A suspended Lauderhill police officer is facing charges after investigators say he stole the identity of a dead man and moved into his home. According to authorities, Brian Sergos found 71-year-old Dennis West dead during a 2022 welfare check, then told the medical examiner that West had no family, claimed to be a friend, and claimed the body for cremation. Sergos allegedly began living in West’s house, including during a period of repairs.
Sergos was released Wednesday after posting $25,000 bond and told a judge he would not return to the property. Broward Property Appraiser Marty Kiar said it took four years for the law to catch up with Sergos, a timeline that raises hard questions about how identity theft involving a deceased resident can go unnoticed for so long.
For Gulf Coast communities with large numbers of retirees and snowbirds, the story is a reminder to stay connected to neighbors and relatives who live alone, and to speak up when something about a property doesn’t look right. Have you ever noticed something odd at a neighbor’s house and wondered if you should report it? Tell us your story on our Facebook page.
