With police apparently thwarted, at least temporarily, in their attempt to obtain solid evidence in the Thomas Pickert murder case, authorities reportedly are attempting to build another type of criminal case against the man who had the most obvious motive to kill Pickert.
A lawyer with extensive experience as a former assistant Jackson County prosecutor and also as a criminal defense attorney told me today that authorities, very likely federal, are working to bring white-collar-crime charges against 79-year-old David Jungerman.
“Evidently, he (Jungerman) has serious issues with the IRS on the financial front,” my source said.
Authorities are working feverishly, the lawyer said, to bring charges as quickly as possible, under a theory that if they can obtain a white-collar conviction against Jungerman and get a prison sentence of several years, he would likely die in custody.
From what I have read in legal filings, the pursuit of tax-related charges does not surprise me.
Jungerman is a very wealthy man, and it appears he has been moving assets around, perhaps in an attempt to shield them from one big damage judgment already entered against him and perhaps from two other pending damage cases.
In the case where judgment has been entered, a jury awarded a homeless man $5.75 million after Jungerman shot him on on a loading dock outside a baby-furniture-manufacturing building Jungerman owns in northeast Kansas City…Pickert, the dead lawyer, represented the homeless man, thus the obvious motive.
An article about that civil case on the “Missouri Lawyers Weekly” website said this:
“Pickert also introduced evidence of Jungerman’s wealth. Jungerman is a farmer and owner of a company that makes baby furniture. The exhibits pointed to the possibility that Jungerman had assets of over $50 million while he was trustee of a family trust, and showed he transferred his trustee role to a child and transferred other assets after the suit was filed. He disputed the $50 million figure, saying he is worth about $8 million.”
One of two other civil damage cases pending against Jungerman as a result of shootings on his northeast Kansas City property alludes to alleged irregularities pertaining to the trust.
Moreover, in the course of writing about Jungerman, I came across a 2010 blog post that said he owned “6,800 acres of river bottom land in western Missouri,” in and around Bates County, about an hour south of Kansas City. Whether he still owns that land, I don’t know.
The building he owns at 123 S. Belmont Blvd. takes up most of an entire block. It houses a company called Baby Tenda Corp., which Jungerman has operated for many years. The main product the company manufactures is baby high chairs. The company has no retail outlets but instead sells through distributors.
Jungerman also owns a home and several acres in Raytown.
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One of the evidentiary problems in the Pickert case, my source said, is that police may not have been able to recover either the bullet that killed Pickert or sufficient remnants to match it to particular gun. (There is no indication police have retrieved any weapon that might be connected with the case.)
I heard or read early on that Pickert was thought to have been shot at close range, but after reading what a detective wrote in an application to search a white van Jungerman owns, I began to think he may have been shot from a distance of 20 to 30 feet or more. That’s because Pickert’s wife went to a front window after hearing a “loud noise” and asked Pickert, who was out front talking on his cell phone, if he knew what the noise was.
“No,” he replied. Moments later, there was a second loud noise — the sound from the shot that killed Pickert. The only way Pickert would not have known what was going on was if he had his back to the killer and was so engrossed in his phone call that he didn’t turn around after hearing the first “loud noise.”
**
Another element that has contributed to confusion is some TV stations have reported that shortly after the shooting, police were looking specifically for a van Jungerman owns. Police said they were looking for a white, 1997 Chevy van with a specific license plate number, but I don’t think either of two people who reported seeing a white van at the crime scene actually got its license number. More likely, as I’ve written before, is that police homed in on Jungerman because of the possible motive and because at least one witness reported seeing “an older, gray haired, white male standing near the back side of the van” a few minutes before the shooting.
My guess is police quickly checked vehicle registration records and found Jungerman owns a 1997 white Chevy van. My theory is that, in publicizing the license number with the description, they inadvertently contributed to some media members’ conclusion that Jungerman’s van — not just a generic white Chevy van — had been spotted at the scene.
The Star handled the initial report about the van carefully, and probably accurately:
“Soon after Pickert was found dead Wednesday morning, police began looking for a white 1997 Chevrolet van with Missouri license 6FA 453. By late afternoon, police found the van — unoccupied. Police said they would not immediately release more details about finding the van.”
Compare that with a KCTV5, Nov. 1 report that said: “Witnesses say they saw Jungerman’s van at the crime scene at the time of Pickert’s murder.”
A lawyer who has more than a passing knowledge of the case told me Nov. 1, a week after the homicide, that authorities suspected Jungerman but they were being very careful, just as they were in the recent serial-killer case.
Don’t forget, in the serial-killer case, police released a video of a young man walking in the area where Mike Darby, one of the victims, was shot while walking his dog. In releasing the video, police said the man pictured was not considered a suspect but someone who “may have vital information.” Twenty-three-year-old Freddie Scott later was arrested and confessed to three murders. He also admitted he was the guy in the video.
…I think David Jungerman has “vital information” about the Pickert murder. We know police questioned him the day after the murder, and we know he clammed up after a while and asked for a lawyer. It was at about that point in the conversation, I’d speculate, that detectives were getting to the vital part.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Any idea if he’s a self made man or if he’s worth that much through family money he’s inherited? Had literally never heard of Baby Tenda (wish I never would’ve) until this unfortunate incident. I’m sure some of that wealth is also in land/real estate he owns but not to those numbers you threw out.
I also know that sometimes it can be very tricky to go after trusts as they are well protected legally, but hopefully they can find some sort of tax evasion here.
He owned property in Saline County Missouri also — inherited from family.
That’s in central Missouri, Marshall being the county seat.
I’m perusing a Saline County plat book, 2011 edition. I’m not sure I’m absolutely accurate, but a cursory count shows about 1805 acres in the area between Blackburn and Mt. Leonard in various apparent Jungerman entities such as David Jungerman, Jungerman F.A., Jungerman Family Trust (and such), Jungerman, Fred, etc. The year 2011 suggests that some of these properties were in a trust or some entity before current events. Whatever. That’s a lot of farmland, likely worth millions, if owned by the same Jungerman family in all cases.
Great follow-up to Anon’s tip, Bob. Thanks for the legwork. Gradually, the Jungerman profile is getting fleshed out…
Jungerman Family Trust of Raytown
“Pickert also introduced evidence of Jungerman’s wealth. Jungerman is a farmer and owner of a company that makes baby furniture. The exhibits pointed to the possibility that Jungerman had assets of over $50 million while he was trustee of a family trust, and showed he transferred his trustee role to a child and transferred other assets after the suit was filed. He disputed the $50 million figure, saying he is worth about $8 million.”
Jimmy,
I have a few questions for you but first. Do you know the difference in a trust and an irrevocable trust? I suggest you read up on it. even if you think you do. But to make it simple: Once property or assets (either cash, real properties or intellectual property) is deeded to a irrevocable trust the person who transfered it through deed cannot touch it nor control it.
There can be several reasons the trustee position was passed to another person or family member depending on the terms of the trust, A lawsuit could certainly be one to where it may have been advised for him to relinquish control.
If he was the trustee of a trust he set up, then it was NOT an irrevocable trust and can be attached by creditors if proof of ownership is established. His family trust is labeled as an “Irrevocable” trust and creditors cannot attach it.
Furthermore: Just because a “Personal Injury” Attorney puts something into evidence it does not make it true. Pickert sold the jury on complex financial information that, they probably did not understand, may or not have been factual, or actually stated Pungerman was worth more than the $8M. The sum of all the assets may have suggested a dollar amount but I seriously doubt it proved Jungerman’s personal ownership of all of it. Pickert was presenting evidence to a jury which had already found Pungerman guilty ,so it was an easy sell.
I doubt Pungerman was able to successfully refute the information as trust accounts are complex and I would say he did not understand them fully himself. I heard nothing of any witnesses brought forward to either prove or disprove Pickert’s evidence. It was like fishing in a barrel. In this aspect an in the other aspects of the trial: Pungerman was a fool not to have counsel Show me one KC lawyer who disagrees? Oh and if you think Brian Gepford is adequate counsel…
Brian primarily practices in the areas of criminal defense and traffic defense, including DWI and driving while revoked. His experience includes the trial of capital murder and Murder 1 cases, alcohol related felonies, and drug possessions. As a prosecutor he once tried three cases to conviction by a jury in one week. He has also handled numerous appeals.
OK back to real questions an since I am 8 hours away,I have no way of learning the answers to some questions.
I seee you are firming leaning on the side that Jungerman killed Pickert but i am thinking there is a twist in the case that has yet to be found.
In the KC Star, It was reported that Jungerman stated that his van had been on his property all day but the news coverage shows it being removed, and the tire tracks from the tow truck coming from a neighbor’s(Leo Wynne) property. The picture you showed when you said Pungermans house was a vacant lot. Link.
http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/attachment.php?attachmentid=115361&d=1509263062
The house marked as 6000 Elm, is really 9200 block of East 60th Terrace. The house on the right belongs to an ATTY who has represented Jungerman and Baby Tenda and the house on the left belongs to an employee of Baby Tenda. The house on the left is where the local news said it was pulled from the pond.
Pictures of the van shows evidence that it was not pulled from a pond but it was removed through the yard. Was this to keep from opening the door or was the van forcibly removed due to a blocked driveway?
It was said, by the Star “Jungerman voluntarily went to police headquarters for an interview the day of the killing.” and was questioned and this appears to be after they found the van. Why did it take 10 hours and a warrant to get access to the van? Was Jungerman not allowing them access to it? Is that why the KCPD put a statement in the warrant request regarding Pungerman allegedly threating Pickert?
I think you could do us all some good if you were to get us a few more facts vs. spreading gossip about someone having the FBI looking at his finances. I know there have been issues with Jungerman and the IRS but I don’t see any proof of him falsifying or committing any wrong doing regarding his taxes.
Who are you making him out as? Al Capone?
Have you ever considered that someone who wanted Pickert out of the picture (insert possible people with motive here) were looking for a scapegoat that Jungerman would be perfect for the job? White vans are a dime a dozen… a gray haired man who went out of his way to be noticed at the house….
And what about Bob Flynn advertising Jungerman as the shooter almost from the get go. You ever talk with him? Remember, he is the other Robert Flynn.
Jungerman seems to be a man with a short fuse. For him to make himself the main suspect in a murder he did commit and then have no “real” evidence found to use against him: Genius???
Who ever did this has you, some attorney who offices out of the back room at The Zoo?, and countless others convinced that Jungerman is guilty without a shred of “real” evidence must be a very smart individual. Nobody’s ever accused Pungerman of being that.
Tell me it’s not true?
I can’t express enough my gratitude for your reporting on this story. Please keep the thoughts coming. Are autopsy reports open records? I think the report will be another important piece to this story. Entry/exit wound, also may indicate caliber of bullet. If two shots, where is the initial bullet? Was he shot from 20 feet or 2 feet? Handgun or rifle? The Tuesday night before a neighbor reported a suspicious white van. Have they individually shown each of the three witnesses white vans to determine if the three saw the same white van? Or are there three different versions of “white van”?
Thanks, Anon. (And, readers, I believe this Anon is different than the Anon higher up in the comments.)
…Great question about the autopsy report. I will find out. It could be a closed record at this point, as part of the ongoing investigation.
I didn’t know about the van sighting the night before the murder. Where did you hear that?
Great question: Was he shot from 20 feet or 2 feet (or somewhere in between)? My guess is he had his back to the shooter and was engrossed in his phone call and that’s why he reacted like he did when his wife asked him if he knew what the loud noise was? (His answer being, “No.”)
Ninth paragraph – neighbor said they saw white van driving Tuesday night before murder….therefore, we have three separate witnesses placing a white van at crime scene. 1. Neighbor from Tuesday night
2. Neighbor just before murder seeing white gray haired man outside back of van.
3. Victim’s wife
http://kcur.org/post/kcpd-investigating-after-fatal-drive-shooting-brookside-wednesday-morning#stream/0
Thanks. I missed that…It sounds like the person who made the Tuesday p.m. sighting called KCUR. Or maybe they sent a reporter out to knock on doors. Either way, as you suggest, it’s another good piece of circumstantial evidence.
I don’t think this was kept under wraps by any means, have you verified, or can you, that this is valid? While every news source is repeating every non fact about this killing, why is KCUR the only one who reported it? They also have not commented since. on the van, Jungerman’s questioning…
Jimmy, Are you going to follow up on this?
Relax, Joe.
Somewhat ironic that the guy who has a trailer calling democrats “parasites” doesn’t do his part in paying his taxes to the government. What a hypocrite.
Where does Patrick get off with saying Jungerman doesn’t do his fair share…?
Receipts
Date Amount Applied Amount Due Tendered
12/19/2016 00:00 7,704.51 7,704.51 7,704.51
12/07/2015 00:00 7,690.23 7,690.23 7,690.23
12/08/2014 00:00 7,724.09 7,724.09 7,724.09
12/09/2013 00:00 7,730.37 7,730.37 7,730.37
12/03/2012 00:00 8,036.09 8,036.09 8,036.09
It looks to me as if he pays his taxes.
I see where Jungerman has had a tax lien place upon him from 2010 without any explanation so this would from what I can tell be a personal tax manner from possibly 10 years ago. $1424. and with interest and penalties $1815 and was satisfied 30 days later
Once again the media has made Jungerman look like a criminal when it appears he himself did nothing wrong.
We’ve had enough comments here. I’m closing them down until I have new information.