CANTON, Ohio — A woman from Canton told 5 On Your Side Investigators her life has been changed forever because of a contractor. She said she's lost tens-of-thousands of dollars, lost her home and lost her financial stability.
“It's just such an eyesore. It just breaks my heart,” said Teresa Hayes from Canton while looking at what’s left of her former home on 18th Street NW. “It's just too upsetting. It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she said. “I can still smell the fire."
As if the 2017 electrical fire in her attic hadn't done enough damage, Hayes can’t shake that day out of her mind. “I rounded up my children and we have three dogs and we crossed the street to the neighbor's house,” she said.
However, the worst was yet to come.
"You have no idea how hard it's been,” she said. “You have no idea how hard it's been."
Upon a friend's recommendation, she hired Nate Gray after the fire. He owns All Seasons Home Rehab.
"What was the total amount you gave him?” we asked Hayes.
“Over $95,000 was deposited into his account from my homeowners insurance,” she said.
We saw the receipts of payments from her insurance company, money that was supposed to pay for new siding, interior work, and so much more. In fact, there was a detailed estimate from Gray for all of the work totaling more than $100,000.
"Even being here right now... It's really hard,” said Hayes.
Hayes said less than half of the work on the house was done before Gray took her money and never came back.
For more than two years, Hayes’ family has been without a home. At one point, she was paying mortgage plus the rent for their temporary house. Then, it became too much. Her home is now going through the foreclosure process.
"My credit is ruined because I stopped paying the mortgage in order to continue to feed my family," Hayes said.
This isn't the first time Gray's work has been called into question. A couple from Wooster sued Gray after some kitchen work. Attorney Joey Marullo represented them.
"(We were) very frustrated. Lots of communication, lots of attempts, second chances, third chances," said Marullo.
His clients won the case back in February.
"We came to an agreement on a series of payments,” said Marullo. “(Gray) made the first one…haven't heard from him since."
5 On Your Side Investigators searched the surrounding court dockets. We found another case open at the Wayne County Municipal Courthouse against Gray and his company.
We were there at the pretrial hearing for that open case. This time a woman is asking for $9,000 in damages.
She didn't want to be shown on camera because she fears retaliation from Gray for this suit.
She claims Gray's company trashed her new home with mispainted floors, windows, shower doors and more.
"When I moved into my house,” said the woman as she turned away from our camera to avoid crying. “It was supposed to be happy and exciting and it was really a nightmare for a year straight."
After the hearing, we approached Gray as he was leaving the courthouse.
“We want to talk to you a little bit about your business practices...specifically Teresa Hayes,” we said following him out of the doors.
We asked about the $95,000. He told us we were wrong.
"That's why (we’re) here. Tell us your side of the story,” we said while following him down the street.
“I don't have to,” he said.
“What about all these other court cases you've lost?” we asked.
“What the {expletive} are you talking about?” he said.
He knows exactly what we're talking about.
His charm continued by threatening to hit us with his truck.
"You're going to get ran over, {expletive",” he said.
Meanwhile, Hayes said she's talked with several attorneys and she claims none of them will take her case because they don't think Gray would be able to pay up when she wins.
"We have taken such a loss and we've done nothing wrong,” said Hayes. “At the very least, I would like some exposure so that he does not continue to do this to other undeserving people. This is ridiculous."
The $9,000 lawsuit against Gray has been set for trial on November 18.
Hayes said she has had nowhere to turn to get her money back from Gray.
