RHOP's Mia Thornton Arrested for Furniture Theft Following Eviction Lawsuits
Former cast member of The Real Housewives of Potomac, Mia Thornton, faced an eviction lawsuit several months prior to her recent arrest on suspicion of pilfering furnishings from a lavish apartment she rented, as Us Weekly has exclusively confirmed.
On September 11, Us acquired legal documents detailing a lawsuit initiated by Encore Management against both Thornton and Jared McGriff.
According to the complaint, Thornton, aged 40, and McGriff had leased an Atlanta property—a 2,011 square foot residence with three bedrooms and three bathrooms—but neglected to fulfill their rental payment obligations.
Encore sought the removal of the pair from the premises and insisted on receiving the outstanding September rent of $5,100, in addition to $6,085 for each subsequent month they occupied the unit.
The lawsuit from Encore additionally sought $700 in various charges. (Separately, Us also secured documents for another eviction case initiated in March 2024 against Thornton in North Carolina, where a property owner alleged her failure to pay $3,419 in rent and pursued repossession of the leased dwelling.)
Thornton was apprehended on Wednesday, November 19, at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport when law enforcement officers arrived at the Customs and Border Protection office following a report of an individual sought in connection with an existing warrant concerning accusations of furniture larceny.
The police report indicates that an Encore representative lodged a complaint, stating that Thornton and an individual identified as Jared McGriff had rented a particular unit. The landlord's representative further alleged that the two abruptly vacated the premises overnight on October 28, "without any prior communication."
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The representative claimed that Thornton and McGriff removed all the furnishings that were present in the apartment "before they even moved in, along with the television mounted on the wall."
Law enforcement officers peacefully apprehended Thornton and transferred her to the Fulton County Jail for processing.
The property owner's representative affirmed that the furniture was the client's property and "the renters were explicitly not permitted to remove it."
Authorities stated that after examining the invoices for the furniture and television, the total value exceeded $11,000.
Video captured by body-worn cameras during Thornton's apprehension showed the reality television personality in tears while being cuffed.
Within the recording, Thornton asserted to officers that McGriff possessed a key to a storage unit. She appeared to state, "I merely want him to return that furniture; this has gone far enough." She also mentioned having messaged her "co-tenant" about its return.
"This is absurd," she further commented.
Thornton has not yet secured her release on bail and remains incarcerated.
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Thornton rose to prominence upon joining the cast of RHOP in its sixth season. Earlier this year, she opted to depart from the program following its ninth season.
In April, Thornton announced via Instagram, stating, "Each new season brings a fresh start, and I have an update to share. My family and I have chosen to move to Atlanta, which means I will not be appearing on the upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Potomac."
The television personality further expressed, "The last four seasons have been an extraordinary experience, marked by personal development, valuable insights, and countless wonderful recollections." She continued, "I extend my gratitude to Truly Original, Bravo, NBCUniversal, and Andy Cohen for their faith in me and for providing a platform for me to share my narrative. To my fellow cast members: thank you for the humor, the education, and the memorable instances. And to the incredible fans, your affection and encouragement have been invaluable to me. I will cherish that always."
