Month: September 2015

A Boone County judge turned down the guilty plea of the fourth person police connected to a murder-for-hire scheme in Columbia. 27-year-old Christopher Hurt took the stand Wednesday afternoon to plead guilty to hindering prosecution and possession of a controlled substance. Hurt was accused of providing a false alibi for James Thompson, who a jury

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department is still understaffed. At the beginning of 2014, ABC 17 News checked and the department was short eight deputies in street patrols. On Wednesday, the department said it still had three openings for deputies on the road, which the department said is a big improvement. The jail is currently short

An Arkansas man is now heading to federal prison after pleading guilty on Wednesday to a dozen armed robberies, including a Mid-Missouri bank in 2013. Timothy Hoyt admitted to the hold-up in Blackwater, about 25 minutes west of Boonville in Cooper County. Court records show Hoyt walked out of Alliant Bank with $5,123, on June

Some Missouri bridges in critical need of repair or replacement will now be able to be fixed. ABC 17 News reported last week more than 640 bridges are in critical condition across the state. Now, the Missouri Department of Transportation will get about $100 million to make much needed bridge repairs. The Missouri Highways and

Internet service was a topic of discussion at Wednesday’s “Rural Communities Matter” conference in Jefferson City. The meeting was to address claims that reliable connections were slow, inconsistent and expensive in less-populated areas of the state. Members of the Missouri Farm Bureau and the U.S. Department of Agriculture discussed possible solutions to the problems. “The

After more than an hour of public comment Tuesday night, the Columbia City Council turned down CVS Pharmacy’s plan to build a store downtown. It’s the third time the company has proposed a plan for the corner of Providence Road and Broadway since 2013. The council voted 4-3 against letting CVS build a sewer line

Forecast models are indicating highest rainfall amounts, up to 2″ will be west of HWY 65 by Friday afternoon. Most of Mid-Missouri counties will see rain starting up after 8PM Thursday night through daybreak Friday morning. There will be a chance for spotty storms south of HWY 50 in the afternoon Friday. No severe weather

A murder trial has been delayed for the man accused of killing a 6-year-old boy. Scottie Willet’s trial was scheduled to start Wednesday. Willet is also requesting a change of venue. Willet is charged with first degree murder, armed criminal action, receiving stolen property and tampering with a motor vehicle in connection to the 2014

A 23-year-old man’s body was pulled from the Lake of the Ozarks Tuesday. The Missouri Highway Patrol crash report says Elijah Lindstedt jumped off a moving boat on Monday. His body was found near Cartwright Cove at the 45 mile marker. Lindstedt was was pronounced dead by the Camden County medical examiner just after noon

The State Fire Marshal has released its investigation into a fire that killed four children. The fire was just more than a month ago at the Compass Pointe Condominiums in Osage Beach. Despite a month of investigating, there is still no official cause for the fire. Four children between the ages of one and four

ABC 17 News learned a Columbia man is back on the streets, after he is accused of attacking and hitting a 6-year old. Police say James Bennett pushed the child to the ground, got on top of him, and then hit him several times. Officers say he had bruises and cuts on his neck, shoulders

Columbia police officials said there’s a new normal — putting two police officers in every patrol car for every shift. The changes come after the recent violence against law enforcement. “The one-officer unit is a thing of the past. I think that a few weeks ago, I actually asked the patrol commander to double up

One woman was led away in handcuffs after an incident at a south Columbia apartment complex. It happened at the Gateway at Columbia apartment complex just before 4 p.m. Tuesday on Buttonwood Drive. A Columbia police sergeant tell ABC 17 News someone called and reported multiple people in an apartment armed with knives and guns.

Officials at Kansas State are apologizing after a strange formation on their football field this weekend apparently poked some fun at KU. The director of the marching band posted a picture on their facebook page, explaining what the design was supposed to look like. It was intended to portray KU’s Jayhawk fighting the Starship Enterprise,

Labor Day did not go as planned for some people, after an RV started sinking in the Osage River, near the Lake of the Ozarks. ABC 17 News confirmed everyone made it out safely. The Lake Ozark Fire Protection District confirms it happened near the Riverview campgrounds, just a few miles from Bagnell Dam. Crews

Court documents revealed a possible motive for the man charged in connection to a Jefferson City house fire. Police arrested Patrick Glavin, 43, for the arson in the 1100 block of Jackson Street. Police claim Glavin admitted to lighting a mattress on fire in the house he rented from his mother, because he did not

Officials in Cole County approved a measure to release just over $20,000 to repair area railroads. There was very little discussion in this morning’s meeting as all three commissioners agree on the importance of maintaining the county’s railroads. “We’ve got the railroad spurs going to all of our manufacturing plants. So, it’s just upkeep so

A gunman is still on the loose after shooting four people at the Columbia VFW. ABC 17 first reported the shooting as breaking news Saturday morning. It happened shortly before 1:00 a.m. Saturday during an rented-out event at the hall. Tuesday, VFW Post 280 officials met with outside security to discuss what changes can be

Construction has begun on luxury apartments near Columbia’s Discovery Park exit, near Highway 63. Aria Luxury Apartments’ website says the complex offers quick access to the Philips Lake Trail and the A. Perry Phillips Park. A company representative tells ABC 17 News they expect the first phase to open in December or January. The project

Two people were hurt in a rollover crash near Boone Hospital in Columbia early Tuesday. The crash happened shortly after 1 a.m. on Broadway near Ann Street. 20-year-old Deven Larry was driving eastbound on Broadway and lost control of the car. According to police, the car skidded into the opposite lane and hit a light