'I Feel Like a Bad Person'
Kim Jack Trost is willing to except responsibility for the crimes he has committed which has made him one of Red Oak’s most notorious career criminals.
Trost, came from a broken home, which he said partly explains his behavior as an adult.
“My parents divorced when I was two and we moved to Red Oak. I’ve never really had any parental guidance.”
In this interview, Trost took responsibility regarding his current situation stating, “It’s no one’s fault but my own. I’m the only one who can change it. I’m almost 30 years old, I need to do something different.”
He said his mother was an alcoholic and lived on disability most of her life. By the age of 12, Trost ended up at Clarinda Academy (a residential foster care facility that provides residential treatment and shelter care to at-risk and delinquent males) for a year. Trost claims he was expelled from Red Oak High School in tenth grade for getting into a fight with the principal at a football game. “I got my GED at Fort Dodge Correctional Facility in 2002,” Trost said.
When discussing why he continues to be a repeat offender, Trost stated, “In 1992 I was diagnosed with two chemical imbalances in my brain.” Trost couldn’t recall the “official names” for them. “I was on SSI until I was 19. I think I forgot a doctor’s appointment and lost all my benefits. I’m gonna talk to my lawyer and see about getting an evaluation.”
Trost believes the chemical imbalances might be part of his problem stating “It was ADHD or whatever they diagnosed me with.” Trost admitted drugs and alcohol have been a big problem in his life as well. “Now with my mom gone, I don’t care about that stuff (drugs and alcohol) anymore.”
His mother passed away in March, which is still very fresh in his mind. “The night she died plays out in my head a lot,” Trost stated. “I don’t have anything left in this town. My sisters have been cleaning the house to sell it.” Trost claims they never really got a straight answer how his mother died.
Trost plans to move to Colorado, as soon as he’s able. His sisters and father live there and have extended their help. One sister has offered to help him go to college and get an appraiser’s license.
“The last time I had a job was 1998, I just need a lot of help.” Trost stated.
He plans on going straight and trying to make some changes in his life. “I never really had a job. I never had anything to keep me busy,” Trost remarked about his repeat offenses.
Trost plans on making restitution to the city of Red Oak, when his finances allow. For now, he awaits his trial date.
“My father brought us up as Jehovah’s Witnesses, so the last time he came to visit he brought me some Watch Tower magazines and I’ve been reading those. I wake up about 6 a.m. and can’t go back to sleep because of my nerves.” Trost claims.
Trost acknowledged the stories about him in the Red Oak Express saying it highlighted his worst qualities, “I feel like a bad person. I can just imagine the people that don’t know me as a person and only look at the person they see in the newspaper.”
However, that didn’t stop Trost from making a request, “Can I get a copy of last week’s Express,” he asked.