CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI: The body of a woman found in the Missouri River in June has been identified as a potential witness in Timothy Haslett Jr’s case of keeping a 22-year-old woman captive in his basement. The remains have been identified to be of Jaynie Crosdale.
Haslett was arrested in October after the captive woman escaped from the basement and lodged a complaint with the police with the help of the neighbors. The woman was wearing a metal dog collar and approached the neighbors for help, saying that she was kept in captivity and was assaulted.
Who was Jaynie Crosdale?
The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office identified Jaynie Crosdale as a potential witness in Timothy Haslett Jr's case of keeping a woman captive in the basement. On Monday, August 7, during a hearing seeking a bond increase for Timothy Haslett Jr, the prosecutors said that Crosdale "was inside" Haslett's home in Excelsior Springs before he was arrested in October 2022, per NBC.
The prosecutor’s office did not provide more details on the matter. They, however, said that they presented the evidence to the court. In January 2023, the Excelsior Springs police identified Crosdale as a potential witness in Haslett's case. They believed that she had "information about the investigation."
However, since she was missing, police initiated a search and sought public help to find her out. Her body was later found in a blue barrel in the Missouri River, per KMBC.
Crosdale’s remains were discovered in June 2023 along the Hills Island Chute of the Missouri River in Saline County, per the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Similar barrels were found in Haslett’s house.
Excelsior Springs police Chief Gregory Dull confirmed to KMBC that a kayaker found the barrel. Talking about the blue barrels found in Haslett’s house, Dull said, “They’re very similar.” Dull further theorized that the police do not believe that Crosdale and the unknown woman who escaped knew each other or saw each other last year.
While investigators are trying to solve the puzzle of Haslett and Crosdale’s timeline of contact, they said that they had contact prior to the incident that led to Haslett’s arrest.
After her body was identified, the police also recognized Crosdale to be a witness in the case who would have given them more information. Dull said, “We didn’t have anything that we could say she was a victim, but we knew they had contact.”
After identifying the remains as Crosdale’s the Clay County Prosecutor's Office filed a motion to increase Haslett's bond to $3 million on the existing case. They said, "On or about July 30, 2023, the Clay County Prosecutor’s office was provided details of an ongoing investigation which impact the present case, and cause greater concern for the safety of the community than had previously been addressed.”
They further added, “Defendant’s current bond is insufficient to [ensure] the safety of the community and the victim and accordingly, his current bond should be increased.” The court, however, ruled against the appeal.
What did Timothy Haslett Jr do?
In February 2023, Haslett received an indictment for one count of first-degree rape, four counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of endangering a child. He faces five life sentences if he is convicted, per NBC.