"Donuts Vanished and Shoes Went Missing": Real-Life 'Parasite' Case Unfolds in U.S. Family Home

Suspicion Arises After Missing Items and Moved Furniture
Discovered by Daughter and Her Husband While Searching the Basement
Homeless Man Arrested on Charges of Residential Burglary

A strange man was found secretly living in the basement of a family home in Arkansas, United States. The homeowners became suspicious after noticing items going missing and furniture being moved, and eventually discovered the intruder after searching the house.

On May 7, Yonhap News TV, citing Fox News and KTHV, reported a real-life case of home intrusion reminiscent of the movie "Parasite."

Dutch Hogarth, a professor at Harding University living in Searcy, Arkansas, and his wife Sharon Hogarth, recently experienced a series of unusual events in their home. Their work shoes, which were usually kept near the back door, went missing, furniture was repeatedly found in different places, and food would disappear. They also found half-eaten donuts and apples.

At first, even the family found it hard to believe. Their daughter, Cherise Gregory, decided to investigate the home with her husband, Mark Gregory, on April 29, after seeing how anxious her parents were. While checking the basement storage area, they noticed something that looked like a person's leg in jeans among the belongings.

Mark picked up a baseball bat, knocked on the door and floor, and shouted for the person to come out. After a moment, a man's voice responded from inside. The man replied that he understood and would come out, then showed himself.

Local police identified the man as 41-year-old Preston Landis. Landis was arrested on charges of residential burglary and property theft, with bail set at $15,000. According to foreign media reports, Landis entered the house around April 27 during severe weather. Initially, he hid in a small space before moving to the basement.

It was reported that Landis tried to live by making a temporary bed in the storage space beneath the basement stairway. However, the family stated that there was no indication he intended to steal expensive items or harm them. Dutch Hogarth told local media, "I feel more sad than angry. I'm relieved we found out someone was living in our house. It could have gone on much longer." Mark Gregory also said, "He didn't seem like someone with bad intentions. He had plenty of opportunities but didn't steal anything valuable. I think he was just trying to escape the weather and survive." Landis reportedly expressed his apologies to the family before leaving the house.