http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/29/boat.people/index.html

Illegal migrants make selves at home in Florida house
POSTED: 3:44 p.m. EST, December 29, 2006
Adjust font size:
JUPITER ISLAND, Florida (CNN) -- At least 14 men who apparently traveled by open boat across the Caribbean ended their voyage this week at the wealthy enclave of Jupiter Island, just north of posh West Palm Beach, where some broke into a home to cook themselves a meal and get cleaned up, police said.

A first 911 call came at 9:21 p.m. Tuesday, when a resident reported seeing "a dozen Haitian men" walking in the area, said Lt. Janelle Atlas of the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

Next, homeowners called to say they returned home to find "eggs on the stove, the shower having recently been used and a wet grocery bag of clothes," Atlas said. Police believe some of the illegal migrants broke into the house but ran out the back door when the owner returned, she said.

As they searched for the men, police found a boat containing a handgun and a duffel bag of heroin -- and in the water next to the boat was a man's body, Atlas said.

Police identified the man as 58-year-old Jamaican resident Nigel Warren, she said, and the medical examiner's office has ruled the death a drowning.

Twelve suspected illegal migrants were in custody Friday, Atlas said. Police continued to search for a man believed to be the captain of the boat, she said.

CNN's Kimberly Segal in Miami contributed to this report.