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What is Phrogging?
Phrogging is the unsettling act of secretly living inside someone else’s home, often without the residents ever realizing it. Learn how it happens, how to spot the warning signs, and how to prevent it from happening to you.
Although it resembles the plot of the suspense novel (Parasite certainly did it excellently), it is a real-life phenomenon. Take example, the case of Paul Mohlman, who in 2019 found half-clad intruders who were preparing illegal substances in his underground space. The Cedar City resident, aged 20, was convicted in 2021, pleading guilty to criminal mischief, burglary, and breaking. The defendant admitted to entering many homes and watching pornographic material while sleeping within proximity.
What is Phrogging?
Phrogging (pronounced “frogging”) is the act of someone secretly living in another person’s occupied home without their knowledge or consent. Unlike squatters, phroggers co-exist with the legal residents, hiding in crawlspaces, attics, basements, or guest rooms, often for weeks or even months.
The term “phrogging” comes from leapfrogging, describing how these individuals move from one home to another, often undetected. While it sounds like something out of a horror movie (think Parasite or I See You), phrogging is a real and terrifying phenomenon.
Differences Between Phroggers and Squatters
While both squatting and phrogging involve unlawful occupation, here’s the key difference:
| Phrogging | Squatting |
|---|---|
| Hides in occupied homes | Takes over vacant homes |
| Co-exists silently with residents | Stays in abandoned or empty properties |
| Seeks to remain undetected | May claim rights over time |
| Often criminally motivated | Sometimes attempts at legal tenancy |
Phrogging is more disturbing because it violates not just property, but privacy and personal safety.
Squatters illegally reside in a structure or house that’s not occupied, whereas the phrogging resides in homes with the owner present. The two groups reside on the land of someone else without permission. The owner might not be aware that they’re there. They both violate one another’s rights to ownership but differ in their methods. The motives and strategies of squatters and proggers differ. Squatters attempt to take over vacant homes, while proggers reside in occupied areas without being noticed by the tenants, making the situation more stressful and difficult to handle.
Warning Signs Someone Might Be Living in Your Home
Here are red flags to watch for:
- Food, drinks, or toiletries mysteriously disappearing
- Items being slightly moved or misplaced
- Unexplained noises in walls, vents, or attics
- Doors left unlocked when you remember locking them
- Spike in utility bills
- Strange odors or signs of someone else showering
How to Protect Yourself from Phrogging
If you suspect someone is secretly living in your home:
- Leave immediately and call the police. Do not confront the person.
- Change all locks after every tenant or if you lose a key.
- Install smart security systems (like Nest Cam or Ring).
- Check crawl spaces, attics, basements, and garages regularly.
- Secure windows and lesser-used entry points.
- Conduct periodic inspections of vacant or rental properties.
Pro Tip: A Japanese woman once lived undetected for a year in a man’s closet, she entered through an unlocked door. Don’t underestimate how small the entry point can be.
Chilling Real-Life Phrogging Stories
1. The Crawl Space Intruder (Hopewell, Virginia, 2021)
A driver reported seeing a man crawl out from beneath a house carrying a pillow and a bag. By the time police arrived, the man had vanished, but food wrappers and cigarette butts in the crawl space confirmed someone had been secretly living there.
2. The Dorm Room Phrogger (North Carolina, 2019)
University student Maddie heard strange noises and noticed missing clothing in her apartment near UNC Greensboro. She later found a man living in her closet, who had been watching her from inside the walls.
3. The Children’s Museum Family (Carson City, Nevada, 2022)
On July 20, 2022, police from Carson City, Nevada, observed a child of two years old strolling outside of the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada. When the police uncovered the toddler’s older sister, she told them she lived in the museum. The police investigated it since they were concerned and concluded that the girl was lying.
They discovered a hidden room in the museum where seven families could reside. Wilbert Calhoun, the father of the museum, took care of it. The museum’s boss was his wife. They had lived in the same apartment with their five children, and no one knew about it for months.
4. The Basement Break-In (Utah, 2019)
Paul Mohlman discovered an unknown man preparing drugs in his basement. The intruder had reportedly been entering other homes too, watching adult content, and sleeping dangerously close to unsuspecting residents. He was later sentenced for burglary and breaking and entering.
Historic “Cold Case” Phrogging-Linked Homicides
While extremely rare, some older homicide investigations have been linked to cases resembling phrogging:
- 16 years Old, Lansing, Michigan, Case Cold File Laurie Murninghan, 1970 Homicide.
- 58 Years Old, Irene Waters, 1972 Homicide.
- 25 years Old, Ivory Joe Allen, 1973 Homicide.
- 14 Years Old, Karen Oakley, 1979 Homicide.
- 77 Years Old, Edna Ryckaert, 1980 Homicide.
- 17 Years Old, Bonnie Guillen, 1984 Homicide.
In each case, unexplained home entries and close quarters violence pointed to the disturbing possibility of hidden residency.
Conclusion
Phrogging, though it is a source of material for horror films like Parasite or I See You, is not commonplace in reality. Phishing for programmers can be extremely rare, to the point that they seldom make the news.
There is a greater chance that burglars will break into your home when you’re away for a vacation or come back to find your teenage nephew throwing a party with a keg.
Real property investors are more likely to be confronted by settlers who live in empty homes than by urgent calls from tenants announcing the discovery of a trigger in the cellar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is phrogging real or just a myth?
Yes, phrogging is very real, although rare. Documented cases have occurred across the U.S. and often go undetected for weeks or months.
Q2: How common is phrogging in the U.S.?
While there’s no central database, police departments report only a handful of confirmed cases per year. It remains more of a criminal oddity than a widespread issue.
Q3: Can phroggers gain tenant rights like squatters?
No. Phroggers enter illegally into occupied homes, often while the resident is still there. This disqualifies them from legal tenant protections.
Q4: What should I do if I think someone is secretly in my home?
Leave immediately, call the police, and do not confront the individual. Then install smart security systems and change all locks.
Q5: How do phroggers usually enter homes?
Through unlocked doors, windows, or hidden crawlspaces. Some even slip in during open house events or maintenance calls.
