Aurora – The landlord who owns the home at the center of the Aaroné Thompson investigation wants the city of Aurora to repair the damages caused by police, but the city has declined.
“We, as a policy, only cover damage in cases where we went to the wrong residence,” said Kin Shuman, the city’s human resources director who also is responsible for risk management. “We don’t pay for what we call ‘tangential damage.’ There was clearly some pre-existing damage that preceded the police investigation. We don’t pay for these type of things.”
Shuman said the city was contacted a month ago by Jasbir Singh, owner of the home at 16551 E. Kepner Place that was rented by Aaroné’s father, Aaron Thompson, and his girlfriend, Shelley Lowe. They have a lease with Singh and get a portion of their rent paid through the federal Section 8 rental-subsidy program.
The Police Department seized the property for a search Nov. 17 because they believed Aaroné, who would be 7, had been killed in the home sometime within the past year and a half. Her father reported her missing Nov. 14.
Investigators were going to go over the home with a “fine-tooth comb,” Deputy Chief Terry Jones said at the time. But police haven’t found Aaroné, and no arrests have been made.
The investigation is continuing, said officer Marcus Dudley, a police spokesman.
Shuman said damage to the home was minimal – holes that had been dug in the yard were refilled and carpet that had been pulled up needed to be tacked down. No trees or shrubs were removed.
Singh couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
The Rev. Acen Phillips, a family spokesman, said Thompson and Lowe want to move back into the house.
“It’s going pretty tough for them,” Phillips said. “Sometimes the system puts that kind of inconvenience on someone just to make life more difficult.”
Staff writer Jeremy Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
