Black mold, cracked or locked windows, and leaky faucets — a woman who lost her home to an apartment fire in February is having all sorts of issues inside the new unit she was moved to.
Ashley Arnold lives at the Somerset Apartments on Raytown Road.
In early February, investigators say an accidental fire started in a trash can in the basement of Arnold's apartment building. It ended up destroying the building and left over a dozen people without a home, including Arnold.
Previous story: Federal agents now investigating fatal Raytown fire
As a way to help out, staff moved Arnold to another unit.
"It's been a mess," she said. "A complete mess."
Since moving in, Arnold has complained to management about a number of issues.
She says a group of rug installers left a gaping hole in her wall.
The kitchen sink frequently leaks, black mold is forming on the bathroom floor and beneath the sink, and her windows are locked shut.
"Ever since I moved into this apartment, it seems like it's one thing after another," she said.
Arnold said a maintenance crew member has stopped by her apartment on occasion, but many problems have lingered for weeks.
"It seems like everything just keeps going bad," Arnold said. "I just need some light at the end of that dark tunnel."
KSHB reached out to the property owner on Thursday afternoon to try and get some answers.
When asked about the issues and the need to help tenants, the property owner responded: "I prefer not to speak with you."
The fire that destroyed Ashley Arnold's apartment also took the lives of 4-year-old Jeremiah Roberts and his grandmother, Cherri Roberts.
On Thursday, the apartment building was surrounded by fencing. Pieces of the building are still strewn about the area.
"I wish we could just go back in time and make the fire not happen," Arnold said. "I wish we could make those people still alive and make the fire never happen."
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at tom.dempsey@kshb.com.
