A 66-year-old woman accused of squatting in a $13 million Upper East Side townhouse faces eviction proceedings after refusing to vacate the property following the death of its owner. Hilarie Page, who served as a live-in housekeeper for entrepreneur Craig Schmeizer, remains inside the four-story home at 111 East 81st Street. She is scheduled to appear in civil court later this month.
Deadly Incident and Family Demands
Schmeizer, 52, was found dead in the townhouse in November 2025 from a subdural hemorrhage due to blunt force trauma to the head, with chronic alcohol use listed as a contributing factor. The manner of death remains undetermined. Weeks earlier, in September 2025, Page faced arrest on assault and harassment charges after an incident that left Schmeizer injured, with blood visible near his ear. Authorities dropped the charges, and police confirm the death investigation is closed with no evidence of criminality.
Schmeizer’s family, including his estranged wife Sarah Shalev and their two children, urges officials to reopen the probe. Page had moved into the property in late 2024 while Schmeizer lived there alone.
History of Evictions and Legal Woes
Court records reveal Page’s extensive history of evictions, unpaid debts, and tax issues dating back over 40 years, including at least nine judgments and liens since the 1980s.
Recent New York Disputes
In November, estate representatives arrived after Schmeizer’s death but found the locks changed. A locksmith restored access, only for Page to allegedly block re-entry while screaming. A holdover eviction notice now demands her court appearance, warning of a default judgment if she fails to comply.
In 2019, friend Terry Niefield took Page to housing court after she overstayed a temporary stay in his Chelsea apartment for two years, sleeping on his couch. Niefield described her as a ‘parasite’ with a ‘nasty streak,’ accusing her of emotional manipulation and once throwing boiling coffee at him.
Earlier, in 2017, authorities evicted her from a Murray Hill townhouse apartment over $11,000 in unpaid rent. Page delayed proceedings by citing the flu and wrote, ‘I have no funds to use to find another place to call home… being evicted… is my worst nightmare.’
Financial and Retail Debts
In 2007, the IRS pursued Page for over $11,000 in unpaid taxes while she resided in a pre-war rental on East 64th Street near Central Park. She also faced lawsuits from luxury retailers: Barneys New York sought nearly $13,000 for unpaid clothing and accessories in 1996-1997, and the Upper East Side bistro Sel & Poivre sued over a $5,000 unpaid bill.
Troubles Beyond New York
Public records tie Page to Los Angeles addresses from the late 1990s, including a Wilshire Boulevard home hit with a $3,500 state tax lien and a 2002 Santa Monica lease violation. Back in New York, she owed $2,100 in fees at an Upper West Side women’s shelter, leading to a 2006 eviction warrant. Neighbors on the Upper East Side recall her frequent street outbursts, screaming and cursing at passersby. She also resided in affluent Miami Beach areas from 1983-1985 and a Newbury Street apartment in Boston.
