HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston man accused of filing property claims on homes he does not own says he is helping homeless veterans, even as authorities investigate his efforts to take possession of multiple properties tied to high-profile cases across the Houston area.
Matthew Jamal Jackson appeared in court on unrelated trespassing charges and faced questions about records showing he has filed deed claims on roughly a dozen properties, including homes connected to recent family tragedies.
Earlier this year, ABC13 reported that Jackson filed paperwork seeking to claim a Heights home where Lee Gilley is accused of killing his wife.
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Authorities said he even changed the locks and put up cameras at the time.
Records also show Jackson filed a deed of adverse possession just days after the May murder-suicide that left restaurateur Thy Mitchell and her children dead in a River Oaks-area home. Police said Thy Mitchell was killed by her husband, Matthew Mitchell, who then took his own life.
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When asked why he appeared to target homes connected to families who had suffered tragedies, Jackson declined to explain.
“Why are you targeting families that’s undergone tragedies?” ABC13 asked. “They’ve lost loved ones; they are murder cases, and you file these deeds. Why do you do that?”
“No comment.”
Jackson also declined to discuss additional allegations surrounding the filings.
“You’re not going to comment? Did you trespass? Did you commit criminal mischief? Then why did you file all these documents?”
“No comment.”
Records reviewed by attorney Dennis McQueen for ABC13 show Jackson used deed filings involving multiple companies, including Save A Life Homes LLC.
McQueen said none of the filings he reviewed appeared legitimate.
“Because he’s filing clearly fraudulent deeds. They’re not forged, but they’re fraudulent because he has no ownership interest in the property; he’s deeding it from his own company to his own company, and it’s clear he has no interest in the property,” McQueen said.
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McQueen also described the legal effect such filings can have on a property owner.
“In this case it’s like if I signed a deed from me to me for your house. Oh, that gets me nowhere, except it does put a cloud on the title, or whomever the owner is. In this case, the estate will have to take some type of action to clean that up,” he said.
Outside court, Jackson defended his actions by saying he provides housing for homeless veterans.
“I provide housing to homeless VA veterans.” When asked, “How do you provide housing on homes you don’t own?” Jackson said, “I provide housing.”
When asked, “In houses you don’t own?” he replied, “No comment.”
Jackson then said, “There’s no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”
Jackson has filed several lawsuits, including one federal suit, to claim ownership of several homes and apartments.
In one instance, the son of a man who died told ABC13 that he has not been able to inherit his father’s house because Jackson has tied up the home in legal filings.
Multiple sources told ABC13 that law enforcement is investigating Jackson over the deed filings and that additional criminal charges could be possible.
Family members of Thy Mitchell said they remain in contact with law enforcement regarding Jackson’s attempted claim on the property.
For now, however, Jackson is charged only with trespassing and criminal mischief related to a separate property.
Authorities have not announced any additional charges.
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