Than Merrill, star of A&E’s show “Flip This House,” has turned New Orleans on its head, leaving behind a wake of destruction after his free seminars concluded this past weekend.
According to authorities, more than 3,000 homes in the New Orleans area have been declared “total losses” after being inverted and crushed under their own weight. One local who lost his home during the devastation said he had never experienced anything like it.
“I was in my living room watching Southern Charm New Orleans, you don’t have to print that, when all of a sudden my entire home started shaking and before I knew it everything was upside down,” said Mid-City resident Ray Reeves.
The warning signs ahead of the destruction were there but no one listened.
Over the last month, Than Merrill overtly broadcasted his intentions with over 350,000 messages going out on radio, television, and print ads. In the warnings, Merrill attempted to recruit new members to join his gang, promising they’d make a lot of money if they followed him.
Records show Than Merrill hosted five rallies around the city to build his gang’s numbers. At each rally, he taught a simple two-step system for flipping homes right here in the Greater New Orleans area that includes first flipping the house, then flipping a finger to whoever is around as you run off giggling.
Authorities say the Hulk of Houses fled New Orleans before he could be apprehended and has moved on to other perfect markets for further recruiting.