Custodian Allegedly Lived Inside Upstate New York School for Months

A strange investigation inside one Upstate New York middle school has turned into a story that’s now getting attention across the state.

Most of us can agree that the cost of living today is out of control, especially here in New York. Just about every living expense costs more now than ever before, and unfortunately, some folks have been forced to turn to unusual situations just trying to get by.

Investigation Reveals Unusual Living Arrangements at School in Upstate New York

According to the Times Union, the unusual incident began when the Albany City School District started reviewing unusually high overtime claims submitted by custodial staff at Hackett Middle School in Albany, NY.

District spokesman Ron Lesko told the paper that officials began taking a closer look at overtime usage across every school building after realizing costs were much higher than expected.

“We identified our overtime was higher than it should be. We started reviewing it at every building,” Lesko reportedly said.

During that review, officials allegedly discovered that multiple employees had falsely reported overtime hours, including three custodians assigned to Hackett Middle School.

Custodian Found Living Inside School in Upstate New York

While investigating those overtime claims, officials reportedly uncovered evidence that one custodian had been secretly living inside the school building for several months. According to reports, the custodian had created a makeshift bedroom area somewhere inside the school before officials eventually discovered what was going on.

The employee has reportedly been suspended with pay while the investigation continues.

Video Evidence Reportedly Exists

School officials have now turned the investigation over to law enforcement as the Albany District Attorney’s Office confirmed it is reviewing the case, although no criminal charges have been filed. Because the employee has not been charged, authorities have not publicly released the custodian’s name.

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Lesko reportedly declined to explain exactly how the district discovered the alleged living arrangement, but noted that security cameras are installed throughout school buildings, leading to indications that investigators do have video evidence connected to the case.

At the same time, some people reacting online say the incident also highlights the growing housing affordability issues across New York, with some commenters expressing sympathy if the employee was struggling financially or dealing with homelessness, according to WRGB.

Hackett Middle School serves students in grades 6 through 8 and is located near Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York.