Columbia man accused of throwing a woman off bridge in 2022 set to appear in court

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Friday morning, Jessie Williams is set to have a hearing. He is charged with first degree murder for allegedly pushing 24-year-old Kaylen Schmit off the Highway 63 bridge near Clark Ln.

According to court documents, a witness saw Schmit and Williams at a nearby homeless camp arguing over Williams' belongings. 

Witnesses then said the two were walking on the overpass before they say they saw Williams grab Schmit's legs to throw her over the guardrail. She then fell 38 feet into a wooded area and authorities say she died hours later at a hospital.

According online case records, Williams has a long criminal history dating back to 2008. He was on parole in August of 2018 for the stabbing of a homeless man and previously in prison from December 2019 until August 2022, just 2 months before Schmit's death. 

He was also previously charged with assault after authorities say he handcuffed himself to a Boone County officer and attacked and choked her.