Yes - and the story is that she purchased the home for her grand niece's use
Nobody has claimed that she kept the home empty for the first year (which absolutely could be a valid defense).
It would, frankly, be remarkable if you were the only person who could see the truth here and the various experts quoted in the article are all overlooking the truth you have divined.
Maybe someone edited the reporting since you read it? I see no experts quoted.
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