Couple bought house in which bailiff and official died and filed suit

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – A couple who bought a home where a Jackson County bailiff and an Independence police officer were shot are suing the man accused of killing them.

Larry Acree, 70, is charged with, among other things, first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Drexel Mack and Ofc. Cody Allen.

The couple had gone to the house in the 1100 block of North Elsea Smith and Bundschu Road to evict Acree because he had been behind on his taxes for several years.

Alyssa Jackson/KSHB

Acree owed nearly $30,000 in back taxes after failing to pay for three years, from 2019 to 2021.

Julie and Craig Fedynich filed suit against Acree last month.

The complaint states that Craig Fedynich purchased the home on August 14, 2023, and the sale was later confirmed in November 2023 by the Jackson County District Court.

Craig Fedynich received the deed to the house in February and accompanied bailiffs and others to evict Acree on February 29, 2024, the day of the shooting.

As a result, Craig Fedynich witnessed the chaotic shootout that killed Mack and Allen.

Melissa Mairs King/KSHB

After arriving at the house, a maintenance contractor removed a padlock from the driveway gate.

Mack and another bailiff then knocked on the front door, but received no answer and then drilled open the lock on the front door.

Acree then began shooting at Mack and the second civil attorney.

Craig Fedynich was standing at the end of the driveway, could hear the gunshots and saw Mack fall to the ground after the shots were fired, the lawsuit says.

He called 911 and officers from the Independence Police Department arrived at the house.

As they entered the home to help Allen, Acree opened fire again, hitting two officers, including Allen.

Craig Fedynich said he is now suffering from mental and emotional trauma as a result of the events he experienced.

He also said that his newly purchased home suffered over $25,000 in damage.

When he entered the property, Craig Fedynich said, he saw many bullet holes, broken walls, shattered glass, broken doors, destroyed carpets, destroyed floors and several dead and decomposing animals that Acree had neglected.

The couple is suing for damage to property, negligent infliction of emotional distress and loss of marital community or services.

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