Man accused of stealing more than $111,000 from, burning Callaway County residence
FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Branson-area man was charged with several felonies after he allegedly took more than $111,000 from a Callaway County home and burned the residence.
Gerald Roark, 54, of Reed Springs, Missouri, was charged with second-degree arson, first-degree burglary, stealing more than $25,000, illegal gun possession and stealing a gun. He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Court documents say the victim called law enforcement to their residence between Fulton and Williamsburg. The residence was damaged severely by fire and the window of the back door was broken out, the probable cause statement says. One of the bedrooms was “nearly completely destroyed by the fire,” court documents say. The Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire to be arson.
A safe in the residence was also taken off a wall mount and guns were removed from a gun safe, the statement says. The victim allegedly told law enforcement that Roark knew where the safe was located and also knew that there was more than $108,000 in the residence, the statement says. Roark was allegedly in the process of moving to the Branson area and wasn’t employed, court documents say.
Flock cameras allegedly showed Roark travel from Branson to Callaway County that day at 1:30 p.m. and showed he left Callaway County at 3:10 p.m., court documents say. Deputies had the victim call Roark on Thursday without mentioning any stolen items and Roark allegedly asked about stolen items, unprompted, the statement says.
On Friday, law enforcement tried to speak with Roark at his residence in Reed Springs, but a roommate – who was described as a witness -- allegedly spoke with them, claiming Roark told them he was going to his “camper” in Callaway County, but came back because a heater did not work, the statement says.
Law enforcement allegedly found $2,000 in cash and credit union information. Court documents claimed that the victim and law enforcement were worried that Roark was going to invest and bank the stolen money. The witness allegedly had sent a text message telling Roark to hide in their vehicle, the statement says.
Roark was later found driving the vehicle in Callaway County, court documents say. He allegedly told deputies he had a backpack filled with money, which totaled $111,349.30, the statement says. He allegedly admitted to setting the fire and taking the money, court documents say.
The probable cause statement says that he used a crowbar to enter the residence because the victim knew he had a key. He then set the place on fire “to further make it look like a random burglary,” the statement says.
He allegedly told deputies, “I don’t need a lawyer; I’m guilty” and “It wasn’t an accident; I did it on purpose,” the statement says.
