Liberty, Mo. — The key witness in the criminal case against Timothy Haslett Jr. provided testimony in a closed court hearing on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Clay County.
The testimony came from the woman who says she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and held captive for a month in Haslett’s basement “dungeon” before she managed to escape in October 2022. After escaping, the woman sought help from neighbors and reported the abuse, leading to Haslett’s arrest and subsequent charges.
Court officials closed the hearing to the public due to the sensitive nature of the testimony and concerns for the witness’s safety and well-being. Clay County Prosecutor’s Office CIO Cher Congour confirmed that the witness testimony will be sealed and will not be made available until the trial.
A continuation of the closed-court hearing to gather testimony is scheduled for March 19, 2025.
Haslett, who was initially charged with kidnapping, rape, child endangerment, and assault, also faces an additional first-degree murder charge. The charge was filed in July 2024 after authorities linked him to the remains of Jaynie Crosdale, whose body was discovered in a barrel in the Missouri River by kayakers.
Legal proceedings are set to continue throughout 2025, with the following key dates scheduled at the Clay County Courthouse in Liberty:
- March 19, 2025 – Closed court hearing
- October 24, 2025 – Pre-trial conference
- December 1, 2025 – Jury trial begins
- December 8, 2025 – Jury trial continues (if needed).
Judge David Paul Chamberlain will preside over the trial, which is expected to last two weeks.
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