Arkansas couple discover stranger living in their basement after food goes missing
05/06/2026 7:00 pm PDT
SEARCY, Ark. (TCN) -- A man has been charged and booked into jail after police say that a couple found that he was secretly living in their home and eating their food.
On April 28, 41-year-old Preston Landis’ mother reported him missing, The White County Citizen reports. The following day, homeowners Dutch and Sharon Hoggatt called the police after noticing food and other items missing from their home and feeling that something was suspicious. They searched their home and found Landis allegedly hiding in a basement closet. Police took Landis into custody when they arrived and discovered Landis had created a sleeping area in the closet.
According to Mark Gregory, the homeowners’ son-in-law, the family noticed items missing and an apple and doughnut that had been left out appeared to have bites taken out of them. Gregory and his wife came over to help search the home, and he was holding a baseball bat for protection when he spotted Landis’ feet sticking out from under the basement stairs. Landis allegedly said he had entered the home to get out of the storm.
Gregory told the Citizen he felt bad for Landis, who apologized for his alleged actions. Gregory said Landis “really seemed like a good guy who has gotten into some bad trouble in his life.”
MSN reports Landis had been living in the home for several days. He allegedly told police he gained access to the home via the crawlspace on April 27, when there was severe weather in the area.
Dutch Hoggatt is a communications professor at Harding University. MSN reports Landis also attended the university at one time. “We’re not angry at this man,” he said.
Landis was charged with residential burglary and theft of property, according to the Citizen. He is behind bars on $15,000 bond.
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