Vietnam Veteran Accused Of Hoarding Is Actually Mentally Ill

Raymond Gaon stands accused by some locals of being America's worst neighbor due to the massive piles of garbage that choke his Spanish bungalow in Los Angeles. For years, residents complained about rats scurrying through their yards and a stench so bad it became unbearable for everyone living nearby. Yet court files and accounts from friends tell another story entirely. They argue he is not a villain but a man who desperately needs assistance.

Friends describe the 72-year-old Vietnam war veteran as someone whose mind has deteriorated during the pandemic lockdowns. His modest home sits uncomfortably between brand new multimillion-dollar houses and perfect lawns in the upscale Fairfax District. When reporters arrived on North Martel Avenue, Gaon was already sorting through bags of bottles and cans while neighbors walked by, staring and pointing fingers.

Tonya Lee Jaynes, a close friend who helped load recycling into a U-Haul truck, told the Daily Mail that he is having a hard time right now. She claims he collects recyclables just to make money and cannot cope with his situation alone. Court documents filed by his lawyers back this up, stating he has been diagnosed with hoarding disorder and poor insight. They say gathering items soothes his anxiety while throwing things away causes him deep distress.

Gaon told a psychiatrist hired by his defense attorney that he only began collecting bottles when the COVID pandemic started in 2020. That doctor noted the veteran posed no threat to the community and could benefit from a mental health program. However, city officials have tried intervening for over a decade. They issued more than a dozen citations ordering him to clean up his property before trash would pile up again within weeks.

Karla, a neighbor who lives behind Gaon's house, said repeated cleanups felt like just a Band-Aid on a wound that never healed. She told the Daily Mail she does not understand why the city does not help because this is more than a trash issue. It is a mental health crisis. On Monday, reporters watched as a frustrated Gaon backed his U-Haul onto the property with Jaynes helping to load bags packed full of bottles and cans.

Neighbors walking by with their dogs stared and pointed at the home as Gaon slowly looked through each bag, contemplating what to toss and what to keep. He refused to comment when approached directly. After loading the truck for hours, the pair drove to a nearby recycling center where they were assisted by workers. While a pile of bags in the front yard were discarded, aerial footage taken by the Daily Mail showed there were still mounds of trash bags, a broken-down car, clothes, metal parts and other junk in the back and side of the property that could take days to clear. Neighbors said they don't believe Gaon is dangerous, but they are worried something else worse than vermin could damage their historic enclave. Many of these homes are 100 years old and fires are always a concern, Karla stated. It only takes one spark in that house to go up in flames, she added, and all these wooden houses are connected. That would be devastating. Gaon has owned the two-bedroom Spanish bungalow home since he purchased it for $144,000 in 1996, according to city property records obtained by the Daily Mail. The property is now valued at $1.3 million, according to Zillow. Neighbors said the elderly Vietnam veteran can be seen walking down Melrose Avenue and West Hollywood with a small cart that he fills with recyclables and other items he collects on his walks. In 2024, local news helicopters filmed the property from above after a string of complaints, dubbing it LA's trash house. The LA City Attorney's Office then filed a misdemeanor criminal complaint against Gaon for failure to clean his property and comply with various city building and safety codes. LA County Public Health also ordered the city to clean up Gaon's property at his expense. Exclusive pictures captured by the Daily Mail show mountains of trash remaining on Gaon's property despite Monday's cleanup efforts. Items were being taken away earlier this week but it didn't make too much of a difference. Raymond Gaon has kept both of this RV and a van outside his house with notes about insurance and registration visible nearby. The city declared a health emergency on the property, and the city's Sanitation Department conducted a massive cleanup in April 2024 that cost $58,549, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail. About seven tons of trash was collected from the property in 2024, along with 1,000 pounds of household hazardous waste. Gaon pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor complaint, but his criminal case was later moved to diversion court, according to court documents. Under the 12-month misdemeanor judicial diversion program, Gaon is allowed to complete a court-ordered rehabilitation instead of facing a criminal trial. As part of the program, Gaon had to complete mental health evaluation and treatment. He also was prohibited from storing trash at his property. In August 2025, Gaon's attorney filed a motion and asked the court to consider a mental health diversion for the senior, citing that Gaon is not a danger to the public and that he has been diagnosed with hoarding disorder with poor insight. Mr Gaon's hoarding behaviors have been further reinforced by his emotional investment in defending the value of the items, wrote his attorney Rana Parsanj in the motion. Regardless of their actual value, Mr Gaon experiences persistent distress when faced with the notion of discarding them. Mr Gaon demonstrated a limited understanding of the severity of the problem and associated health and safety risk. He reported that collecting these items helps manage his anxiety and increases happiness.

Neighbors watched as an elderly Vietnam veteran walked along Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, pushing a small cart filled with recyclables and other items he had gathered. This behavior pointed to symptoms of hoarding disorder rather than simple refusal to follow rules. Raymond Gaon bought his home in this wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood back in 1996.

Before a court hearing on October 16th, 2026, photos showed Gaon with a friend moving trash from his house into a U-Haul truck. A psychiatrist hired by the defense filed a report stating that the senior acknowledged having some conflicts with neighbors and felt uncomfortable about being stigmatized by the community. Dr. Britney Ranker wrote that he expressed embarrassment over his house appearing on news reports and being called the 'trash house.' Despite this discomfort, Gaon did not show concern or distress about the sheer volume of items piled up inside and around his home. Instead, he focused mostly on how the community reacted to him.

The report noted another issue as well. Gaon claimed he had never been diagnosed with mental illness. However, one collateral record made a brief reference suggesting he is autistic. There were no additional records provided to substantiate or clarify this reference, and as such, the presence of this disorder remains unconfirmed at this time. Dr. Ranker also said she believes Gaon will respond to treatment, including psychotherapy and psychoeducation.

Prosecutors took a different view. They opposed sending Gaon's case for diversion and argued in court documents that the senior would continue to violate the law. Their claims went beyond his main property. Prosecutors identified a broken-down RV packed with more trash inside and at least two other vehicles parked a block away that also belong to the senior. In an August 2025 motion, they stated: 'Absent being held accountable to the underlying violations of this case, Mr Gaon will likely never adequately recognize the danger and wrongfulness of his conduct.' They warned that this would likely lead to a recurrence of hoarding and a renewed public health risk to the community.

Despite these warnings about potential risks, a judge initially allowed Gaon to participate in the diversion program.

On June 8, a judge cast serious doubt on the mental competence of George Gaon despite his lawyer's strong objections. This decision came during a progress report hearing for Gaon's criminal case. Court records show that the presiding judge immediately suspended the prosecution and ordered a new court-appointed psychiatrist to examine the 72-year-old veteran.

While this legal pause occurred, city crews were still working on the site. Roughly seven tons of trash were collected from Gaon's property in 2024. They also removed 1,000 pounds of household hazardous waste. A report from a doctor hired by Gaon's attorney revealed that the senior admitted to having conflicts with neighbors and feeling uncomfortable about being stigmatized.

Gaon is not standing still while his criminal case waits for further evaluation. In May 2025, he filed a massive civil lawsuit seeking $3.6 million in damages. His targets included the City of Los Angeles, the LAPD, Mayor Karen Bass, Councilwoman Kathy Yaroslavsky, and LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. He alleged unlawful detention, battery, slander, and emotional distress.

The complaint states that police officers confined him for three hours inside a police vehicle. This happened while city workers went through his home and took items without permission. Gaon wrote in the filing that he had organized over seven tons of recyclable materials there. He collected these goods as part of his regular way to earn a living.

According to the lawsuit, defendants destroyed and removed personal belongings beyond just trash. The list included yard furniture, a guitar, and a collection of high-quality Craftsman tools gathered over many years. City officials responded quickly by denying every single one of Gaon's claims. The civil case remains ongoing as both sides prepare for further hearings.