The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A couple was arrested on Wednesday when authorities found that they live in a box made of plywood, and had been residing there with their three children for several years.
Mona Kirk and Daniel Panico of Joshua Tree have three children and they have reportedly lived well below the poverty level for quite some time. The couple owns a piece of land in a rural area, and they have parked a trailer on the property in order to provide shelter to their family. Near the trailer, they have an outdoor box-like structure made out of plywood, and there is no electricity or running water on the land. They have been making ends meet in this fashion for the last four years.
The children, ages 11, 13 and 14 are homeschooled and are said to be very intelligent. Their parents keep them active in community activities such as the local scout group, and frequented educational spots including the Hi-Desert Nature Museum in Yucca Valley, and the public library, as reported by friends of the family.