Squatters Ransack Indie Filmmaker’s Santa Monica Home

An award-winning independent filmmaker and cinematographer, Fidel Ruiz Healy, returned from a work trip in New York to a devastating scene at his Santa Monica residence. On September 16, 2025, Healy discovered that his home had been overtaken by squatters who ransacked the property, stole valuables, and caused extensive damage.

The first sign of trouble was his front gate, which he immediately noticed was unlocked — a rare occurrence for the filmmaker. Inside, every room was left in disarray. Personal belongings were scattered throughout, and even more disturbingly, Healy found bottles of alcohol and knives left in his bed. “Immediately walked in and my house was trashed,” he told KTLA.

Evidence suggested the intruders had stayed there for multiple nights. Fresh food, coffee, and donuts with same-day receipts were left behind, pointing to their continued presence in the home leading up to Healy’s return.

Among the most significant losses were valuable camera equipment and hard drives containing much of his professional work — essential tools for his career. The intruders also targeted the property’s infrastructure, ripping copper pipes from beneath the house.

The ordeal did not end there. After securing the property and leaving, Healy’s neighbor later reported hearing someone attempt to re-enter the home in the middle of the night, apparently expecting to return to what they had been using as their temporary residence.

Although shaken, Healy expressed gratitude for his community, noting that friends quickly organized a GoFundMe campaign to help him recover from the ordeal. “I’m at a loss for words. It’s just great to be part of an artistic community that is there to support you,” he said.

While Healy did not have a security system in place at the time of the break-in, he has since shared that he plans to make changes moving forward. The Santa Monica Police Department has confirmed they are actively investigating the case. Source: KTLA