OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Residents on Melrose Street near West 97th Terrance in Overland Park say police showed up on their block last month.
Those officers were there to arrest Carl Mort, 41 and Cassandra Wedeking, 39, on rape, sodomy and drug charges, which stemmed from an ongoing sexual assault investigation in the Lake of the Ozarks region.
The alleged incidents spanned Camden, Miller and Morgan counties.
According to court records, the alleged rape occurred over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Court records obtained by 41 Action News show the couple met a woman at the "Coconuts Bar and Grill."
Mort and Wedeking, who are husband and wife, introduced themselves as brother and sister. They drank with a woman and eventually ended up on Wedeking's boat.
It's there where police say Wedeking offered the woman a line of cocaine before the alleged sexual assault occurred.
Neighbors who know the couple told 41 Action News the accusations are surprising and disturbing.
At a home listed as the couple's address, a woman inside, who neighbors say is the couple's daughter, didn't wish to speak on the allegations.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is investigating the rape allegation, believes there may be other victims.
On Thursday, the Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control asked anyone with information about any sexual assault over the past five years in the Lake of the Ozarks region to come forward.
According to MSHP, a male and female suspect may have befriended victims, provided alcohol or drugs, taken them to a boat and sexually assaulted them.
Any victims or witnesses who can provide further information are asked to contact the MSHP Troop F Criminal Unit at 573-526-6329, extension 3632.
The couple's attorney, Matthew O'Connor, issued a statement Thursday to 41 Action News taking exception to MSHP's request, calling it an "ill-formed tactic" that demonstrates "their lack of understanding and compassion for victims for victims of sexual assault."
Mort and Wedeking, who are currently out on bond wearing GPS tracker, have a preliminary hearing set for next month.
Here is the full statement from the couple's attorney:
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