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 Noreen Hyslop photo David G. Lashley of Bernie has admitted to setting up residence in this attic space of Dexter's First Baptist Church. Church members discovered evidence in the area on Tuesday, although suspicious activity had been witnessed a few weeks prior to the finding. Most of the debris allegedly left by Lashley was removed by Friday morning, but the heavy drapery material visible in this photo was apparently used as bedding by the man now facing charges of burglary and stealing. |
Thirty-three-year old David Lashley, whose last legal address was at Bernie, was arrested by Dexter Police on Thursday, and had allegedly been residing within the church walls for at least several weeks, and possibly months. Church officials alerted authorities a few weeks ago when items from the church were reported missing and the suspect was seen carrying some equipment from the facility.
"We really don't know yet just how long he was here," according to First Baptist's media director, Don Kennedy, who encountered Lashley in the church a few weeks ago.
Upon entering the church early on a Saturday morning, Kennedy found Lashley inside the facility in the area of the worship center.
"He was holding a fan like the ones we use in the choir loft and an old Graphlex style camera that looked like one of my old cameras that I'd had for 25 years or more and I was sure it was mine, but I thought I'd give the guy the benefit of the doubt," Kennedy said.
Lashley, later identified by Kennedy, explained during this encounter that an aunt had recently died and that he was trying to sell some of the property she had left.
"I returned to my office and sure enough, the camera was missing. I rushed back downstairs and couldn't find him anywhere. I looked outside and couldn't imagine how he could have gotten out of sight that quickly. We now know that he didn't have far to go to get out of sight. We realized later that two doors to the church were unlocked that had been previously secured," Kennedy explained.
Lashley didn't have far to go at all to get out of sight. Just behind the altar of the church and above the baptistery is an area that serves as the church's furnace room. Access to the area, which is actually a portion of the attic of the church building, is gained by scaling a drop-down wooden ladder about 12 feet in length. The ladder had been left in the down position for the past several weeks, according to Kennedy, during and following the church's Christmas activities. Part of the upstairs area houses pageant props that include velvet banners, large stuffed pillows and curtains. All of them apparently made comfortable bedding for Lashley, according to Don Kennedy. Officers later found many of the items in place in the rear of the furnace area, along with dozens of empty beer cans and further evidence that the area served as living quarters for some time.
Lashley had reportedly gone to great lengths to assure his face was familiar to some of the church employees, having paid visits to the ministers of the church on the pretense of obtaining advice or counseling, according to Kevin Chenoweth, Assistant Pastor. It is alleged that during frequent visits, he would acquaint himself with the layout of the church, which is vast.
"It wasn't really unusual to see him in the facility," according to Chenoweth, "but of course we had no idea he wasn't leaving the church when his visit was over."
The area where police found the bedding and other items is seldom accessed, but on Tuesday of this week as Kennedy, along with two other men from the church worked to suspend the church's crucifix that required going upstairs and using a suspension system in place to hold the cross secure, they noticed that the upstairs area was home to more than the church's furnaces.
"We were about to call the police again when they appeared at the church with further information on the individual we had reported on a few weeks before and so at that time we directed the officers up to the attic area and showed them what we had discovered," Kennedy said.
Expedient detective work on the part of Dexter Police resulted in David Lashley being nabbed Thursday evening at a Bernie residence.
According to Kennedy, several items have been missing in recent weeks from the church's classrooms and the office areas including some CD players and electronics. Detective Lt. Trevor Pulley of the Dexter Police Department explained that a few of the items missing from the church have been located at two local pawn shops, but many of the items said to be missing from the church, Pulley said, have not been recovered.
Lashley, who according to Pulley's affidavit regarding the investigation, has admitted to entering the church during regular business hours and remaining inside after the church was locked in the evening.
"David admitted to going to the attic area and waiting until everyone left," Pulley stated. "David also admitted to sleeping in the attic area of the church and stealing items from the church. David advised he stole the fan and the camera from the church," Pulley also confirmed in his affidavit.
It is suspected by church personnel, according to Kennedy, that Lashley gained access to the building at different times of the day by strategically placing small rocks in the doors, allowing them to appear shut, but remaining enough ajar to allow entry. This routine was followed, according to church employees, at several entrances to the building.
First Baptist Church houses the Small Wonders Child Development Center as well as the church offices and Sunday School classrooms, and a full lunch meal and snacks are served daily to the children in attendance. It is suspected that Lashley took advantage of the leftovers on a nightly basis, visiting the kitchen facilities after hours, as evidenced by the presence of plates and eating utensils in the attic area.
Having all the comforts of home, however, without the overhead, came to a sudden halt Thursday evening with Lashley's arrest. He has been charged with first degree burglary and stealing and for now is getting three square meals a day at the Stoddard County Jail, where he is being held on a $5,000 cash only bond.
Let's remember that this individual apparently received help monetarily from the church. The good people of FBC, and there are many, elected to help him out. In return, he took advantage of their kindness by deception and fraud, then lurked around in the church and in their personal belongings, stole items belonging to the church and to employees of the church, took those items to sell so that he could buy beer, which he then toted to the attic to consume on church property!! If this individual had entered your own home uninvited, stolen your property, rumaged through your belongings, sold your personal belongings, I somehow doubt that some would be so willing to forgive.
I think that the charges are just and he is where he needs to be. The laws still apply when the crime is committed within the walls of a church.
I try to live a Christian life,and I appreciate the FBC in it's efforts to help this fellow.
I am sorry I am also a terrible sinner,coming way short,because I liked the story,and I got how if someone had been injured,the church burned down,or a child harmed,this could have been so much worse. I liked the end comments of the writer,so I guess I really am a terrible person,not deserving of the air I breathe-thanks Mrs.Hyslop.
Regardless of how offended members of the FBC are, there is no excuse for this horrible example of journalism. I think the members of the FBC should be more offended by the reporting by Mrs. Hyslop than by the comments made about her story. I think her story has made the church look worse than the few people commenting on the story could even imagine doing. I still feel that this story should be removed from the website at least, but the Daily Statesman has to make money somehow. If they have to report in such a disgusting manner to bring in hits on their website to sell advertising, then that's their cross to carry. Shame on the Daily Statesman, Noreen Hyslop, and anyone else who would defend this "news."
My younger sister attends First Baptist and they are rather offended by some of the comments posted here.
Mr.Lashley ran afoul of the laws of the State of Missouri,not the Baptist Church.
The Church and Jesus forgives,but the State takes a hardline with anyone who pawns stolen property,even if the Church refuses to prosecute,the pawn shops will,but you are all more than welcome to make David's bail and help him make things right.Remember,he stole from individuals too,not just church property.
This has been taken out of the Church's hands,yet they are still trying to help this fellow.
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.'"
-Matthew 25:41-45
Thank you youngest child!
Well said.
To paint the picture that this man was enjoying a free ride off the church seems to me a very incompassionate (and subjective) approach. The phrase I found most disturbing was the statement that he was "having all the comforts of home." I would hardly call living in the walls and stealing food "comfortable." I'm sure he was desperate and just trying to survive. He probably made some bad choices which put him in this situation, but still, would any of the rest of us have done any less to ensure our own survival? I can think of instances in which transients have done far worse than steal from a church. Should he be charged for his criminal actions? Yes. Should we make light of his situation in an article? No.
I think this story is very crass, and should be taken down. However it is still here, and the Statesman still ceases to amaze me. Hey staff, I suggest you reread your news values and reevaluate your journalistic ethics...if you have any.
Aj, I am just saying anyone that has already passed judgement on this man has casted the first stone( to answer your question ,and I apologize if I misinterpreted something said on here .I didnt mean to hurt anyones feelings.Please forgive me .) I am sure not all of the story has been told yet,there is surely more to come out of this.I know the church has tried to help people and will continue to do so,as will every church in Dexter, no matter what the out come happens to be of this event.There are alot of good people in Dexter.The churches are almost always the first to help anyone in need.And there is always going to be those who will take advantage of the help givin to them by people that want to help someone.Its a real shame when people take advantage of others, cause that not only hurts those involved in the present situation but in the future ones to come.Thank you Daily statesman for having this site for people to interact with real issues.
I have to wonder if Jesus is sitting in heaven right now shaking his head!!!!!!!!!!!
What would Jesus do? How about obeying the law of our land? Not only that this man broke the law and will now pay the consequences. But also that the church would obey the law of the land and not endanger the welfare of a child. A man who has reached the point of desperation enough to deceive a church who has reached out to help him... a desperate man who is stealing from the church and pawning off their property to buy beer and who knows what else.. who is under the influence of alcohol living in a church that not only houses a staff with women who work in areas of the church alone but also 60+ innocent children. It is scary, it is wrong, and it is absolutely within the bounds of justice for this man to suffer the consequences of his actions. No matter your opinion of God or the church, I have no doubt that this staff have and would continue to show grace and offer assistance to anyone in need... Unfortunately this man took matters out of their hands when he chose to mislead and deceive them to the point of putting people, and especially children, in danger.
I'm sorry,I missed that-who was casting stones?
I wonder just how many homeless people are there in Dexter? Or for that fact of the matter in our area?If you seen someone that looked homeless or in need would you go out of your way to help that person? I beleive I would.Love thy neighbor as thy self.And for the man that was accused of living in the church without premission and stealing,I feel sorry for him.A person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law in this country.People do things in desperation sometimes,without thinking it thru.We are all guilty of doing some pretty silly things at least once in life.He didnt hurt or murder anyone.I am not saying what he did was right but who am I to judge someone else for their bad choice or maybe the only choice he thought he had at the time,under the circumstances.Maybe this poor man has a mental disablity.Anyway some food for thought for all that has already cast the first stone.What would Jesus do???????????
Classy. Very classy.
Thank you 4christsakeDexter!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe the Bible is pretty clear that we should obey the laws of the land. When someone breaks the law, whether it is in a church or not then they should be punished. Prayer for this man's soul and any health or mental illnesses he might have would be appropriate but beyond that let the law enforcement agencies do their job.
I think if your life is to the point you are stealing from a church,any church,but especially one you have been welcomed into,not too much is beyond the scope of what you "might" do.This story is further scary,with the daycare on premises,church workers in the building alone,or the fact the person could have been injured in a fall.Unsafe all around.
Any church that has been robbed or vandalized has a tough decision when the perp is caught.How can this person best be helped? Are they an alcoholic or drug addict? Do they suffer from some sort of mental illness? Are they just a lazy thief,or a common criminal?What is the best way to show Christian charity to really help a homeless person?What has led a person to such a low point in their life?
Jesus said,"Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's,render unto God that which is God's".Jesus and the Church may forgive,but should the pawnshops?
This is the sort of problem that requires serious prayer and Bible reading,not just a typical human response of either lock 'em up and throw away the key or poor soul,we forgive you now don't do it again, okay?
I don't have the RIGHT answer, but I know that Mr.Lashley is at the lowest point in his life right now.
I don't attend this church,but I hope the pastor and elders can make a wise prayerful decision.
What would Jesus do?