In a quiet Aurora, Colorado, townhome, Vontese Wines faced a moment that would upend her sense of security and spark a national conversation about tenant rights and racial dynamics. On March 1, 2025, Wines, a Black woman renting a modest home for herself and her son, found herself in a heated confrontation with her landlord, Lisa Anderson, a White woman also known as Elizaveta Andersen. What began as a disagreement over rent payment escalated into a disturbing scene, captured on video by Wines’ teenage son, that left Wines shaken and forced her to leave the place she called home.
The incident unfolded when Anderson arrived at Wines’ doorstep, unannounced, with an eviction notice in hand and a locksmith in tow, ready to change the locks. Wines, who had been renting the townhome since November 2024, was stunned. Her lease clearly stated rent was due by noon on the first of each month, with a $110 late fee for delayed payments. Yet, Anderson had a pattern of pressuring Wines to pay days early, a demand Wines often met to avoid conflict. On this day, however, it wasn’t even 12:15 p.m., and Anderson was already taking drastic measures, claiming Wines had defaulted on her rent. The sound of drilling at the front door sent a chill through Wines, who later described feeling intimidated and blindsided.
As tensions rose, Anderson entered the home, and the situation spiraled. In a moment that would later go viral, Anderson suddenly collapsed to the floor, clutching her neck and screaming, “She’s choking me! She’s hurting me!” Wines stood at a distance, visibly confused, as her son recorded the scene. Anderson continued, alleging Wines had pushed her and caused her to hit her head, even as the video showed no physical contact. The emotional weight of the encounter overwhelmed Wines, triggering an anxiety attack that left her struggling to process the ordeal. For a mother trying to maintain stability for her family, the incident was a breaking point.
The video, shared by Wines on social media, struck a chord with thousands, igniting outrage and prompting discussions about landlord misconduct and the vulnerabilities tenants face, particularly those from marginalized communities. Wines later learned she wasn’t alone—other former tenants reached out, sharing similar stories of Anderson’s aggressive tactics, from premature rent demands to unfounded accusations. Some even claimed Anderson had a history of disputes, with allegations of financial troubles tied to past foreclosures.
Colorado law offers tenants protections against such actions. Late fees, for instance, cannot be imposed until the seventh day of the month, rendering Anderson’s eviction attempt and lock-changing threat legally questionable. Despite this, Anderson doubled down, reportedly filing a police report on March 10, claiming Wines had assaulted her and even attempting to impersonate Wines at the station. Authorities, aware of the video evidence, contacted Wines to clarify the confusion, but no charges have been filed against Anderson to date.
For Wines, the ordeal was more than a legal issue; it was a profound betrayal of trust. The fear and anxiety it caused prompted her to pack up and move her family to a new home, where she now feels safer but remains haunted by the experience. “It’s not fair,” she said, reflecting on the broader impact. “A lot of people are being hurt by this.” Her story has become a rallying cry for tenant advocacy, highlighting the need for stronger enforcement of housing laws and greater awareness of power imbalances in landlord-tenant relationships.
As the video continues to circulate, it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges renters face in navigating disputes, especially when trust breaks down. For Wines, the path forward involves healing and rebuilding, but her courage in sharing her story has shed light on a systemic issue, urging communities to demand fairness and accountability in housing practices. The incident, while deeply personal, resonates far beyond Aurora, calling for a closer look at how tenants are treated and protected in an often uneven system.