A child welfare check last week at a U-Haul Moving and Storage facility in Lenexa, Kan., led to the discovery of human remains inside a cooler in a self-storage unit. Police were called to the facility at 9250 Marshall Drive on Oct. 24 to investigate a man who was possibly living in the unit with his toddler and infant, according to the source.
Justin Rey, 35, has been arrested on two counts each of aggravated child endangerment and contributing to a child's misconduct. He’s being held on a $1 million bond in Johnson County, Kan., the source stated. No charges related to the remains have been filed.
Although police have yet to release information on the identity of the deceased person pending an autopsy, family members have told multiple sources the remains belong to Jessica Monteiro Rey, who was married to Justin Rey and the mother to the 2-year-old and 5-day-old baby found in the unit, according to police. The children were without food, diapers or a place to sleep, according to Lenexa Police Officer Danny Chavez.
Court documents show the couple checked into the WoodSpring Suites at 8805 Leeds Road in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 25 while Monteiro Rey was still pregnant. She was last seen alive on Oct. 20. Justin Rey called the hotel’s front desk on Oct. 23 and checked out of their room while disguising his voice as a woman, according to hotel management. Security footage shows Rey walking through the hotel pulling a red cooler covered by a black bag. He was also pushing a baby stroller while the toddler walked beside him, the source reported. He returned to the hotel on Oct. 24, telling staff he’d forgotten something.
During his arrest, Rey told police his wife had committed suicide after giving birth. He also informed them that her remains were inside the cooler.
Monteiro Rey’s sisters, Sarah and Rhonda, said they were contacted by investigators last week. They were told the body was that of their sister and that it wasn’t intact, the source reported.
Rey’s next court hearing is Nov. 2. The children are currently in protective custody.
