Tenants with legal drama, liability and how to handle.

[Lauren Zehara]

I recently bought a duplex that had tenants with leases already in place.

I'm having trouble with one of the tenants. His girlfriend is living with him - she is not on the lease but she was there when I bought the building. Her ex is claiming that she has kidnapped their 15-year-old son and is hiding him in my unit. Both my tenant and this ex have messaged me this morning - the police are involved. 

My tenant claims that the sun is not in the building And that his mother doesn't know anything about his disappearance.

The ex-husband left a message implying that I may be subject to kidnapping charges because I own the building.

Clearly I'm within my rights to a victim just for having her there when she's not on the lease. But I am curious what my liability is, and what more experienced landlords would do in this situation.