From Crime to Confession: Inside the Missoula Storage Incident

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 29, 2025, at 7:30 AM, a complaint stated she observed two males dropped off at Grant Creek Storage in a Blue Corolla. The males climbed over the fence and were inside the storage area. She then observed the males walking around the storage area and called 911.  

One of the responding Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputies knew there was history with the Corolla and located it on the westside of the city. The driver was arrested on outstanding warrants. He admitted to dropping the males off and said they were looking for a car, but didn’t know their intentions. He denied any other involvement.  

Deputies and Missoula Police Department officers responded and located the two males. One of the males was identified as 51-year-old Lee Kaufman. He was crying and talking without any questions being asked. He started talking about cameras working at the storage units. He claimed his Chevy Avalanche was stolen, and he was looking for it. He was told that a person may have stolen it and that he had a storage unit there.  

Then, Kaufman was Mirandized. He lives in Washington and came to Montana in January. He said his truck was stolen the day before from the Hollywood Trailer Park. He said he was told to look at this storage facility for any units that did not have locks on them. He said he was looking around the bigger units for his Chevy. He never reported his vehicle as stolen. A deputy removed a pair of vice grips and a flatheaded screw driver from Kaufman’s left back pocket.  

Another deputy found the other male who was identified as 47-year-old Jody Brown. Brown was carrying a drill and a metal pick. He was Mirandized. He had a similar statement about looking for a vehicle. He said the drill was for building a shack. According to court documents, the drill had a metal grinding bit on it. He had two empty bags with him. Both Kaufman and Brown were placed under arrest and were transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

At the jail, during an inventory search of Kaufman, a clear plastic baggie with residue in it was found. Kaufman also had a folded-up piece of tinfoil. A deputy asked Kaufman what was in the tinfoil, and he said fentanyl. 

Both Kaufman and Brown are currently being charged with felony attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools, and criminal trespass to property. Kaufman is also being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.