New York Couple Braces For Violence
by Linda A. Prussen-Razzano, Dallas Bureau Chief
HONORABLE MENTION!!
"Candidly Yours"
When Sharon and Robert Bachmann purchased their home at 69 Richmond Avenue in
Patchogue, New York, they realized a life-long dream. With a strange mixture
of buoyant enthusiasm and grounded pragmatism, they began what they knew were
some necessary renovations. During the reconstruction, they experienced a Murphy's
Law avalanche of new discoveries, each one bringing with it a costly price tag.
Termites, silverfish, ants, water leaks, and a whole host of problems sucked
this couple dry, wiping out nearly $100,000 in hard-earned savings.
The toll on their pocketbook was evident. The toll on their marriage was too. Nearly two grueling years later, Sharon is working two jobs, Bob is fighting to expand his business, and their dream house is finally coming together.
Only one thing hangs over their heads: Vinnie.
Vincent Stidd is the son of the former owner of the home. Vincent had lived in the home with his elderly father. When Vincent's brother took their father to the West Coast to care for him, Vincent was displaced. He may be out of the house, but he is not out of the Bachmanns' lives.
According to accounts, Vincent is a drifter who roams around Suffolk County asking for handouts. He has an alleged history of drug use. Whether he uses the charity money for drugs or not remains uncertain; however, one thing is perfectly clear - he sends unsuspecting individuals to his former address to collect.
The first time someone showed up at the Bachmann residence looking for money, they were unpleasantly surprised to discover Vincent no longer lived there. At that point, the house was obviously undergoing a massive reconstruction. The individual advised Mr. Bachmann that Vincent had asked for money, offering their address as his own.
It escalated from there.
Over the next few months, more people came by, including a police officer. Each one of them offered varying accounts of the same theme: Vinnie approached them with some type of sob story, begged them for money, promised to repay, and gave them the Bachmanns' address. Although attempts were made to alert the police to Vinnie's actions, there was little help from that quarter.
Two "collection" calls rank among the most memorable: the first came at a little past 10:00 p.m. one evening. An angry male demanded $20.00 from Mr. Bachmann. When Mr. Bachmann wearily advised the man that he had been duped, the man threatened Mr. Bachmann with bodily harm. Recognizing that Vinnie could be soliciting funds from anyone, even unsavory individuals, the Bachmanns purchased home protection.
The second most memorable collection call came in the form of a church. Vinnie had reportedly joined the church and accepted various forms of support from them. In exchange for their support, Vinnie had promised them an arbor from his mother's garden. The rickety arbor, if it could be called that, had blown over in a storm several weeks prior. When Mrs. Bachmann advised the Pastor that Vinnie had no right to offer the church property he didn't own, the Pastor seemed undeterred. He still wanted it. Mrs. Bachmann advised that he could have it; presuming he could find the pieces at the County Dump.
Over the last several months, things were quiet and normal. The Bachmanns finally purchased carpet, had finished their tile work, and picked out their bedroom furniture. Their once shaky home was rock solid, immaculately decorated, and completely refurbished both inside and out. Their once shaky marriage was on firmer ground, with eyes no longer turning towards the next bill - but the future.
And then it happened.
Mrs. Bachmann retrieved the mail from the mailbox and flipped the envelopes over to open them. This mindless, customary habit revealed two disturbing things: she had inadvertently opened two pieces of mail meant for Vinnie. The first was an invoice, sent to her home for collection. The next was an anonymous letter, written to Vinnie, warning him that the letter writer knew where he lived and that Vinnie owed him money.
As an extra precaution, the Bachmanns bought a dog and are considering surveillance for additional home protection. They are also considering some kind of legal action for continued harassment.
As a word of warning to the kind folks of Suffolk County, New York, Vincent Stidd doesn't live here anymore. He is not related to the Bachmanns, not a friend of the Bachmanns, and they will not pay his debts. Whatever you do, don't show up on their doorstep at odd hours, with a belligerent tone, threatening violence.
This beleaguered couple is not going to take it anymore. ***
© 2002 Linda Prussen-Razzano
COPYRIGHT © 2002 BY THE AMERICAN PARTISAN. All writers retain rights to their work.
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