FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – On Friday, the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal arrested 51-year-old Samantha Morris. She is charged with operating a boarding home without a permit.
On Monday, she told Reporter Corley Peel she was renting out rooms to people who suffer from mental illness and addiction. Morris told Corley her landlord approved the arrangement.
On Wednesday, Corley spoke with the landlord, Karim Dastnai, who said he was not aware Morris was renting out rooms. He said she signed a lease for the home off New Village Lane in February 2023. Morris said she does not live at the home.
“She’s the only one on the lease. And then she has occupants, which is her son, his wife, and then three children,” said Dastnai.
Corley spoke with Morris again on Wednesday asking why she did not tell the property owner she was renting out rooms.
“It didn’t dawn on me to do that. It’s just, I’m the type to help anybody,” said Morris.
Morris could not say how long she had been renting out rooms, but said it has been months.
A resident told KPRC 2 he paid Morris roughly $1,100 dollars in rent. Dastnai said the news came as a surprise, because Morris has been regularly late on her own rent payments.
“Her lease ended in December. So we just go one month, a month right now because she’s been late so many times. We have to always remind her to pay her rent,” said Dastnai.
Corley asked Morris what she did with the resident’s rent money.
“If they were paying $1,100 dollars then that was going back on to their clothes, hygiene, taking them to and from places,” she said.
Morris said the reason she started charging residents rent is so that she could catch up on her own rent. She said she never pocketed the money for personal use.
Investigators said nine people inside the home were found with obvious signs of neglect and possible injuries. Five of those people were hospitalized, according to deputies. Officials said the ages of the residents range from early 30′s to late 60′s. The discovery was made after neighbors called 911 about an aggressive dog at the home.
Morris shared photos with KPRC 2 showing the conditions inside the home, a list that includes daily chores and activities, a schedule for patients and a paper exit sign.
Morris said she plans on getting a permit in the future so she can continue her passion for helping people in need.
There is an active investigation into the possible neglect and abuse. The landlord said he does not plan to seek legal action against Morris. He has only ordered her and the tenants to be moved out by the end of the month.