Oct 21, 2009 10:37 pm US/Central
2 Investigators: Justice For Jennifer
Jennifer Washington Finally Gets Wheelchair-Accessible Bathroom Through Kindness Of Strangers
AURORA, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Jennifer Washington has spina bifida and her family paid a contractor $31,000 to build her a wheelchair accessible bathroom, but the contractor never finished the work and left a big hole in their yard.
CBS
Jennifer Washington uses a wheelchair and allegedly got ripped off by a contractor hired to build a wheelchair accessible addition to her home. Dozens of CBS 2 viewers responded to her story and the contractor is now under investigation as CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini reports on Justice for Jennifer.
The sounds of volunteers sawing and hammering mean Jennifer Washington is finally getting what she paid for.
"They've made a lot of progress," Jennifer said.
Jennifer has spina bifida and needs a bathroom she can access all by herself. Her current one is too small and doesn't allow her the independence to even brush her teeth since she can't reach the sink.
Her mother Maureen Sullivan explains why they turned to CBS 2.
"Our hope when we agreed to go on TV was that other people wouldn't be hurt like we were hurt," Sullivan said.
Jennifer and her mother contacted the 2 Investigators after paying $31,000 to Tom Ratz, the owner of Ex-Treme Con-Crete, to build the bathroom.
They didn't know Ratz was a convicted felon with an arrest record that includes drugs, battery and theft. They say he poured the foundation six months ago, cashed their check and never finished the rest of job.
CBS 2 spoke to Jennifer about how she feels about what happened.
"He made me angry and upset," Jennifer said.
The 2 Investigators shared her story on CBS 2 news last month. It sparked several investigations by authorities into the contractor, and an amazing show of goodwill from CBS 2 viewers.
Within minutes after we aired our story about Jennifer's loss, we started getting e-mails and phone calls from people who wanted to donate. And by the next day, Jennifer and her mother had gotten so many phone calls from people who wanted to help, they were overwhelmed.
Everything from roofing materials to lumber to the machines used to excavate the backyard were all donated free of charge.
Jennifer says she was stunned.
When asked how it made her feel that all those people called to help, Jennifer said, "Shocked and amazed."
So was her friend and neighbor, Frank Vonderau, who organized the effort. He broke down in tears when he spoke to CBS 2 about the generosity of strangers.
Vonderau said nearly 100 hundred electricians, carpenters, painters and dry wallers called to help Jennifer.
Carpenter Steve Kampschroer is one of the people who donated his time. He said he also has been moved by the people who have wanted to help.
"People still have a heart, there're still good people out there, people do care," Kampschroer said.
Ratz still hasn't said what he did with all of Jennifer's money. CBS 2 went to the address where Ratz said he was living and working, but residents said they never heard of him.
The Attorney General now has 10 complaints of alleged fraud involving Ex-Treme Con-Crete and has opened an investigation. Jennifer would like to see justice done.
"He should go to jail or prison," Jennifer said.
Jennifer's mother says the DuPage County State's Attorney's office is also now looking into her complaint.
Jennifer is close to having her bathroom finished, but is still short of money to buy plumbing materials to finish the job.
If you want to make a donation to help Jennifer, make a check out to "Frank Vonderau-Jenny Washington Benefit Fund" and mail it to:
Old Second National Bank
Aurora - Fox Valley
4080 Fox Valley Center Drive
Aurora, IL 60504
Or, you can call 630-892-0202.
To file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Office, call (800) 386-5438 or visit
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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