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National Guardsman Evicted From Topeka Home Save Email Print
Posted: 8:30 PM May 14, 2008
 Last Updated: 11:48 AM May 15, 2008
 Reporter: Brian Quick
Email Address: brian.quick@wibw.com
22 comments
A | A | A

Samuel Reilly was at work Wednesday when he got a call from his pregnant wife, who told him the sheriff's office had been by, and they were being evicted at 4:00 that afternoon. This was at 1:00 pm.

Reilly knew his house had been sold, but believed the mortgage company would work with him if he received a settlement the VA owed him.

He injured his shoulder while in Iraq, and had surgery on it that kept him out of work for several months. He says the Wichita VA has been dragging its feet when it comes to paying him. He even contacted Nancy Boyda's office to help, but it has yet to produce results.

So he packed up all he could, and watched as his home was locked up, while his family was left with no home.

They are currently staying with family members.

A call to the mortgage company's attorney was not returned Wednesday.
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Posted by: x Location: ks on May 21, 2008 at 01:28 PM
I feel for this Soldier, but being proactive in every aspect of his life is partially what the military installs in Soldiers. There were/are steps that could help this Soldier and his family out. I know this because I am a Soldier myself. I know that we cannot judge by the books cover. For the comments that have already been made; the whole story isn't told here. We all have dark secrets and have all been in a bad place. The only diff. between he and others are that this one went public. Like the saying goes, "what doesn't kill a man, will only make him stronger." Keep your head up Soldier and do what needs to be done.
Posted by: susan on May 18, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Hey...if I didn't pay my house payment I would get kicked out too. Why should he be any different than the rest of us???
Posted by: Officer USN Location: USA on May 17, 2008 at 01:02 PM
I was born in Topeka and try to keep up on the local news, and I usually tend to ignore internet postings. However, I cannot let this pass. Sure this guy made a few mistakes that worked to his demise, and this is 99% his error, but why are his "friends" and "family" making disparaging remarks here instead of talking to him personally about ways to prevent this tragedy from happening in the first place. I know for a fact that this young man is not looking for a handout because he has not asked me for one, and I am his brother. As a submarine sailor for the past 14 years, time and time again my community has banded together to help our people in times of need whatever the reason. It is too bad that Army personnel and the rest of my and Sam’s family do not the same way. I love you Brother. Call me.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 17, 2008 at 12:45 AM
Come on, quit trying to get a hand out. Pay your own way and quit crying about it. Get rid of the 13 dogs if you don't have any money.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 16, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Why was this news anyways? If you don't pay your bills you pay the price.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 16, 2008 at 01:24 PM
This guy also had 13 dogs! How do you afford to feed that many dogs? Get your priorties straight.
Posted by: todd Location: topeka on May 16, 2008 at 11:42 AM
There is alot more to this story than what is being given in the media. I too am an Iraq veteran and still serving the military today. It appears to me that this man and his family are looking for a hand out and a free ride based on a duty that he volunteered to do. Based on a couple of comments made here from people that know him, he did not try very hard to keep his home. His priorities are not correct either when he is feeding 13 dogs and about to have another child. He should have worked full time for the National Guard and looked for another job on the side to keep the bills paid. The only person to blame here is the man being talked about. I do feel sorry for the family overall as I am sure it is a hard thing being told you have to leave your home. But, man and his wife are just as much to blame in this situation.
Posted by: Mary Location: Topeka on May 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
I am Sam's cousin. Sam got behind on mortgage payments, filed bankruptcy, and got behind on the bankruptcy payments that gave the mortgage company the go ahead with the foreclosure. Sam is the one that I think possibly set the mortgage payments too high. Sam's wife thinks money grows on trees and thinks all she has to do is care for child #1 only. I know for a fact the inside of the house was a mess. The child did not have much space to crawl in.
Posted by: Susan Location: Topeka on May 15, 2008 at 06:53 PM
There are several aspects of this story that are truly sad. 1) The wife is pregnant and expecting their second child, she doesn't need nor does that unborn child need the undue stress 2) The one year old child's life is disrupted the same as the parents 3) Evictions don't happen in just three hours, there is more time in an eviction than what is being shared here 4) The 13 dogs that were being housed here are now in shelters and may end up being put down 5) Their truly must be a glitch in the system if Nancy Boyda cannot resolve the situation at hand. 6) Thank goodness they have family nearby that can assist them 7) There are foundations in Topeka that can assist with situations such as this and this family should have sought those resources. Sad story, but, hopefully for the family they can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Posted by: Veteran Location: Kansas on May 15, 2008 at 05:41 PM
In my own opinion, news channels like to cover negative stories all the time. "Reilly knew his house had been sold, but believed the mortgage company would work with him if he received a settlement the VA owed him." I hate to say this but this is his own fault for not being responsible on following up on this. I seriously doubt they gave him 3 hours notice and said alright hit the curb. I'm sorry the family had to move but no one should be treated differently just cause they served in Iraq. When I signed up for the military, I signed up for a job. I knew what I was getting myself into. It is what I chose to do. Again I do feel bad for him and his family but this is just another solider who is using his status to blame the system. I wish they would cover both sides of the story but hey I guess 13 news is more about filming him than help packing for the Veteran....
Posted by: Soldier Location: Topeka on May 15, 2008 at 04:31 PM
I know Sam and I thought he injured his shoulder at school in Alabama not in IRAQ. I have seen a few soldiers go through problems like his but when you try to tell them how to take care of the problem a lot of them have some excuse when things go bad. Then they call the news and play the trump card (IRAQ) and blame the military. Dont get me wrong I feel bad for him and his family but take responsibility for your own actions or lack there of.Like someone said before it did not happen over night it is a long process. He also stated he knew the house sold he should of been looking for another place. The whole thing is unfortunate starting with Sam the Lending company who financed his house to the VA for not paying and finally Sam for probibly not doing the proper follow up every step of the way to get paid. Like I said I am a soldier and usualy when I dont get compisated for something it is because I did not cross all my t's and dot all my I's. It always comes back to me!
Posted by: noname Location: Topeka on May 15, 2008 at 03:43 PM
I am sorry that this happened to a person - especially someone that served out country. BUT, the act of changing locks and eviction comes, on average, 8 months after your are notified of the petition to foreclose, which comes after 6 months of no payments. So this is not something that happened while he was "temporarily" out of work. This is a 14 month process. It doesn't happen over night. This family has an opportunity to work with their mortgage company before the locks were changed. I hate to sound jaded or cold and insensitive, but maybe instead of feeding 13 dogs and making a decision to have more children, this family should have worked together to pay the mortgage bill.
Posted by: smorey Location: robinson ks on May 15, 2008 at 12:34 PM
OK here we go again.. maybe there is still more to the story but the point is.. he is a veteran who again... hasnt got the help he needs... and is waiting again on our goverment to help they can even control themselves... the veterns have had so much cut from them, I have seen some veterans who get the results they need and others pushed by the wayside... whats wrong with this picture... they all need to be treated right.. ok nancy lets do something ok... thank god they have family members to help....
Posted by: Anonymous on May 15, 2008 at 10:37 AM
What a terrible thing! There has to be more to this story, why only three hours to evacuate? This is not the way a US Veteran should be treated!
Posted by: Army Wife Location: Kansas on May 15, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Before a story is ran like this, WIBW should get both sides of the story. My husband was stationed with Sam in Iraq 2004-2005. Sam bought the house during that time - not much family history there as he tries to make it out to be. Sam did not have much of a job prior to being activated with the Guards, but yet his mortgage was based off of his active duty pay which was only a 1-year pay rate. It is never a smart move to live beyond your means. After the unit returned, despite his minor shoulder injury, Sam even had a chance to work full-time for the Guards, but he blew that. Instead he went back to working for more meager wages. As far as his "three hours notice" to move out - people look at the whole story! It states that he even knew that the house had already been sold. Obviously there is more to that part as well!
Posted by: Anonymous on May 15, 2008 at 10:03 AM
mamak: it isn't WIBW's story, it's this man's story. I very seriously doubt that they were driving down the street and found this guy being evicted. someone called, someone e-mailed the station, maybe this man himself because he wanted HIS story told. I feel very sorry for this man, his family and pets... I think the ten minutes for an interview to get his word out there was valued by this man, he is trying to reach out and get help. Tell me this: would a journalist be a better mover or a better storyteller? you've missed the point, this man is evicted and another vet victim. why don't you go and help him get on his feet.
Posted by: mamak Location: topeka on May 15, 2008 at 08:23 AM
I too feel very sorry for the family, but as I watched the 10:00 news, I wondered why wibw was taking this man's valuable time interviewing him. They said he had limited time to pack up, yet they stole that time to get their story. I feel they should have put the cameras and microphones down to help him.
Posted by: military Location: USA on May 15, 2008 at 07:47 AM
I don't know much about the law but three hours to move out seem like a short time. I always thought it was at least three days to evacuate when you were being evicted. The Reilly family needs to check into it and fight back on their rights. Is there a fund set up anywhere to help this family out???????
Posted by: Ditto Location: ks on May 15, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Was the soldiers and sailor relief act followed. "Wait" We are talking about Shawnee County with its own kangaroo court at he expo center and Sheriff Deputies whom are licenced to kill, Surprised Reilly is still alive for we know how Barta's stormtroopers treat the comon working man!
Posted by: teresa Location: topeka on May 14, 2008 at 11:33 PM
this is such a sad story to read after this man was fighting for our country and for the VA to do him and his family like this the VA should be ashamed of there selfs and my prayers go out to the family
Posted by: Marine Wife Location: Topeka on May 14, 2008 at 09:45 PM
I'm SO sorry to hear this, I think it's really sad that he fought for his country, was injured and then can get the help he deserves to save his house! What is wrong with this picture? I know firsthand the military doesn't pay on time or in full but come on I think Nancy Boyda's office was a great idea and not sure why he didn't get results from her.
Posted by: USarmy wife Location: USA on May 14, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Here we go again, another sad story about our military not getting the proper care and support they need. Good luck and the best be with you. Thank you for your time in Iraq.
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