over the parcel.

Burton Banks was pressured to switch to Melissa Schrock the title of the undeveloped land he inherited from his late father because of the little-known opposed possession code within the Diamond State, in response to the Delaware Information Journal.

Banks reportedly needed to promote a part of of the Ocean View property in 2021, value about $125,000, when he found Schrock had a goat pen on it for many years.

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She additionally used about two-thirds of the acre belonging to Banks for different functions.

She refused to go away the land and weeks later, Banks lodged a criticism to pressure her to scram.

However Schrock then filed a counterclaim of opposed possession tied to the animal enclosure and to land that even went past that, the newspaper reported.

“It’s simply all the time been my yard since I used to be somewhat child,” Schrock instructed the Information Journal.

The house of Melissa Schrock, who grazed her goats on her neighbor’s land and received squatter’s rights.
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Burton Banks and Melissa Schrock's land dispute takes place off Lisa Avenue near Ocean View.
The court docket case was determined in February.
Shannon Marvel McNaught / USA TODAY NETWORK

A decide agreed, discovering that Banks and his partner David Barrett largely lived in Atlanta and “solely sometimes” stayed in Ocean View.

Their transient visits made it arduous for them to persuade the courts Schrock had not freely used the land for the final couple of many years.

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Delaware Superior Court docket Decide Craig Karsnitz titled the property to Schrock in February, in response to Information Journal.

Banks instructed the outlet he can’t afford an attraction, “however [I’m] hoping I can at the very least warn others.”

Oddly sufficient, Banks’ father left an adjoining lot to Schrock’s mom, who later died and bequeathed the property to her daughter, in response to court docket paperwork.

One other neighbor additionally reportedly had an animal enclosure that encroached on the property, however that individual agreed to take away it.


Burton Banks inherited land from his late father.
Burton Banks inherited land from his late father.
Burton Banks/Fb

A map that shows the previous borders of Melissa Schrock's property, Lot 1, and Burton Banks' property, Lot 2.
A map that exhibits the earlier borders of Melissa Schrock’s property, Lot 1, and Burton Banks’ property, Lot 2.
Burton Banks

In an analogous case from 2015, the Delaware Court docket of Chancery gave 15 acres of property to a hunter who used the land that wasn’t his for 20 years, the newspaper reported.

A legislation professor with Widener College, Serena Williams, mentioned again then in regards to the legislation: “It may be surprising as a result of most individuals don’t find out about it.”

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Delaware

Wilmington mother seeks justice 3 years after son’s murder in Philadelphia

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Wilmington mother seeks justice 3 years after son’s murder in Philadelphia


WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) — Three years after her son was fatally shot in West Philadelphia, Kameelah Torrance is still searching for answers and justice.

Samyr Walker, 19, was killed on September 4, 2022, while delivering food in his mother’s car. Torrance said Walker’s own vehicle had broken down the night before, prompting him to borrow hers to earn extra money.

“I get a phone call, I’m thinking it’s him,” Torrance recalled.

Philadelphia police said the shooting occurred around 1:45 p.m. at the Chick-A-Boom restaurant drive-thru on 46th Street and Lancaster Avenue. While waiting for his food, Walker reportedly had an interaction with another driver.

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“What I’m guessing is maybe he was on his phone and he accidentally tapped the bumper, which is what happened,” Torrance said.

Police said the altercation escalated when gunshots were fired from the suspect’s car as Walker exited his vehicle to retrieve his order. A passenger in Walker’s car also returned fire. Authorities believe the motive was road rage.

According to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, detectives located the vehicle believed to be involved and interviewed both the owner and the reported driver. However, no arrests have been made.

The DA’s office said it has extended victim support services to Walker’s family and the affected community.

Torrance described her son, affectionately called “Meer Meer,” as “a very happy-go-lucky kid.”

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“Every time you see him, he was always smiling, silly, liked to have fun, very family oriented,” said Torrance.

She said the lack of closure has made the loss even harder to bear.

“No closure, sleepless nights, it’s just been horrible,” she said. “It’s not fair that my son is gone and you’re walking around free, freely doing whatever. His life was cut short.”

Torrance said she still texts Walker’s phone number and mourns the future he was denied.

“He won’t be able to get married, have children, become something of himself. He was robbed of that and it’s not fair,” she said.

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Police say the investigation remains active and ongoing. Torrance and law enforcement are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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*Update – Victim Identified* State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Dover – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware

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*Update – Victim Identified* State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Dover – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware


Date Posted: Sunday, September 14th, 2025

Delaware State Police have identified 14-year-old Reis Yoc-Santos, of Dover, Delaware, as the teenager who died in the fatal crash involving a school bus and an electric bicycle that occurred Friday afternoon in Dover.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information is asked to contact Master Corporal W. Booth at (302) 698-8451. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

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14-year-old boy dead, one teen hospitalized after e-bike runs stop sign, collides with bus in Delaware

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14-year-old boy dead, one teen hospitalized after e-bike runs stop sign, collides with bus in Delaware


A tragic crash involving a school bus and an electric bicycle claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy in Dover.

Deadly collision with bus 

What we know:

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The crash happened around 4 p.m. on West Lebanon Road as a school bus was turning onto Royal Grant Way, according to police. The electric bicycle, ridden by a 16-year-old with a 14-year-old passenger, did not stop at a posted bicycle stop sign and collided with the bus.

The 14-year-old passenger of the e-bike was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The 16-year-old operator suffered serious injuries. Neither of the teenagers were wearing a helmet, police said.

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The bus was affiliated with the Caesar Rodney School District and driven by a 75-year-old man from Magnolia, who was not injured. Twenty-one students on the bus were unharmed.

The road was closed for about four hours for investigation by the Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit. The investigation is still ongoing.

Ongoing questions for authorities

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Authorities are urging anyone with information about the crash to come forward. Witnesses can contact Master Corporal W. Booth or send a message to the Delaware State Police.

If you have information, reach out to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333. Victims and witnesses needing support can contact the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit at 1-800-VICTIM-1.

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