Retired Sheriff Family Polk County Insurance Fraud Victim

Status: FAMILY OWNED (2025 Revival)

A retired sheriff and her family received aid from the 2025 Extreme Makeover revival after suffering the death of her beloved husband and being victimized by an insurance scam. As someone who tracks these families, her story represents the kind of recipient the show has always done best with.

Double Tragedy

The family in Polk County, Florida endured the loss of the family patriarch followed by discovering they had been victims of an “unimaginable insurance con” that left them financially devastated. Probably should have led with this: this woman gave decades of service to her community before needing help herself.

Community Response

The show’s return to Polk County brought together local volunteers to help a family that had spent decades serving and protecting their community. The retired sheriff’s years of service made her a natural choice for the revival. That’s what makes her story particularly meaningful and endearing to us viewers.

The Build

Hosts Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin led the transformation with a focus on honoring the family’s legacy of service while creating a home they could realistically maintain.

Last verified: January 2026

Mike Reynolds

Mike Reynolds

Author & Expert

Mike Reynolds has been covering reality TV since 2008, starting as a forum moderator for Kitchen Nightmares fan communities. He spent six years working in the restaurant industry before pivoting to entertainment journalism. When he is not tracking down closure updates, he is probably rewatching old Bar Rescue episodes for the third time.

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