A warranty deed on file at the Bates County Recorder of Deeds office indicates the sale of 38.6 acres of land just outside of Butler along with another property located inside city limits dated August 28th, 2023. By all appearances this is a fully legitimate document according to Recorder of Deeds personnel.
The seller is listed as seller Eugene P. Miller Jr. and purchaser as Homestead Equities LLC; the document was notarized by Jessica J. Taylor who is legally commissioned in Missouri. As everything was in order, the recorder’s office proceeded with putting the change of ownership on file as part of standard protocol.
But that’s not where it ends. Executor of Miller’s estate Deanna Baumgarden says no one, including Miller, knew of the transfer until about five months later when she went on line to Bates County GIS only to discover his property was now listed with a new owner, Homestead Equities, LLC.
“Before that, I got suspicious when Shannon Bone, who had been helping with a beneficiary deed, called asking for titles for Gene’s cars. That’s when I looked and was completely shocked to find the property in someone else's name.”
Hence, the fact finding began.
In questioning 83 year old Miller (now deceased) and his family, all strongly contended that neither he, nor any family member agreed to sell nor were there any discussions about doing such. Likewise, the family claims Miller’s bank account did not show receipt of funds, which based on current market values, would have been in the neighborhood of $200,000.00 or so.
Unfortunately, Eugene Miller passed away May 13, 2024 and hopes were dashed of any resolution as they were told that since the transaction was complete and appeared to be fully legal- there was nothing more to be done and the only help could come from an outside investigation.
In the meantime, Miller and his family made several attempts to reach Bone to discuss the issue but said she was longer answering calls and had seemingly left the area.
Enlisting the help of others, Baumgarden and the family elected to begin an investigation on their own with findings that didn’t paint a very pretty picture, leading them to believe fraud could be involved:
According to the Missouri Secretary of State website, Homestead Equities LLC was formed August 9, 2023 (19 days before the sale) showing a registered agent name of Shannon M. Bone of Butler, Mo. The search also revealed another business owned by Bone known as Circle B Bookkeeping LLC created in January of 2016.
To date, this is the only transaction on file for Homestead Equities LLC at the recorder’s office in Bates county.
As further attempts to get answers by the family were unsuccessful, an on line search revealed that Bone may have relocated to Ash Flat, Arkansas. That search also revealed a criminal history in Arkansas that indicates Bone previously had four charges of Class C Felony forgery with the disposition listed as guilty and one of charge of Theft of Leased, Rented or Entrusted Personal Property, a Class C Felony, also showing a disposition of guilty all of which occurred in 1999.
The criminal record also indicated other similar charges during the same time frame that were disposed as not guilty.
“This thing just stinks. Gene would not have knowingly given up his property” said Baumgarden “And to think his family has been cheated out of land that has been in the family for a very long time just crushes my heart.”
Another variable has come into play as prior to his death, Gene battled onset dementia and Alzheimer’s for the past couple of years bringing into question whether or not he was mentally clear enough to know what he may have signed.
But regardless, according to his closest family members “he was VERY clear he never agreed to sell his land that was meant to be passed on to heirs.”
Multiple checks of his bank account have never shown receipt of money from Homestead Equities or even a large cash deposit- all done to insure there was not some kind of clerical mistake or a lost check.
Shannon tells her side
The previous information notwithstanding, Mid America Live was able to contact Shannon Bone via telephone to get her side of the story.
When informed that there were questions regarding the transfer she stated “I helped Gene with a lot of things over the years. In return, he told me he wanted me to have the property so I put it in a safe place.” She went on to say that her intent was to honor his wishes and that holding the property “would insure nothing that went against his wishes would happen to it.”
In our 16 minute conversation Bone assured multiple times that she was only following Miller’s instructions.
However at this juncture, the matter has caught the attention of the Department of Health and Senior Services who took interest in the case and are preparing to open a formal investigation.
A timeline regarding the investigation is yet to be revealed.
