Tell her to keep paying the utilities.
Send a pay or quit notice immediately to the tenant, and have the eviction papers filled out and ready to deliver after the 9 days are up. 30 days to go to court, 3 days for the Sheriff to put the tenant on the curb.
Simple.
NO PHONE CALLS. NO TALKING TO THE TENANT. EVERYTHING IN WRITING, BUT NO VOICE CONTACT WHATSOEVER.
If you want, a lawyer will do it all for you. The most important thing, is to accept or return NO calls or messages from the tenant. He-said-she-said squabbles can slow everything down.
Thanks, I will forward your advice to her post haste.
It will be difficult because the renter is a former neighbor and friend.