SPRINGFIELD, MO — Daniel Edward Ray is a 36-year-old man with a problem. Actually, he appears to have several problems, perhaps the least of which is the fact he’s charged with three counts of second-degree burglary for breaking into three adult businesses and stealing approximately $1,000 worth of sex toys and other merchandise. Ray’s other problems include a tendency to indulge in meth and then “do crazy things that involves sex toys and pornographic material,” according to a probably cause statement used to enforce the charges.
Scheduled for arraignment in a Greene County Circuit Court next week, Ray chose to waive his right to a probable cause hearing on Wednesday, clearing the way for a case likely to be exceptionally open-and-shut, thanks to his own confession, fingerprints, blood stains, and the damning footage of surveillance cameras at each location.
Police were baffled by the crimes, given the fact that cash and expensive garments and other merchandise were left untouched after a club was used to break into one shop and a minivan was employed as a battering ram in the other two robberies.
Ray, who was initially identified only as a white man in his 30s with a large build and dark hair, came about after a tip from an ex-girlfriend led authorities to him and he subsequently confessed, citing the influence of meth as a motivation for the robberies.
