ABC 17 News Investigates Archives

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.

South Dakota deputies serve warrants in J.T. McLean case

September 9, 2021 8:16 PM Lucas Geisler

ELK POINT, S.D. (KMIZ) Deputies found a white cord and rubber straps inside the truck a mid-Missouri murder suspect killed himself on Wednesday night. The evidence seized through a search warrant could be used in murder investigations in Boone and Miller counties. Deputies there are looking into the deaths of four people, including Allison Abitz,

Columbia city manager responds to abuse of power claims made by former workers

August 3, 2021 5:22 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The city manager of Columbia said the city government hasn’t been given anything specific to investigate on claims he abused his power. City manager John Glascock released a statement on Monday after two former city workers claimed he may have violated city ordinance and state law in reprimanding them. ABC 17 News

Former Columbia city budget officer pushes back on reasons given for his firing

July 29, 2021 8:46 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) While City Manager John Glascock presented the FY22 budget Thursday morning, one of the people that helped prepare it watched from outside city government. Kyle Rieman, the former city budget officer, was fired on July 26. The circumstances leading Rieman here has him confused. “If you had asked me a month ago

Former worker says city manager abused power in doling out discipline to employees

July 26, 2021 4:10 PM Lucas Geisler

Colleen Spurlock had been on the job for about a year for the city of Columbia. She was working as a fellow in the city manager’s office, learning the ins and outs of government and helping with special projects and city council requests.

Columbia city manager questioned over handling of employee speech at city council

July 22, 2021 6:19 PM Lucas Geisler

Attorney Andy Hirth sent a letter Wednesday to city manager John Glascock pushing back on Glascock’s decision to put city budget officer Kyle Rieman on paid leave. Glascock did not specify why he was put on leave in a July 9 memo to Rieman, but Hirth’s letter said Glascock told Rieman it was “insubordination.”

Emails show sudden decision on removal of Moser’s recycling centers

July 20, 2021 2:20 PM Lucas Geisler

Recycling drop-off sites have been plagued by illegal dumping issues.

DEFENDERS: Protecting yourself against ransomware attacks

June 10, 2021 5:36 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After several major companies were hit with ransomware attacks, the White House gave a stern warning this week to companies to beef up it’s security systems. It’s not just big corporations that are at risk, cybersecurity experts worry about small businesses and individuals who are also targets. “I worry for these small

ABC 17 Investigates: Moniteau County deputy put on probation after verbal exchange

June 8, 2021 6:56 PM ABC 17 News Team

CALIFORNIA, Mo. (KMIZ) ABC 17 News Investigates what happened with a Moniteau County deputy getting put on probation. That deputy is back on duty after he was put on probation last week because of an interaction with a citizen. This is body camera footage from the interaction on May 27th that we got through a

DEFENDERS: Cryptocurrency scams skyrocket as popularity increases

May 27, 2021 8:49 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) It’s a popular trend hitting the financial market, investing in cryptocurrency. However, with the rise in popularity comes online scammers. According to a report from the Federal Trade Commission since October 2020, consumers have reported losing more than $80 million to cryptocurrency investment scams. In that report, nearly 7,000 reports were received

DEFENDERS: Mental health apps might not be as confidential with data

May 20, 2021 9:10 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mental health apps are becoming more popular, especially during the pandemic. Like any sort of app or website, your data might not be as safe as you think. Prasad Calyam with the University of Missouri Engineering school told ABC 17 News anytime a user inputs their data into an app, the user