Potential witness in case of man who allegedly chained, held woman captive is found dead in barrel

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. (TCD) -- A missing woman who was considered a potential witness in the case against a man who allegedly held a woman captive and raped her multiple times was found dead in a barrel last week.

Timothy Haslett was arrested in October after a woman called police to report she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted in a basement, where he allegedly handcuffed her hands and feet and made her wear a shock collar. The victim, who was referred to as TJ in the indictment, managed to escape the basement and go to a neighbor’s house, where someone called for help.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said Haslett was indicted in February on nine charges, including one count of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree kidnapping, four counts of first-degree sodomy, and two counts of second-degree assault. Prosecutors also charged him with child endangerment because he left unsecured firearms in the open that were accessible to an 8-year-old child.

Om Jan. 11, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said they could not locate the potential witness, Jaynie Crosdale, and they wanted to find her because she had "information about the investigation."

According to KHSB-TV, Crosdale and Haslett knew each other and previously had sex.

On June 24, two kayakers on the Missouri River contacted Missouri State Highway Patrol after they located a large barrel with human remains inside.

The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the remains were positively identified July 30 as Crosdale’s. Her cause and manner of death were not released.

WDAF-TV reports the remains were in an "advanced" state of decomposition.

Haslett is being held in the Johnson County Jail on $3 million bond.

MORE:

• Press Release - Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
• Police reviewing whether evidence from Haslett home matches remains of missing woman - KSHB
• Judge maintains $3M bond in Timothy Haslett case; investigation continues over witness - KSHB
• Investigation continues in Excelsior Springs kidnapping case - Clay County Sheriff's Office
• Potential witness in Missouri kidnapping case found dead in barrel - WDAF
• Mo. man accused of kidnapping and raping woman found wearing dog collar with padlock around her neck, 10/11/2022 - TCD