A Northglenn, Colorado family says their dream to bring their aging mother closer has turned into an emotional and financial nightmare, after a construction company they hired walked off the job and later filed for bankruptcy — leaving their project incomplete and their savings in limbo.

Christina and Scott Latimer hoped the construction of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) would provide a safe and accessible space for Christina’s mother, Peggy Eversole, who had just turned 80. But more than a year later, the home intended to unite their family remains unfinished — and legal battles are mounting.

“My mom is getting older. She just turned 80, and we were a little worried about her in her home, just going up the stairs, and just wanted her closer,” Christina said.

Instead, the family is left grappling with half-built walls, mounting debt, and a bitter sense of betrayal.

“It’s frustrating, it’s extremely frustrating,” said Christina.

A Family's Due Diligence Leads to Devastation

The Latimers said they did their homework. They hired Cooner Construction LLC in April 2024 to build a 750-square-foot unit and a two-car garage for Peggy, pooling money from the sale of her previous home.

“We thought we did everything correctly. We went on Angie’s List. We looked at all of the reviews,” said Scott.

The contract was worth more than $320,000 — an amount Christina and Scott agreed to pay in installments. They paid each invoice on time, expecting steady progress.

“We paid the progress through the whole thing, on time, whenever he sent us the bill, so we would pay him,” Christina said.

But that progress abruptly stopped in mid-August. “August 13 of 2024 was when the last person was out here doing anything,” said Christina. Since then, no work has resumed.

The Latimers estimate they’ve already paid $300,000, with only $25,000 left due — but say nearly 40% of the project remains unfinished.

“We have a heating and air conditioning unit set up behind you, so those are not up yet. We still have to paint, we obviously need cabinets and shelving and vanity and shower door and doors,” said Christina. “They need to put the lighting in and fully connect the plumbing and hook up the electrical because there is no electric and running water here.”

To avoid further damage and risk, the family installed temporary pavers and drainage around the structure.

“There’s a lot of tears that come from me,” Christina said. “It’s really hard to go through this. It’s not something I wish on anybody.”

Subcontractors Unpaid, Lawsuits Filed

Their frustration deepened when subcontractors began contacting them for payment — even though the Latimers had already paid Cooner Construction in full.

“It seems to me like almost all the contractors that worked on the place did not get paid,” said Scott.

The Latimers were blindsided in September 2024 when they received their first lien notice. “He had indicated [in] construction sometimes runs into some issues, and just to be patient with us,” said Christina of contractor Joel Cooner. “It was the following week that we were served with our first lien.”

Despite their attempts to resolve the issue directly, the Latimers eventually sued Cooner and his company in January. But in February, they were informed that Cooner had filed for bankruptcy.

Legal Hurdles and a Race Against Time

Attorney Jesse Witt, who is representing the family, says they may have legal recourse under Colorado’s contractor trust laws.

“One remedy that homeowners do have in this situation is, if a contractor takes their deposit, if the contractor doesn’t hold it in trust for their project, that’s defined by statute to be an act of civil theft,” Witt explained.

He recently filed an adversary complaint against Cooner in bankruptcy court in hopes of recovering lost funds — not just for the Latimers, but for unpaid subcontractors as well.

“It’s not right what he’s done,” said Christina.

But time is of the essence, particularly for Peggy, who fears she may not live to see the resolution.

“I will say that I’m not sure I’ll even be alive to be in here if we don’t do it soon,” Peggy said.

Turning to the Community for Help

In a last effort to recover financially and finish the project, the family has launched a crowdfunding campaign. They're also urging others to be vigilant when managing construction contracts and contractor payments.

“[They] should be including proof of payment, so you know he’s paid his subcontractors and suppliers. Keep it in writing, keep track of everything, try not to let it get too far out of hand,” Christina advised.

“Be in more control of your money,” added Peggy.

As the legal process continues, the Latimers say they remain determined to see the project through — not just for themselves, but for the sake of the person they started it all for.

Originally reported by CBS News.