Watch CBS News

Hoarder Evicted From Friendship Apartment

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man labeled as a hoarder by authorities is out of his apartment in Friendship.

Ken Goldsmith grabbed three bags and walked out Friday. He had refused to leave for 10 months.

"You're gonna make a media circus out of this," Goldsmith said to the sheriff's deputy.

"The last thing I want is to see you hurt," the deputy said.

The apartment has approximately six tons of trash inside, including possible rodents and human waste.

"I don't want to jeopardize the health of the citizens of this county," Richard Fersch, a sergeant with the Allegheny County Sheriff's Department, said. "I'm sorry."

Left to sort through the trash and pay for the clean-up is the landlord, Connie Lucey, who fought judges, lawyers and even the health department to get Goldsmith out of her apartment.

"I'm just happy – I just don't want him to do it to anybody else and I hope Ken gets the help that he needs, but he's onto his next victim, so be out there, be waiting for him," she said.

Records show Goldsmith has done this in a half dozen apartments in the county, leaving landlords with the cleanup and thousands of dollars in bills.

There's no word on Goldsmith's location.

The health department is expected to be at the apartment next week and will advise Lucey on how to get rid of the trash.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Reports By Marty Griffin

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.