Family found living in Nevada children’s museum with stash of weapons

CARSON CITY, Nev. — A couple was found to be secretly keeping a cache of weapons and living with their five kids at a Nevada children’s museum, authorities said.

The husband, a janitor at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada, was arrested June 30, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office said. The wife, who was the museum’s manager, is not currently facing any charges.

According to the sheriff’s report, the family was found to be living in the museum after a 2-year-old child was seen wandering unsupervised in downtown Carson City. It was not the first time police had seen the child alone. This time, an older sister gave the museum as their address.

There, officers found the family’s sleeping bags, mattresses, clothes and food in areas off-limits to visitors.

An arsenal in a storage room included what the sheriff’s report described as an AK-47 rifle, as well as four handguns, ammunition, knives and a taser that could have been reached by a child. The stash also included drug paraphernalia.

The 41-year-old man faces charges including child neglect and endangerment and possession of a suppressor and a short-barrel rifle, the arrest record said.

The couple has since been fired. The museum closed temporarily as it seeks a new manager. On July 14, its website said it was still closed.

The museum’s board of directors is facing questions about how this was able to happen. The group issued an apology and said they were “shocked and saddened.”

“We are looking into the best path to reopen in a way that not only assures the safety of all of our visitors, but that we as a community can be proud of as well,” they said in a statement.

The 28-year-old museum in Carson City’s old civic auditorium advertises “play-based learning,” including summer camp, art projects and storytime.