ABC 17 News Investigates Archives

Columbia Utilities commits to tracking complaints, actions taken on reports of illegal camping and dumping near water

April 14, 2025 4:23 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Utilities says it will work with other agencies and track complaints regarding illegal camping and dumping near the city’s waterways. The department sent its updated plan to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources two weeks ago, said utilities department spokesman Jason West. The two-page updated portion of its application for a

MU Health Care posts big financial gains; Boone Health improving

April 11, 2025 4:42 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia’s two biggest health care providers are showing signs of financial improvements in their most recently released data. MU Health Care posted a $45 million operating gain for the first half of fiscal year 2025, which started in July. Numbers shared by MU Health Care to the UM System’s Board of Curators

Report: Boone County inmate dies after meth intoxication

March 24, 2025 11:12 AM Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The cause of death for a man who died at the Boone County jail in August was determined to be severe methamphetamine intoxication. William Gipson, 43, of Ashland, died at the Boone County jail on August 23. Boone County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that he died in custody at the

Nearly 30 law enforcement officers responded to scene of Jefferson City officer-involved shooting

March 11, 2025 5:17 PM Nia Hinson

JEFFERSON CITY, (Mo.) KMIZ A police incident report shows 26 law enforcement officers responded to a scene on Friday that led to an officer-involved shooting. The Jefferson City Police Department said on Monday that Julie Knehans, 53, of Jefferson City, was killed in the shooting. Police responded to a burglary in progress in the 200

DNR threatens Columbia stormwater permit over homeless encampments

March 11, 2025 12:13 PM Haley Swaino

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has requested that the city of Columbia create a plan to minimize waste from homeless encampments from getting into public waters.
DNR sent a letter to the city, along with Boone County and the University of Missouri, on Feb. 28, 2025. It said it wants to see the issue addressed before it will renew their “Municipal Separate Storm System (MS4) Operating Permit Renewal.”

Columbia bus rider calls for change after being slapped by passenger

March 7, 2025 9:14 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Norma Jamill Barnum said she was riding a city of Columbia bus with her 12-year-old daughter on Monday when a couple sitting a few rows away began arguing. Barnum, who uses the Orange Route of the Go COMO Public Transit system several times a week, said she has witnessed several incidents during

Reports shed light on January deadly crashes on Highway 63 in Boone County

March 6, 2025 5:00 PM Lucas Geisler

(Editor’s note: ABC 17 News has redacted the phone numbers of those involved in the crash from the reports.) COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Distracted driving played a part in at least one of two deadly crashes that happened within minutes of each other on Highway 63 north of Columbia in January, according to the Missouri State

Video shows fire damaging Mizzou Arena suite

March 5, 2025 6:46 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Canned heat placed too close to combustible material caused about $6,000 worth of damage to a Mizzou Arena suite last month, according to a Columbia Fire Department report. The fire marshal’s report said investigators found the charred Sterno can in the corner of a suite following the men’s basketball game against the

Nearly 250 citations issued across Missouri for hands free law since Jan. 1

February 25, 2025 7:12 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Records obtained by ABC 17 News show nearly 250 people have been issued citations by the Missouri State Highway Patrol since citations began for Missouri’s hands-free law which went into effect just under two months ago. The law, known as the Siddens Bening Hands Free law makes it illegal for drivers to

Video shows encounter at heart of Camden County Jail inmate lawsuit

February 25, 2025 5:19 PM Erika McGuire, Matthew Sanders

CAMDENTON, Mo. (KMIZ) The lawyer for a man suing the Camden County Sheriff’s Office has released a video that he says shows his client’s constitutional rights being violated by jailers. A Texas County man sued the Camden County Sheriff’s Office and the Camden County Jail in federal court in December claiming assault, battery and negligence.

Prosecutor ‘aware’ of state representative’s 988 hotline test

February 24, 2025 8:42 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A state representative on Monday night touted “critical failures” in the state’s 988 mental health crisis hotline system after “a firsthand test” exposed them. The test, though, also has the attention of law enforcement in Jefferson City, with some dispatchers informing Byrnes of how much her “test” had tied up law

Despite revenue growth, university floats $40 million to MU Athletics in 2023-24 school year

January 15, 2025 6:57 PM Lucas Geisler

The University of Missouri’s athletics department saw an 18% growth in revenue last school year, but still required $15 million in direct institutional support to cover its $15 million deficit.

Columbia, Boone County go their own way to train law enforcement recruits

December 13, 2024 11:15 AM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mike Hestir paces the front of a room. He’s discussing firearm use and grip techniques with 14 recruits to the Columbia Police Department in the newly renovated basement of a law office that the city purchased. The recruits take notes on paper and tablets with the CPD logo and the emblem for

Natural gas leak suspected in Jefferson City house explosion, report states

December 4, 2024 2:47 PM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Firefighters noted a possible natural gas leak at a house explosion in Jefferson City on Saturday. However, the cause of ignition is still under investigation, according to a fire incident report. The explosion leveled the home on 2432 St. Louis Road, leaving an empty plot of ash and damage to neighboring

Businesses, residents split on satisfaction of solid waste services in Jefferson City, survey results show

November 27, 2024 8:07 PM Olivia Hayes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Residents and businesses have differing opinions on solid waste services in Jefferson City. Jefferson City will show the results of a survey regarding trash services at multiple meetings next month, according to a Tuesday press release. The survey was conducted from Oct. 3-Nov. 8 and received 400 responses from residents and 31

Maries County Prosecutor says lack of evidence prevented charges against Sheriff Heitman

November 25, 2024 7:49 PM Mitchell Kaminski

Columbia, Mo. (KMIZ) The Maries County Prosecutor says that claims he declined to press charges against Sheriff Chris Heitman are false. Last week, Judge Brenden Fox ordered the release of criminal investigation records that allege Sheriff Chris Heitman falsified written statements, altered a death investigation for insurance benefits, defrauded the Missouri Highway Safety Systems overtime

September deaths in west Columbia neighborhood ruled accidental from carbon monoxide

November 20, 2024 3:21 PM Ryan Shiner, Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The deaths of two people who were found in a home on Sept. 5 in a west Columbia neighborhood were ruled accidental, according to autopsy reports from the Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office. Wang Sik Kim and Chunghee Lee died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the reports say. Both people were 71 years

Records allege misconduct by Maries County Sheriff; Heitman calls claims ‘lies’

November 19, 2024 9:44 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Maries County judge ordered the release of criminal investigation records that allege Sheriff Chris Heitman intimidated witnesses, falsified written statements and misappropriated funds for personal use. Heitman maintains that he has done nothing wrong and claims the allegations are a result of “lies and corruption.” On Monday, Judge Brenden Fox issued

Fear Fest remains closed after safety code violations

October 28, 2024 6:24 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia’s Fear Fest Haunted House has made no official announcement about whether or not it will be operating this Halloween season after racking up 15 safety violations during the Boone County Fire Protection District’s annual inspection. According to the inspection documents from the Boone County Fire Protection District, the violations spanned multiple

Columbia restaurant owner accused of impersonating southeast Missouri county commissioner to alcohol regulators

October 3, 2024 5:03 PM Lucas Geisler

The Columbia woman accused of paying someone to set a Mexican restaurant on fire and impersonating public officials allegedly pretended to be a southeast Missouri county commissioner to state alcohol regulators.