Pocono News Section

A Bad Year: Man Loses Job, Home & Car He Lived In

A Bad Year: Man Loses Job, Home & Car He Lived In - Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 5:40PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Nov 3, 2009 @ 05:40pm EST
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY, This year a Pocono man lost his job, then his home, then the car he was living in.

Kenneth Truitt called the parking lot at the East Stroudsburg Wal Mart his bedroom. He said, "I figured that was a secure place that had lights and stuff."

He spent many nights sleeping in his car because he had no where else to go. Truitt told Eyewitness News he lost his job earlier this year. He explained that the manufacturing company where he worked went out of business. He said, "That's when everything just kind of went downhill."

Then Kenneth couldn't pay his rent. He got kicked out of his house. He said he found a few part time jobs but not enough to survive so he started to live in his car. He explained, "I haven't really found other works and that's why I haven't had a place to stay - so that's why I've been homeless staying in my car."

He thought things couldn't get any worse, until late October. That's when two men approached his car at Wal Mart. He said
said the men came up to his car twice. The first time he said they harassed him a little bit and somehow managed to sneak away with his keys - but the second time was much worse. He explained, "He says 'you want to fight? You want to fight?' So he stuck his hands up and then all of a sudden he hit me in the mouth."

Kenneth ran into Wal Mart for help. In the meantime, the men stole his car. Police found it nearby about eight hours later. It was beat up and wouldn't even start.

Police say the thieves were Matthew Katono and Heath Zachary. Both covered their faces and stayed silent while police escorted them out of court.

The men are locked up in jail. Kenneth is staying with friends. With no car he said it will be even more difficult for him to find work and he's not sure what he'll do next. He sighed, "It's not easy. It's not easy at all. No. No. It's not easy."

Matthew Katona waived his right to a preliminary hearing. The judge postponed Heath Zachary's preliminary hearing.