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Disabled Helena veteran facing foreclosure, people rally to help

Posted: Jan 9, 2012 4:58 PM by Melissa Anderson (Helena)
Updated: Jan 11, 2012 11:51 AM


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Last week we shared a story with you of Helena veteran Theresa D'Angelo, who is facing foreclosure from Bank of America.

The story has touched the hearts - and even wallets - of many people. Besides the many comments on our website, the story spread quickly on Facebook, with some people offering to help financially any way they can.

Marcia Sullivan of Red Lodge has set up a bank account at First Interstate Bank called Save Theresa D'Angelo's Home.

Sullivan said, "She's not trying to live off the system. She is trying to do what is right. And it's going really sour for her and I just was really touched to hear that it was just so wrong. So I have set up an account here in Red Lodge that people can donate to help Theresa save her home."

Listening to Sullivan's voice, with tears in her eyes, Theresa said, "I just heard the things that this woman said and I'm going to cry but, I didn't think that there would be that many people that really cared to be honest...and I'm just so grateful that."

D'Angelo hired an attorney after Bank of America's home loan division refused to take her mortgage payments.

They claim that at one time, she was $7.55 short of the full payment.

Theresa says because they took their $20 fee first, the account fell short. They told her they didn't have to accept the partial payment, and placed her account in arrears.

At one point she tried to refinance the loan through the local credit union, but because it was already placed in default, even they couldn't take on the loan.

Theresa's attorney Greg Duncan said, "And Bank of America has for some reason failed to take her payments."

In the meantime, Theresa's house is still scheduled to go up for sheriff's auction in February.

One woman in Helena contacted Theresa's lawyer and offered to buy her home on the courthouse steps and then publicly sell it back to her for a dollar.

Theresa, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and just got out of the hospital again over the weekend, is taking it one step at a time, thanks to help from a friend; she says her faith in God and her country are what's pulling her through.

In the three days following the airing of the first story, we were contacted by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg, and the Montana Attorney General's Office, all wanting to help.

Three other lawyers said they would be willing to help out with the case if needed, pro bono.

We'll keep you up to date on this story as it develops.

Donations to the fund can be made at a First Interstate Bank branch, or mailed to the following address:

First Interstate Bank
Account: Save Theresa D'Angelo's Home
P.O. Box 910
Red Lodge, MT 59608

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