ABC 17 News Investigates Archives

School safety investigation: Fulton and Renick R-V

August 24, 2022 4:52 PM Sarah Higgins

ABC 17 News asked for 41 Mid-Missouri school districts’ security plans, maintenance records and expenses ahead of the 2022-2023 school year.

School safety investigation: Columbia, Blair Oaks and Eugene districts

August 22, 2022 9:04 PM Sarah Higgins

ABC 17 News asked for 41 Mid-Missouri school districts’ security plans, maintenance records and expenses ahead of the 2022-2023 school year.

School safety investigation: Jefferson City, Tuscumbia and Clarksburg districts

August 19, 2022 5:39 PM Sarah Higgins

ABC 17 News asked for 41 Mid-Missouri school districts’ security plans, maintenance records and expenses ahead of the 2022-2023 school year.

Hundreds of tips made to state’s anonymous school safety hotline so far this year

August 18, 2022 6:20 PM Marina Diaz

Hundreds of tips have been made to Missouri’s anonymous school safety hotline, Courage2Report, so far this year.

Safety and security top priority for Boone County Fair

July 20, 2022 6:11 PM Leila Mitchell

Hundreds will head to Boone County Wednesday as the county fair heads into its second night, and organizers say safety and security is on everyone’s minds.

Man killed by police pointed rifle at officer during stop, struggled with PTSD and alcohol

May 26, 2022 5:55 PM Lucas Geisler

An encounter would ultimately lead to two officers opening fire and killing 32-year-old Clay Willingham.

Columbia decreases trash but fails to meet main goal of ‘Pay-As-You-Throw’ system

March 2, 2022 12:46 PM Molly Stawinoga

In its first full year of operation, Columbia’s “Pay-As-You-Throw” garbage system has brought down the amount of residential trash collected in the city. However, it’s missed the mark when it comes to staffing and resident satisfaction.

City of Columbia could pay hundreds a day to staff Wabash warming center

February 16, 2022 8:38 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The city of Columbia opened up the emergency overnight warming center at the Wabash Bus Station Wednesday ahead of expected winter weather. Wednesday was also the first day the city adjusted the hours the warming center will open. The station will open Monday to Saturday from noon until 5 p.m. and when

MU settles former med school leader’s lawsuit for $1.565 million

February 11, 2022 5:27 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – The University of Missouri paid a former medical school leader $1.565 million to settle her lawsuit over age discrimination. ABC 17 News obtained a copy of the settlement through an open records request. The settlement gives Dr. Rachel Brown $788,741.69 in lost wages and emotional damages following her ouster at the

Truck driver broke driving hours rule at time of crash that killed fire official

February 7, 2022 6:52 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) State investigators said the truck driver that hit and killed a Boone County fire official in December drove beyond the amount of time allowed by federal rules. A crash report written by the Missouri State Highway Patrol said Kevin Brunson had exceeded “the maximum driving time allowed by federal regulations at the

Numbers rising for police officers shot during traffic stops

January 28, 2022 11:54 AM Kennedy Miller

Shootings of police officers have shaken multiple American cities already in 2022 — building off an increase in such shootings in 2021.

Driver involved in deadly I-70 crash had history of brake problems on truck

December 23, 2021 10:58 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – The driver of the truck that hit and killed a Boone County fire official had a history of brake problems on his truck. Online court records show Kevin L. Brunson, 64, received three tickets from state inspectors in 2008 and 2009 for not properly equipping or maintaining the brakes on his

McLean death investigation uncovers notes focused on divorce, custody case

November 23, 2021 5:22 PM Lucas Geisler

The notes come from the death investigation done by the Union County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota. ABC 17 News acquired them through an open records request. McLean killed himself in South Dakota on Sept. 8 as law enforcement from South Dakota and Iowa surrounded him. He was inside a truck he’s suspected of stealing from Miller County.

COVID-19 long-hauler battling homelessness shares how virus caused financial hardships

November 15, 2021 9:13 PM Meghan Drakas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way nearly everything works and has impacted billions of lives worldwide. One Kansas City COVID-19 long-hauler has been battling homelessness due to the financial hardships the virus has caused her. Meet Amanda Finley Amanda Finley, COVID-19 Long-Hauler Amanda Finley is a Missourian who calls herself

Columbia police, MU and The District working together to share safety operations for downtown area

November 12, 2021 4:23 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department is working with MU and The Community Improvement District to address violence in the downtown area. “Downtown is a vibrant, energetic gathering place, and it is imperative that our residents feel safe in the area,” Police Chief Geoff Jones said in a release. “Our officers will be taking

Rural mid-Missouri hospitals could feel impacts of COVID-19 vaccine mandate

November 10, 2021 3:58 PM Deborah Kendrick

By January 4, nearly 17 million healthcare workers will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Columbia homicide victim owned Mid-Missouri businesses

October 15, 2021 4:01 PM Lucas Geisler

ABC 17 News discovered James Hundle, 52, owned Ruckus Bar and Grill and Splasher’s Laundromat in Columbia for several years. Both businesses have since changed hands, but one former employee of Hundle’s remembered him as a good boss that enjoyed having fun.

Columbia police report: Drugs, speeding may have contributed to car driving off overpass in fatal crash

October 15, 2021 4:56 PM Matthew Sanders

The June 23 crash killed Wesley Griffith, 39. Police said at the time he was not wearing a seat belt. He was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Truck stolen from Miller County homicide victims seen near Callaway County before victims found dead

September 24, 2021 3:50 PM Lucas Geisler

The new detail in the cases surrounding McLean comes from a search warrant the Missouri State Highway Patrol requested for information from OnStar. Law enforcement wanted information from the General Motors-owned company to help track the movement of the Chevy Silverado truck Pam and Daniel Stephan owned.

Fingerprints, DNA taken from McLean in multi-state death investigation

September 10, 2021 1:12 PM Lucas Geisler

The Sioux City Police Department took the evidence from J.T. McLean’s body on Thursday, according to a search warrant obtained by ABC 17 News. The inventory lists just the fingerprints and DNA swabs.