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Pain, frustration on anniversary of Jake's death 

By RONNIE WACHTER 

The Examiner — Daily Newspaper of Eastern Jackson County Missouri 

One year to nowhere.

It's the first anniversary of the death of Jake Robel, and most of those involved in the tragedy said that little, if anything, has been gained from what they called one of Eastern Jackson County's saddest losses.

Six-year-old Jake was dragged to death by a carjacker who had stolen the Chevrolet Blazer belonging to his mother, Christy Robel. Kim Davis of Kansas City is to stand trial for murder in June.

It seems that the lesson of Jake's death has gone unlearned, area police say, as children are still being left in running cars. Legislation designed to prevent another such tragedy is motivated by excellent intentions, they said, but will have little effect.

One person who helped capture the suspected carjacker damaged his car in the effort, and authorities said he received little help from his insurance company in paying for repairs. And at the case's focal point, the man who was erroneously granted freedom from a county jail now faces charges that could cause the rest of his life to be spent behind prison walls.

Independence Police Chief Gary George said no cars with children inside have been stolen here in the past year, but such incidents have happened in other cities. Kansas City police spokesman Rick McLaughlin said his department has had to investigate a number of such thefts in the last year.

"It becomes frustrating as a police officer," McLaughlin said, "that there are some parents that still don't understand the dangers of ever leaving your car running with the child in it."

Jackson County Prosecutor Bob Beaird has declined to press child-endangerment charges against parents in about five such cases since Jake's death. Kansas City police have arrested a suspect in the most recent theft, which happened Feb. 14 in the 3000 block of Chestnut Avenue when a woman left her 2-year-old son in the car with its engine running.

Raytown and Lee's Summit, though, have passed ordinances in the last two months making such action a punishable crime.

Legislation stemming from the tragedy looms in the Missouri General Assembly and in Congress, but what effect it will have if passed is questioned by several police authorities.

George said he knows lawmakers mean well, but the bill in the Missouri legislature known as Jake's Law would not have the impact the public hopes it will. He said the bill, requiring that jailers check for arrest warrants in other jurisdictions before releasing a prisoner, could be redundant in most law-enforcement agencies.

"Everybody has the rule in the book already," George said. "It's kind of a wasted effort."

Davis was released from Carroll County Jail hours before the theft, despite having outstanding warrants for his arrest. The jail regularly checks for warrants before releasing an inmate, but a staff member's oversight allowed him to go free.

Saying he hoped no one else would have to go through the suffering that Christy and Gregory Robel have, George advocated increased awareness of the danger of leaving children in a running car. Greg Robel could not be reached for comment. Christy Robel did not return a call.

Lawmakers said that while most police departments want to check a person's records before release from jail, a lack of technology, training with that technology, funding for it or manpower to operate it can prevent that.

U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy, D-5th, whose district includes Independence, introduced a bill similar to Jake's Law Jan. 31. The bill is currently waiting a vote in the House Judiciary Committee, said Phil Scaglia, McCarthy's chief of staff. He said background information showed most prisons and jails already complied with the proposal.

"Our research has indicated that most law enforcement agencies have some kind of policy in place," Scaglia said.

Davis was arrested after two passing motorists used their cars to force the Blazer he was driving to a halt on Noland Road. Both of their vehicles were damaged in the effort, Independence police said, but since their contact with the Blazer was intentional, the drivers' insurance companies were not obligated to pay for them.

Fred Byam, who drove the car that stopped in front of the Blazer and helped pull Davis to the ground, said his insurance agent volunteered to pay for his damages. Independence police said the second driver, Ron Wells, did not receive the same gratitude for his actions.

Independence Sgt. Terry Storey could not confirm who insured Wells one year ago, but said that he had difficulty collecting from that company. Wells moved to Arkansas last year and could not be reached for comment. Byam said he also knew of Wells' initial struggles, but did not know what became of him.

What will become of Davis is to be determined in Jackson County Circuit Court this summer. When authorities considered what was lost and what was gained in return, though, they said it was hard to imagine any way justice could be served.

To reach Ronnie Wachter, e-mail rwachter@examiner.net or call 350-6323.

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