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Caretaker Of Late Architect Arrested For Allegedly Stealing His Home
Instead, she learned that her father, retired architect Robert Rowland, had died three days earlier.
Then came another shock: The home where he had lived was no longer in his name.
His former caretaker, Sarah Smalls, had obtained ownership of the Conway, South Carolina, property. More than two years later, Smalls has been arrested and charged in connection with the case.
Caretaker Accused of Taking Control of the Property
Smalls, 58, was arrested Sept. 28 by Conway police.
She faces charges including breach of trust with fraudulent intent, perjury and exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to court records and local reporting. Her total bail was set at $45,000.
The charges follow an investigation into what happened to Robert Rowland's home and finances during the final months of his life.
Rowland's daughter says her father had Parkinson's disease and had previously suffered a traumatic brain injury. She had arranged for him to receive home-care assistance while she prepared to move him closer to her in Maryland.
The $5 Deed Transfer
According to documents reviewed by investigators, Smalls was named Robert's power of attorney in April 2024.
A quitclaim deed dated April 17 transferred his Conway home to Smalls for $5, according to reporting from WMBF. The property was valued at roughly $300,000, according to CBS News.
Rowland has questioned whether her father, whom she described as increasingly vulnerable because of his health conditions, understood what he was signing.
Records also show financial transactions involving Smalls. CBS News reported that court documents allege she withdrew more than $17,000 in cash and sent money to herself through Cash App on several occasions.
“This Is My Dad's House”
When Rowland arrived in Conway, she says she discovered that the house had been changed.
The front door had been replaced and a Ring doorbell installed. Inside, she found different furniture, painted walls and photographs of people she did not recognize.
Rowland says Smalls eventually arrived and accused her of trespassing, leading to police being called.
The daughter has said the experience was surreal: She had arrived to learn that her father was dead and then discovered that the property she believed belonged to him had been transferred to his caregiver.
Rowland's own trespassing-related charges were later dismissed, according to local reporting.
Concerns About Her Father's Final Months
Rowland says she had been preparing an in-law suite in Maryland because she planned to bring her father to live closer to her.
But communication with him became increasingly limited after Smalls began caring for him.
CBS News reported that records from a senior living facility described Robert as “emaciated” and hallucinating during the period when documents were signed that changed his power of attorney and transferred the property.
Rowland has questioned whether her father was capable of fully understanding the transactions.
Those concerns are part of the family's broader effort to determine what happened during the final months of his life.
Arrest Brings Relief — but More Questions Remain
For Rowland, Smalls' arrest represents a major development after more than two years of trying to get answers.
She has said she hopes additional charges may follow as investigators continue examining her father's finances and the circumstances surrounding the transfer of his home.
Smalls has not been convicted of the charges, and the allegations against her remain allegations unless proven in court.
The case is now moving through the South Carolina court system, with Smalls scheduled to return to court in December, according to CBS News.
For Nora Rowland, however, the arrest is about more than a house.
It is about understanding what happened to her father — and making sure that other vulnerable people do not find themselves in a similar situation.
Source: Inside Edition
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