When TikToker Rachael (@steaktik) was 11 years old, her mom abandoned her in a vacation rental in South Florida for eight months to a year, according to the official paperwork.
Her mom had a history of mental illness and experienced paranoid delusions, so Rachael had an extremely isolated childhood.
Growing up, she wasn’t allowed to invite anyone over or tell anyone about her life. Her dad went to prison when she was around five or six years old, and they moved into an apartment after that.
At the time, her mom was suffering from depression and alcoholism, so Rachael had to take care of herself for the most part. She paid the bills, went grocery shopping, and made her own meals.
As for how she ended up squatting in a vacation rental, she and her mother were facing homelessness, so they broke into the place. The vacation rental was owned by Rachael’s grandmother.
Her grandparents rented the house out during the summers to make money. They were Polish Catholics and did not agree with their daughter’s lifestyle, so they refused to get involved.
After breaking into the rental property, Rachael’s mom switched the light and energy bills to her name and debit cards, but she was unemployed and quickly ran out of money.
Her mental health worsened to the point where she abandoned Rachael in the house. Rachael got caught squatting because of some nosy neighbors.
During the cold months, tourists come and fill up the vacation rentals in the area. Retirees who have nothing to do all day would look out the window and see her taking a grassy alleyway between the houses and the swamp to get to and from school.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
One of her neighbors called the police, so these plain-clothed detectives showed up at the house. Rachael answered the door and told them that her mom was at work and didn’t come home until late. So, they left and returned another day. Again, Rachael told them the same story.
Rachael thought they were bill collectors because, from a young age, her mother had taught her that bill collectors were the people who were always after them.
One time, they came back twice on the same day. The second time was in the middle of the night. They were shining flashlights into the house and ordered her to come outside because they knew she was living alone.
By then, the condition of the house was so disgusting. She had no running water or electricity, so she was living in filth and darkness the whole time.
When she got caught, the authorities called her grandmother. She lived in a different state and was more concerned about the condition of the vacation rental than anything else.
Her grandparents decided not to come down and get Rachael. Shortly afterward, she went into foster care.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
