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Serena Williams’ stepmom pays off debts & ‘makes $500k’ from sale of star’s crumbling childhood home after 7-year fight
Details on how Richard and Lakeisha Williams have ended their house battle
SERENA Williams' childhood home has been sold to a mystery buyer for $1.2 million after her stepmom admitted to "stealing” the house from her dad.
Lakeisha Williams, who has reconciled with Richard, 82, agreed to sell the property to wipe out her debt before it was set to go up for auction in a legal battle.
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The four-bed mansion in Palm Beach, Florida was on the line, as the ex-stripper had faked legendary tennis coach Richard's signature on the title deeds, according to court docs.
She transferred it into her name and took out a huge loan with hard lender David Simon, which she never paid back.
At one stage, the debt stood at $620,000 including interest and attorney fees.
The house sale paid all this off - which in the end stood at $436,000.
Deducting realtor fees and federal capital gains tax - around a combined 25 percent - Lakeisha could be walking away with a profit of $464,000.
Despite Lakeisha’s deception, Richard halted their divorce in June - and the pair are back together living in a home in Serena's name, which is close to their old property.
It’s not known if Richard, 82, and Lakeisha, half his age at 45, are sharing the windfall.
There's also still some confusion as to who owns the property.
Most read in The US Sun
'SECRET BUYER'
Richard's son Chavoita Lesane - who holds power of attorney over his dad - claims that the recently sold place has stayed in the family.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Chavoita for further comment on the house sale.
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He previously told The U.S. Sun, "The house is safe and sound. Keisha worked a miracle. She satisfied the debt, whatever it was that was reported. I have no clue how, I'm told it wasn't from my dad.
"He wanted to keep it in the family so he's happy regardless."
Richard, Lakeisha and Chavoita met in private with lawyers to sort out the paperwork for the house, and tears were even shed as they "saved" the house.
Discussing how his dad is, Chavoita said, "He was in good health, his regular funny, jokey self.
"He actually set it up where Keisha and I could hang out for a couple of hours.
"To be honest, she seems very different. She was even crying in the office saving the house.
"I won't lie, the house itself, a lot of work needs doing on that place. But they’re definitely not selling it. He wants to keep it. I already know that.
"My dad loves the house. It's very sentimental to him."
His comments suggest the "secret buyer" bought it on Richard and Lakeisha’s behalf.
According to records seen by The U.S. Sun, a company set up in June last year called Hardy Firm LLC paid $1.2 million for the place.
The only named agent or director is a Darrious Christian, from Fort Lauderdale, who has connections with Lakeisha's alleged family.
Richard and Lakeisha's House Timeline
The U.S. Sun
Richard Williams lost control of his marital home many years ago and was fighting his estranged wife Lakeisha in court until last month. Remarkably, the couple is now back together and the house has sold. Here's a full rundown of the house drama.
May 2017
- Richard claimed in his initial divorce petition in 2017 that Lekeisha had forged his name on a deed transfer for their home and stole his Social Security checks.
March 2020
- Court documents revealed excerpts from Lakeisha's testimony, in which she admits to forging her ex's signature, but alleged she did so as he had left her and their son to starve, which his legal team denied at the time.
February 2022
- Lakeisha told a judge that her stepdaughter Serena wanted to lock her out of the family home. She claimed a letter from the tennis star's lawyers "threatened to change the locks" if she did not vacate the property. Her legal team at the time did not respond to requests for comment.
June 2022
- Richard filed a $1 million lawsuit against Lakeisha, despite her claiming in court documents they had reconciled and had been sleeping together again, which he later denied. It was later thrown out.
July 2022
- Their home was valued at $1.45 million and was due to be auctioned off, but Lakeisha filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy and stalled the sale. The bankruptcy case was dismissed on July 5 but she filed to have it reinstated claiming she had found money for a repayment plan. She was in hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt after taking out a huge loan from a hard lender and failing to pay it back.
August 2023
- It was revealed Lakeisha was struggling to keep up with her repayment plan as she battled to keep the house, where she was said to be living despite it needing extensive repair work.
April 2024
- Lakeisha tried for months to stave off the house being sold at auction by filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy three times, but each attempt failed.
July 2024
- Richard's son Chavoita confirms he is no longer pursuing a divorce and the pair are "happy" after reconciling. He insisted the house was safe and she had mysteriously managed to pay off her huge debts.
August 2024
- Documents show the house sold for $1.2 million to a mystery company set up in June last year called Hardy Firm LLC. It is thought the owner has links to Lakeisha Williams and they have managed to keep the home in the family.
He's had a business address at a Margate home once owned by Lakeisha’s aunt Betty Downing - and where Lakeisha herself once lived with her.
The U.S. Sun has found no evidence to suggest Downing is in fact her aunt, but the pair have been working together for over a decade on numerous businesses.
Downing was charged with two counts of first-degree grand theft and exploiting an elderly person for over $100,000, which carries up to a 30-year prison sentence in Florida.
But she escaped jail time last year with 120 months probation and was ordered to pay the victim $135,000 in damages.
The U.S. Sun has made repeated attempts to contact Lakeisha and Downing but received no reply.
A source said this week she has been vacationing with Richard and their young son, Dylan, 12.
Their former marital home is where Serena and Venus grew up and trained with their dad on the courts, with signs still seen at the abandoned home in exclusive images.
Richard filed for divorce from Lakeisha back in 2017, seven years after tying the knot.
He suddenly called off his divorce in June this year, and although his son said it was due to health issues, it was later revealed the pair are back in a relationship.
Chavoita has for years expressed fears that Lakeisha has been taking advantage of his father, but last month said he's now building bridges with her for the sake of the family.
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But he's still making sure he can protect his father.
Richard has signed a nine-page power of attorney document which gives Chavoita full control of his assets - including property and bank accounts.
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