A man insisted Wednesday that a cache of items found at a Missouri City residence was not stolen, but he still had a lot of explaining to do to Clay County authorities.
The man, whose name was not released, spent about two hours at the residence in the 200 block of Broadway, walking and pointing to items and telling authorities where and how he got them.
The man’s attorney, Larry S. Buccero, would not identify his client but said he did not own the residence but stored the items there for himself and others. Buccero declined to comment further.
The items drew the attention Tuesday of authorities, who believed they uncovered “a Home Depot of stolen property.”
Clay County deputies found vehicles, farm equipment, building materials, chain saws and seven railroad containers, one that was filled with numerous household appliances. They also found clothes, power drills, books, computer and electronic equipment, refrigerators and commercial ovens still in protective wrapping.
Wednesday evening, authorities charged Jayne C. Kasten, who lived at the residence with an 8-year-old child, with one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Kasten and a man had been taken into custody for questioning, said Capt. Shauna Craven, with the sheriff’s department.
Authorities said Kasten, 26, lived in deplorable conditions.
Investigators are expected to return today to continue to search and catalog hundreds of what are believed to be stolen new and used items.
At least six vehicles were towed from the property Tuesday. Authorities said they confirmed with the Missouri Department of Revenue that those vehicles were stolen.
Craven said it appeared items stored in the railroad cars followed a pattern. Older items, crates containing clothes, books and Christmas ornaments were stacked in front of newer, more expensive items such as computer and audio equipment.
They planned to check with neighboring law enforcement agencies to see if the items were reported stolen.
Craven said the discovery was made Tuesday afternoon when deputies checked on a report of someone firing shots at a dog, which apparently had injured a goat kept at the residence.
Authorities estimated there was several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of stolen property. Deputies went into the house but fled when they learned that a 3½-foot python was inside.
According to county records, the two-bedroom, 884-square-foot, one-story house was built in 1945.
Fallen tree limbs, a playground slide, gas cans and other debris litter the front lawn. A large blue tarp covers the dilapidated, sagging roof. A front-end loader, hot tubs and tow truck are scattered throughout the property.
Robin Marrant, who lives nearby, said that several months ago, large tractor-trailers rumbled along the narrow road and deposited the large railroad containers.
The people who lived at the house told Marrant the items were from previous jobs and they were storing items for a thrift store.
“There was no way that much stuff was for a thrift store,” she said. “I am glad they (authorities) are now down there doing something.”
To reach Glenn E. Rice, call 816-234-4341 or send e-mail to grice@kcstar.com.
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