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Bed Bug Infested Home Forces Hot Springs Woman to Move


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Updated: 3/10 10:22 am Published: 3/09 10:08 pm
Jennifer Golden is bagging, packing and moving out of her Hot Springs home.

She says she's being forced to leave but only allowed to take certain things.

"If it can't fit in a bag or run in the dryer for 20-30 minutes it can't come with me."

Swollen red bites on her arms are evidence of what she says are bed bugs.

If her word's not enough take a walk through her home and you'll find the creatures roaming through her belongings.

"Everything I own is contaminated, she said. "Everything."

Doctors at the hospital advised her to get out and stay out.

"We were instructed not to return to the dwelling."

She just moved in the first of March.

"Four days later I was in the emergency room."

Golden's son, Lucas is helping her move everything they can into storage.

She explained, "The expense to this is going to be to no end."

Golden says her landlord knew about it and was lied to by the exterminator.

In fact, she says bed bugs are apparently rampant in her neighborhood. Just around the corner beds with the word bugs written on the top lie within a foot of the sidewalk.

"I have never in my life encountered something like this," she remarked. "It's so excruciating and itching."

The landlord has sent her a check reimbursing her for the deposit and rent she's already paid.

The losses from her belongings she says will amount to well more than that and more than she can afford.

As part of a reimbursement their landlord paid for a hotel but only through Monday. After that, Golden won't have a home. Adding to that, the one person that has been here to help, her son, is shipping off to basic training.

It's all pushed the emotional toll over the top.

"He don't even know where to write me a letter," Golden cried. "I won't see him for six months and he's leaving his mom homeless."
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mike12 - 3/11/2013 9:48 PM
0 Votes
You are right Butch. People should avoid any unnecessary travel if at all possible in order to avoid the great plagues of the world. What we should do is stock up on food water and ammo and isolate ourselves from the world around us.... Give me a break, you won't travel to the east coast anymore because you fear bed bugs? I have traveled the world a few times and have visited numerous third world countries in my day. I am still kicking today. Basic personal hygiene habits and practices go a long way. I pity those that haven't left the safety and comfort of their homes because of an inflated sense of harm. You truly aren't living.

Layla37 - 3/11/2013 1:38 PM
1 Vote
@Butch...lol funny you mention the east coast because that is where Dateline did their special. It was in the Grand Hotel and other high class Hotels.

Butch54 - 3/10/2013 9:55 AM
2 Votes
Do not visit the east coast. They are infested in almost every city over there. Even if you pay 1000 dollars a night to stay you can get them. We love it over there but we quit going.

Layla37 - 3/10/2013 7:32 AM
2 Votes
OMG this story breaks my heart. This situation is all too familiar to my kids and I. Our story is a little different. I received a new matteress from a military neighbor and he had OCD when it came to cleaning and sanitation. I vacumed it, cleaned it with bleach and to be honest it was wrapped in plastic so really I didn't need to do all that. After a month I started to notice little round, brown bugs in various places. I thought, well its summer and that brings bugs. We sprayed for bugs and the bed bugs never went, they got worse. I finally saved some I killed, showed the bug man and found it was bed bugs. It cost a fortune with special treatment. I had to replace furniture and beds. All of our clothes and anything cloth had to be put in black trash bags and left in the hot sun for 72 hrs. I lived in NM at the time so summer heat was 116 degrees. Then had to wash our belongings in Borax. We had to have the carpets replaced and stayed in a hotel for 4 days. I will never buy used furniture again. If you ever travel even to a 5 star hotel check your room. Dateline did a story on this same problem in 5 star hotels and u'd be surprised. Check bed frames, wall picture frames, lift mattresses and be cautious. You don't want bed begs so take the time to educate yourself and look when traveling
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