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Looters Ransack Dead Hoarder’s Dilapidated Home, Make Off With More Than $200K in Coins

Feb. 1, 2013 11:00pm
Looters Ransack Dead Hoarders Dilapidated House, Make Off With More than $200K in Gold Coins

Cars, debris and outbuildings rest on the property where an eccentric man known simply as Radkin lived in Alburgh, Vt., Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. It took months for anyone to discover that Radkin had died in an accident on his land. But four people Mark Mumley, Shawn Farrell, Ricky Benjamin and Jennifer Jarvis are facing charges for stealing more than $200,000 in gold coins and other items from the property. Credit: AP

ALBURGH, Vt. (AP) — It took months for anyone to discover that an eccentric man known simply as Radkin had died, crushed under a tractor-pulled horse trailer on his property on the shores of Lake Champlain in northern Vermont. But it didn’t take long for looters to ransack the hoarder’s dilapidated house, police say, hauling off antiques, a vehicle, scrap metal and more than $200,000 in gold coins.

Four people, including at least one whom police suspect knew the 66-year-old Radkin, are facing charges of stealing the coins and cashing them in at coin and jewelry stores. Police expect to make more arrests.

“We’ve been watching the looters come and go,” said John Fleury of Enosburgh, who has a camp across Route 2 from Radkin’s property in Alburgh, which used to belong to the family of Fleury’s wife.

He said no one called the police because no was concerned.

The property includes a dilapidated brick house and outbuildings full to the brim with stuff.

“What it is is a hoarder’s house,” said Vermont State Police Sgt. Morris Lamothe, who is investigating the burglaries. “The exterior is covered in outbuildings, cars, trailers and everyone one of them is full, I mean full to the top. I had never been in a hoarder’s house prior to this. The rooms, you can’t walk through them, you can’t walk through any of them.”

Charged are Ricky Benjamin, 35, and Mark Mumley, 52, both of Alburgh, and Shawn Farrell, 41, of Swanton, who have significant prior records, Lamothe said. Mumley is being held on $75,000 and Benjamin was released on bail. A fourth suspect was released after being issued a citation.

Looters Ransack Dead Hoarders Dilapidated House, Make Off With More than $200K in Gold Coins

In this booking photo released by Vermont State Police, 41-year-old Shawn Farrell, of Swanton, Vt. is seen. Credit: AP

Looters Ransack Dead Hoarders Dilapidated House, Make Off With More than $200K in Gold Coins

This booking photo released by Vermont State Police shows Mark Mumley, 52, of Alburgh, Vt. Credit: AP 

 

Looters Ransack Dead Hoarders Dilapidated House, Make Off With More than $200K in Gold Coins

In this booking photo released by Vermont State Police, 35year-old Ricky Benjamin of Alburgh, Vt. Credit: AP

Looters Ransack Dead Hoarders Dilapidated House, Make Off With More than $200K in Gold Coins

This booking photo released by Vermont State Police shows Jennifer Jarvis, 32, of Alburgh, Vt. Credit: AP

Police said Thursday the defendants sold coins ranging in value from $350 to $1,800 to coin and jewelry dealers in another county after allegedly claiming they’d inherited the coins.

But the number of coins coming in was a red flag for one dealer, who called police in September.

So far, investigators say they’ve recovered $5,000 in coins, which are British sovereign coins.

A friend of Radkin wasn’t surprised that he had the coins.

“I’m surprised by how much he had,” said Van Powell, mechanical shop manager for the Shelburne Shipyard, where Radkin once worked and adjacent to where he used to live.

“Radkin was inclined to acquire stuff whether he needed it or not. At one point he had five or six MGs, none of them running,” he said of the property on Shelburne Point, where Radkin had served as a caretaker. “He had multiple tractors, trucks. He had at least 20 or 30 vehicles; some of them would run, most of them didn’t. He had at one point six or seven pianos and he just kept them in the front yard of his house covered with canvasses and I just thought that was odd because he was quite a good musician. He would play the trumpet and the piano.”

His house was so full of stuff, a person couldn’t really walk through it, Powell said. “You just had to turn sideways,” he said.

People either loved Radkin or hated him, he said.

Neighbors had feuded with him in Alburgh, where he had been known to run around his property naked, Fluery said.

“Radkin was very, very rude,” he said.

Born Richard A. Burgess in Greenfield, Mass., in 1945, he graduated from Deerfield Academy and later changed his name to just Radkin, and eventually lived as a caretaker on property on Shelburne Point. He worked at Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston at one point. He liked to go to auctions and flea markets.

“He was an unusual fellow, that’s for sure,” Powell said.

Radkin had asked the owner of Shelburne Point, a prime piece of land on Lake Champlain, if he could keep his horse there and eventually built a house on wheels and asked if he could keep it there and live it in.

Willard Jackson said he agreed, with some trepidation. “For over 20 years, he was the self-appointed caretaker of Shelburne Point and in the process became a legend,” Jackson wrote in an online memorial to Radkin.

Jackson’s son said Radkin was told he needed to find another home when the family decided to subdivide the property. He moved 55 miles north to Alburgh, but it took him a number of years to leave the point, moving small amounts at a time, Van Powell said.

When a friend had not heard from or seen Radkin in a while, he called the sheriff’s department. His body was found crushed under the trailer last March, in an accident that officials believe happened in December 2011. A memorial gathering was held in Shelburne Point in August.

“He was fiercely independent and, in his later years, lived like a pioneer or as Henry David Thoreau did at Walden Pond. He hardly ever bought anything and was content to make do with what no one else seemed to want. He was a farmer, mechanic, inventor, engineer, philosopher, concerned citizen and loyal friend,” Jackson said in his memorial.

The property is now being handled by a lawyer. If the price is right, Fleury would consider buying it.

“I’m thinking I’m going to have quite a remodeling job on my hands,” he said.

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Comments (55)

1 2
  • KingCanon
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 11:12am

    I see no difference in those mugshots
    and the cast of the new Hobbit movie.

    Report this comment

    KingCanon  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:43am

    Looks like a fine group to have over for a card game.

    The house looks like a great fixer upper. I didn’t know people were so “The Road” like in Vermont.

    Report this comment

    ChiefGeorge  
  • Fubar Frog
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:39am

    I’ve been in a hoarder’s house before, and it ain’t pretty! Stacks of old newspaper from floor to ceiling, books that are falling apart, he even had 8 pair of the same type of binoculars, and yes, you had to walk through the house sideways! Talk about your basic fire hazzard. There’s a woman that lives about a half a mile from me that’s a hoarder, she hoards other peoples garbage, you don’t want to be downwind in the summer. Either none of her neighbors have complained about it, or the county can’t, or won’t do anything to correct the situation.

    Report this comment

    Fubar Frog  
    • 3monkeysmomma
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 2:41pm

      I had a family member who was a hoarder. When we had to move her to a nursing home, I purchased the house and my husband and I cleaned it out. Its not something you ever want to do twice!

      The house was so bad, I set up a playpen in the (fenced) front yard and left my baby outside because the inside of the house was so hazardous I was afraid for his health!

      Report this comment

      3monkeysmomma  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:00am

    Do not make piercing in your body !

    Report this comment

    searching for the Truth  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 11:00am

      She looks like a meth addict.

      Report this comment

      Gonzo  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 4:14pm

      Around here we call people with face piercings “Tacklebox”, because they look like they fell face-first into a tacklebox.

      Report this comment

      AmericanStrega  
  • matt_c
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 8:19am

    Looks like the white half of Obama’s family is as down with the cause as he is.

    Report this comment

    matt_c  
  • RIGS
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 8:15am

    Bet any amount there all obama marxist democrats who believe eveybody else’s property should be shared. THIS IS THE BASIC DEMOCRAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report this comment

    RIGS  
  • Msgt Ret
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:41am

    Crushed under a horse trailer? I hope this is not swept under the table, I would not be surprised if one of those model citizens who were stealing fro his estate had something to do with him being Crushed under a horse trailer!

    Report this comment

    Msgt Ret  
  • antiliberalmatter
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:30am

    For cryin’ out loud DIE, can’t anyone recognize SARCASM anymore???

    Report this comment

    antiliberalmatter  
  • BehindBlueEyes
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:41am

    It was just a group of well intentioned Vermont liberals spreading the wealth. Great looking bunch as well.

    Report this comment

    BehindBlueEyes  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:08am

    What a sad story.

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
  • Pat Alexander
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:59am

    Hey the wealth needed to be re-distributed. They were just doing what the government wants.

    Nothing to see here, move along.

    I can understand the media’s interest though. Common white trash criminals seem to have evolved into a novelty nowadays…

    Report this comment

    Pat Alexander  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:15pm

      It’s been happening slowly over two decades, as tattoos and piercings became popular. Tattoos started out as a way to mark criminals. About half the people with tattoos these days, you can’t trust.
      Just think how ridiculous these idiots will look when they are 80 and 90 years old, with these tattoos all over them.
      We had a tattoo shop open up in our small town and crime went up slightly until the shop went out of business, then it went back down. Just plain trash.

      Report this comment

      Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • DZ-015
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:53am

    Assuming Radke left no will, somewhere there are probably family members, even if they are distant cousins, who are entitled to his estate under Vermont law. Those in the mugshots, if guilty, have committed grand larceny and will face prison time as well as the loss of certain rights, like voting or possessing firearms. That is how it should be in a civilized society, all comments to the contrary in this thread notwithstanding.

    Report this comment

    DZ-015  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:29am

      Noooo…y’a donnagit it…These outstanding citizens/crimminals wil be able to vote KINGO’ {in} for his 3rd and 4th and 5th and 6th and 7th(keep goeing) terms!!

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
  • sizzlinsexybeckster
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:51am

    None of these criminals should be getting out with bail. There should not be a price to get out of jail card. This is life. These are criminals and they should spend their time in jail. No cookies and milk. The laws are not tough enough and that’s why these problem’s continue to exist.

    Report this comment

    sizzlinsexybeckster  
  • DieHippieDie
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:32am

    racist

    Report this comment

    DieHippieDie  
  • BryanB
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 3:59am

    Unfortunately no victim no crime.

    The man that owned the property and house is dead, and their seems to be no family.

    So who did these criminals burglarize and steal from ?

    Because thats what these criminals defence attorney is going to ask to the Judge. But I don’t believe it will even get to court, the charges will be droped way before then.

    This sounds and looks like the State of Vermont wants the money for themselves, and if these criminals give most or even some of the money back, all this will go away.

    This may look like a case of jutice, it’s not, it’s all about the money, and thats always the way it is…………

    Report this comment

    BryanB  
    • BryanB
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 4:18am

      *Justice

      Report this comment

      BryanB  
    • DieHippieDie
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:37am

      ok bryan….so if these guys didnt take that stuff out of the house, then the property would just dissolve into nothingness? i disagree….that property belonged to somebody and it certainly didnt belong to these meth heads….they are guilty of at least burglary (entering a dwelling with the intent to commit a crime, i.e. theft which is the taking of property with the intent to deprive permanently)

      and if, at the end of the day which is a term i coined, the state would have become the owner of the property after all was said and done, then this is not a victimless crime, the people of the state being the victim….

      if you dont believe me you can google it

      Report this comment

      DieHippieDie  
    • Msgt Ret
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:37am

      They stole from his estate…get informed!

      Report this comment

      Msgt Ret  
    • Toltepeceno
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:34am

      So you know without a doubt he left no will or had no living relatives whatsoever? If not then this is just plain ridiculous.

      Report this comment

      Toltepeceno  
    • BryanB
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:43pm

      I didn’t say I agreed with it or even like it, it’s just the way the system is, and it’s all about the Money !!!!

      You talk about the “estate”. Because their is no family, any “estate”, will go to the State of Vermont. Just like Restitution, since their is no victim or family, any restitution for damages or loss collected by the courts will go to the State of Vermont.

      The other thing that is disturbing, is everyone is assuming that the suspects in this case are guilty. The suspects in this case have been charged with crimes not convicted in a court of law. Just because you read an article on-line or in a news paper doesn’t mean you have all of the facts or evidence in the case.

      Hypothetically, What if the deceased gave permission to any of the suspects, in the event of his death, could have his property or the contents of his property ? I have seen with my own eyes stranger things.

      In most states, the cases of burglary and theft were their is no victim their is no crime. Recently I was a witness to a burglary, the two suspects in that case were breaking into my neighbors car. The Sheriff’s Dept. caught one of the suspects a few feet from the car, but because the victim moved back to Michigan, the charges were droped, no victim their is no crime. I was also removed as a witness in a suppression hearing, for the same reason. The suspects in that case got away with more then 30 burglaries because I couldn’t testify, and thats just the way the system is….

      Report this comment

      BryanB  
    • DieHippieDie
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:25pm

      bryan….you are confused….when you say “no victim no crime” you are lying….there was a victim in this case. it is the owner of the property stolen which may remain to be established….in the car burglary case you cite, there was also a victim…there can be no question that a crime was committed despite liberal mamby pamby word games from you and the hippies like you

      you are confusing the will or ability to prosecute a case with whether a crime has been committed at all…in the car burglary case you cite, because of a failure to prosecute for whatever reason, you assume no crime has been committed….dont confuse the ineptitude of our justice system with justice….

      Report this comment

      DieHippieDie  
    • BryanB
      Posted on February 3, 2013 at 2:52am

      @DieHippieDie

      I feel really sorry for you and I wish you well

      God Bless you and Good luck……….

      Report this comment

      BryanB  
  • Obamujahadeen
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 3:42am

    Nice to see these thieves were caught… I’m so sick of people taking advantage of people for a living in this country….

    Report this comment

    Obamujahadeen  
  • FugMan
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 2:11am

    They knew what he had and just waited tell the poor guy died. Liberals.

    Report this comment

    FugMan  
    • Thomas
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 4:04am

      I don’t know if the person who died had any family but if he didn’t I would rather see these crooks get the money than see the government get it.

      Report this comment

      Thomas  
  • Obama_In_PeePee_Is_Becks_Art
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 1:39am

    “Looters Ransack Dead Hoarder’s Dilapidated Home”

    ” ‘He was fiercely independent and, in his later years, lived like a pioneer or as Henry David Thoreau did at Walden Pond. He hardly ever bought anything and was content to make do with what no one else seemed to want. He was a farmer, mechanic, inventor, engineer, philosopher, concerned citizen and loyal friend,’ Jackson said in his memorial.”

    And now … “a hoarder” (a “bad” thing to be today, thanks to commie hate-propaganda and TheBlaze’s blind co-operation).

    Rest well, Richard A. Burgess, AKA “Radkin”. America NEEDS more rugged individualism like yours.

    Report this comment

    Obama_In_PeePee_Is_Becks_Art  
    • Obamujahadeen
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 3:50am

      It is pretty freaky that going into people’s homes which in many cases are paid for to make them cooperate with local government ‘laws and regulations’ regarding this new trendy “hoarding” thing where we have tv using these obviously in most cases somewhat deranged folks for free cable tv entertainment ………….giving them a couple ‘hoarding specialists” (who knew when getting my BA in business in 87 there would be a career on reality shows cleaning out elderly American’s homes from their belongings be they junk or otherwise in 2013 ) free trucks and pushy tv personnel as their ‘reward’, as their belongings are carted off to a dump or sold at auction or who knows where this stuff is going…especially the ‘valuable’ stuff as we see here.

      Report this comment

      Obamujahadeen  
    • 700P
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:50am

      Still, I wouldn’t support the public nudity part…he could move to San Francisco or Portland if he needs to do that. He should have changed his name to Thaddeus J.Toad because the horse-drawn house on wheels and tractor were probably being pulled by Cyril Proudbottom.

      Report this comment

      700P  
  • Ohello
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 1:30am

    Looks like evil whitey strikes again…..The government needs to lock up all whites….

    If Obama had a grandpa he’d look like Martin. If he had a brother it would look like Ricky….If he had a mistress it would be like….Jenny? or would it be Martin? no no maybe Ricky…. that’s it, it would be Ricky…. I think.

    Report this comment

    Ohello  
    • Keatonc333
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 2:10am

      we here in the 21st century will welcome you whenever you choose to join!

      Report this comment

      Keatonc333  
    • DieHippieDie
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:31am

      @ohello….

      i think im catching your sarcasm…you are trying to say in a roundabout way that black people arent the only ones that commit crimes…clever boy

      Report this comment

      DieHippieDie  
  • AbrahamsSheepdog
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 1:29am

    A weird guy did that in my hometown. He had half a million stashed. Guy lived like a bum. Still a better qualified man than that fly lord clown commander-in-excuse 0blamer. I’d follow a bum first

    Report this comment

    AbrahamsSheepdog  
  • DieHippieDie
    Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:59am

    ok….so everybody just watched these dirtbags stealing this guys stuff and nobody called the police because nobody was “concerned” and yet this idiot tells a reporter that and even gave his name….nice friggin neighbor….i wanna move in next to HIM

    Report this comment

    DieHippieDie  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on February 1, 2013 at 11:24pm

    How can they be so sure Radkin wasn’t murdered, and it staged to look like an accident?

    Report this comment

    LeadNotFollow  
  • BODYBAG
    Posted on February 1, 2013 at 11:12pm

    “People either loved Radkin or hated him, ”
    ““Radkin was very, very rude,”
    ““He was an unusual fellow, that’s for sure,”

    Dad?

    Report this comment

    BODYBAG  
  • The_Almighty_Creestof
    Posted on February 1, 2013 at 11:06pm

    No…they were just redistributing wealth.

    Report this comment

    The_Almighty_Creestof  
  • YOURSENSEI
    Posted on February 1, 2013 at 11:04pm

    This is what you must know:

    Looks like Atlanta is getting a run for its money. Savages. Put em on a boat and send them back to Knoxville.

    It is so.

    YOURSENSEI  
    • catty
      Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:59am

      silly boy, they aren’t black so they aren’t frowned apon here. Move along, no 15 pages of comments disgracing their race.

      Report this comment

      catty  
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