Don't like his odds in the end, but he should pay the property taxes and that would increase his chances significantly
reminds me of this story, from a few months back
"BofA to give away houses"
"Unfortunately," BofA said in a statement, "many homeowners faced with unemployment, underemployment and other economic hardships have transitioned to alternative housing situations, and in many cases, have walked away from their homes, leaving behind vacant and deteriorating properties that can cause neighborhood blight."
BTW, if anyone is in an Adverse Possession situation, (classic one that people don't think about is when kids cut through your yard on the way to school) it is VERY easily thwarted. People think you have to physically remove people, or have an ugly confrontation, when in fact, all you have to do is GIVE them written permission. You are thereby "claiming" the property, and that is all you have to do...(btw you can state that this permission can be revoked at any time)