JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Four Missouri state representatives had their shared Jefferson City home broken into Monday night by two men who the representatives said were unknowingly living behind their house.
Representatives Ron Hicks, Shawn Rhoads, Chrissy Sommer and Mark Parkinson all live in the home located across from Central Dairy on East Cedar Way.
Rhoads, who was the first to enter the house after it had been invaded, said he noticed there were doors opened that were usually shut, but there was no apparent evidence of forced entry. He said he then started to notice things were “not right.” Rhoads said his background as an investigator kicked-in.
“The first thing you think about is if they’re still in the house,” Rhoads said, adding that he pulled out his pistol while searching the home.
Rhoads said after he made sure no one was in the house, he said he walked the perimeter of the building.
“I went around back and under the porch you could see someone had built a campfire there,” he said. “Some of the stolen items were there.”
Rhoads said he then noticed additional bags underneath of a trailer that had a canoe on it at a neighbor’s property.
Shortly after finding that there was an intrusion, and seeing the “camp-out” by the back porch, Rhoads said he called the police.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Hicks said. “They stole shirts, ties, some pants and my gun holster, which didn’t have the gun in it. They stole everything out of the refrigerator, too. And most of the items were found in a tote under the porch.”
Hicks said the two young men used extra wood they found as firewood.
According to the Jefferson City Police Department, two suspects, Aubrey Bentley, 18, and Christopher Newby, 22, were both charged with second degree burglary and both are currently in custody in the Cole County Jail.
No additional information was available at the point of contact from the Police Department.
“I would like to see the younger kid get some help,” Hicks added. “I told the police officer I would help the younger kid get some help if he liked that.”
Hicks said there are still three of his suits missing, and that he hopes “they use those suits to get jobs.”
To contact Ashley Jost, email ashley@themissouritmes.com or via Twitter at @ajost.
Ashley Jost is no longer with The Missouri Times. She worked as the executive editor for several months, and a reporter before that.
