A couple at Vivo Toledo Apartments in Toledo says a roach infestation followed them to a second unit after they moved out of the first. They reached out to 13 Action News after pest control failed to clear the problem and management moved them to another apartment, where the roaches returned.
John Rooney and Natasha Norausky moved into the complex in July after coming from Indiana for Rooney’s Ph.D. program at Bowling Green State University.
“Later on that week, we woke up to being eaten by them,” Norausky said.
Rooney described the first sighting in the kitchen.
“Put some food into the oven and when I pulled it out of the oven, a roach came out from behind the oven and just ran right up to the pan like it was waiting to get fed,” Rooney said.
The couple said pest control came out once to spray, but the roaches didn’t go away. They cleaned after every meal, tried home remedies and slept with the lights on.
Management offered them another unit. The problem followed them.
“Tay drives by, who’s actually the property manager, and he asked me how things were going and I said, ‘Well, not great. We saw three roaches.’ And he was like, ‘Give me one second,’ and drove off,” Rooney said.
13 Action News called Vivo Toledo twice with no answer, then called RHM Real Estate Group, the company that manages the property, and left a message.
The couple also points to what they believe is mold in the bathroom and gaps in the walls they believe could be letting bugs inside.
They have gone to court to put their rent in escrow and say they’re considering a lawsuit.
“It’s been horrible. Yeah, it’s been very trying for both of us. This has been far worse than dealing with any of my grad school classes,” Rooney said.
