From all appearances, they abandoned the property. I really don’t have a lot of sympathy for them. The occupiers are probably lying about giving somebody $5K, but that’s a smart lie because it kicks it out of criminal court.
Because they left the home for 8 months? I have several friends who only one of their homes a month or two a year.
They didn’t abandon it and the squatters have stolen the home with no legal or lawful right to possession .