Marco Island families left with mounting debt after dream home builds turn into “nightmares”

MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (WINK) — For many, Marco Island is the ultimate destination for "bliss"—a paradise of pristine shorelines and tranquil waves. But for several families, the dream of calling this island home has transformed into a financial and legal nightmare involving a local custom builder.

A month-long WINK Investigates inquiry into Marco Custom Builders and its owner, Michael Roller, has uncovered a trail of unfinished construction, millions of dollars in alleged damages, and a recent bankruptcy filing that has left homeowners wondering if they will ever see their money again.

'It Was Supposed to Be Bliss'

Paul and Kathy Marx were planning a permanent move to the island from Michigan, expecting to start their final chapter. They hired Marco Custom Builders for a renovation they were told would take six to eight months.

Nearly two years later, they only have a shell of a home.

"We’ve been lied to. We’ve been stolen from," Paul Marx said. "We’ve had liens placed on our homes because we’ve paid the contractor all this money, and he never paid the subcontractors."

The Marx’s say they paid Roller’s company $425,000. Now, they estimate they are out at least $300,000 for work that was never finished. Their home has remained open to the elements so long that an owl has taken up residence in the rafters.

"He likes the open-air plan," Paul joked bitterly, gesturing toward the unfinished ceiling.

A Million-Dollar Disaster

The Marx family isn't alone. Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander spoke with another homeowner who asked to remain anonymous. Her family paid Roller’s company more than $1 million to build a larger home on the island.

What was supposed to be a two-year build, she said, has now stretched into its third year. Much of the progress currently visible on the site is only there because she hired a new contractor to fix what was left behind.

"The stucco hadn’t been done, the paint hadn’t been done, it was just concrete," she said. "It brings tears to me because I wanted to love this house. Now I just want it done."

In September, she filed a lawsuit against the company, but that legal battle has hit a major roadblock.

The Paper Trail: Lawsuits and Bankruptcy

WINK Investigates dug into court records and found that the legal trouble for Marco Custom Builders extends beyond disgruntled homeowners:

• Subcontractor Claims: A judge recently ordered the builders to pay more than $24,000 to Ferguson Enterprises. When the debt went unpaid, the court was asked to garnish the company’s bank accounts.

• Chapter 7 Filing: In January, Marco Custom Builders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The filing lists between 1 and 49 creditors with liabilities up to $1 million but reports only $50,000 in assets.

Because of the bankruptcy, pending civil lawsuits from homeowners have been paused, leaving families with little faith that they will recover their losses through the courts.

Active Criminal Investigation

WINK Investigates has made repeated attempts to reach Roller for comment but has received no response.

Both homeowners we spoke with reported him to the Marco Island Police. The Marco Island Police Department confirmed to WINK Investigates that an active investigation is underway into the company’s business practices. Local detectives are currently coordinating with the State Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.

"The detective on the case basically said... he doesn’t have the capacity to look at financial records, so he’s requested help from other agencies," the anonymous homeowner told WINK.

For now, the families are left to wait. 

"I just want to know where my money is," the woman said. "It’s just been a nightmare."

WINK Investigates will continue to track the State Attorney's involvement and the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. Check back for updates on this developing story.