Boone Archives

Special prosecutor to review June standoff, shooting in Sturgeon

September 23, 2024 5:07 PM Lucas Geisler

A special prosecutor in northeast Missouri will decide whether any law enforcement officers involved in a deadly June standoff will face criminal charges.

Columbia man indicted on 32 felonies in child molestation case

September 23, 2024 4:03 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was indicted on 32 felonies by a grand jury on Friday. Keith Fletcher, 53, was charged with 10 counts of second-degree child molestation, six counts of second-degree child sex trafficking, six counts of sexually exploiting a minor, six counts of possessing child pornography, three counts of second-degree statutory rape

Hallsville teen dies in Boone County crash

September 23, 2024 10:26 AM Matthew Sanders

A 17-year-old from Hallsville died after his vehicle overturned on a country road near Hallsville.

Southern Boone Middle School student arrested, accused of making terroristic threat

September 20, 2024 4:21 PM Ryan Shiner, Nia Hinson

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ) A Southern Boone Middle School student was arrested Friday afternoon on suspicion of making a terroristic threat, a social media post from the Ashland Police Department says. Police wrote in the past that it was “made aware of an Instagram account with content interpreted to be threatening and harassing to some SBS

Boone County commission candidates face off at Columbia Realtors forum

September 19, 2024 5:29 PM Mitchell Kaminski

The Columbia Board of Realtors is hosting a Candidate Forum on Thursday for the four candidates vying for the two Boone County commissioner seats up for grabs.

Columbia realtor doesn’t expect Wednesday’s interest rate cut to largely impact mortgage rates

September 19, 2024 7:02 PM Morgan Buresh

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) This weeks federal interest rate cut effects everything from car loans to mortgage rates, but the Columbia Board of Realtors isn’t expecting mortgage rates to drop by much any time soon. CEO Brian Toohey said mortgage rates have been steadily dropping for a while already in anticipation of the Fed’s rate cut.

Columbia man charged for alleged threatening text messages mentioning school

September 19, 2024 3:03 PM Matthew Sanders

Prosecutors charged a Columbia man Thursday with making a terrorist threat related to a school.

Casa Maria’s owner charged with arson now accused of impersonating elected officials, other restaurant owners

September 19, 2024 4:01 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An owner of a south Columbia Mexican restaurant who was charged with arson in southeast Missouri has now been accused of impersonating elected officials and other restaurant owners. Crystal Umfress, of Columbia, was charged last year with second-degree arson. That case was moved from Dunklin County to Butler County in January. A

Columbia man faces 2 child porn charges

September 18, 2024 8:45 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with a pair of felonies related to child pornography on Wednesday. Keegan Parnell, 21, was charged with child porn possession and second-degree promoting child pornography. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set. According to the probable

Man convicted in Boone County double-murder asks federal judge for new trial

September 18, 2024 8:36 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man serving two life sentences for a double-murder in Boone County wants a federal judge to give him a new trial. Darious Lucas filed the federal writ on Tuesday in the Western District of Missouri’s federal court. Lucas said his judge at trial should have allowed him to present evidence that

New market opens at Columbia Regional Airport

September 18, 2024 7:17 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new “grab-and-go” market has opened at Columbia Regional Airport. Tailwinds Market will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and allows travelers to make purchases by swiping a credit or debit card or using a payment cellphone application and then grabbing items, a press release and officials say.

Columbia man charged after allegedly pointing gun at, assaulting woman

September 18, 2024 4:22 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged on Wednesday after authorities claim he assaulted a woman and pointed a gun at her on Sept. 3. Dre’shawn Markell Marshall, 30, was charged with second-degree domestic assault, third-degree domestic assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of first-degree kidnapping, armed criminal action

More than 5,600 Boone County seniors apply for tax exemption, deadline is Oct. 1

September 18, 2024 2:13 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With two weeks left to apply, more than 5,600 Boone County seniors have asked for a property tax break, according to a press release from the Boone County Commission. A state law allowing a property tax freeze for seniors went into effect Aug. 28, 2023. The freeze has to be put into effect by

Blair Oaks placed on ‘soft lockdown’ after alleged threat; suspect identified, superintendent says

September 17, 2024 3:58 PM Ryan Shiner, Nia Hinson

WARDSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) Blair Oaks’ campus was placed on a “soft lockdown” on Tuesday after an alleged threat was made toward the school, an email from Superintendent Ben Meldrum says. “Based on a recommendation from the Cole County Sheriff’s Department we placed our entire Blair Oaks Campus on a soft lockdown. Our school SRO (school

Boone County prosecutor speaks on Blair’s Law following Monday night shots-fired scene in west Columbia

September 17, 2024 7:21 PM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) As the Columbia Police Department continues to investigate a shots-fired scene on Claudell Lane late Monday night, ABC 17 News spoke with the Boone County Prosecutor about a new law that could factor into charges for the incident. Columbia police said on Tuesday that no one is in custody for Monday’s scene

Legal experts discuss how Valentine’s Law cases may play out in court

September 17, 2024 6:45 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Mandatory jail time and what juries get instructed to consider could guide the first uses of a new state law on car chases with police, according to legal experts. Prosecutors can now consider charging people with aggravated fleeing a stop, dubbed Valentine’s Law by state lawmakers this session. People who drive

Ashland police say school threats unrelated; Southern Boone will have class Wednesday

September 17, 2024 12:12 PM Matthew Sanders

The Ashland Police Department released a statement Tuesday providing more details about alleged threats that led schools to close early Monday.

Man pleads guilty to assault in 2023 Columbia gas station shooting

September 17, 2024 4:35 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two felonies related to a shooting that occurred last year outside of a gas station in east Columbia. Kentrail Taylor, 29, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and shooting from a vehicle, according to an email from Assistant Boone County Prosecutor Paul Wade. Taylor will

Another youth arrested as Southern Boone dismisses early, cancels Tuesday classes

September 16, 2024 5:29 AM Jazsmin Halliburton, Gabrielle Teiner, Matthew Sanders, Nia Hinson

Several parents of Southern Boone Middle School students held a tense meeting with district administrators over apparent threats made by a student.

Columbia man charged with first-degree child molestation

September 16, 2024 6:18 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with first-degree child molestation on Friday. Landan Heithold, 20, is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court appearance was held Monday. The probable cause statement claims that Heithold sexually assaulted a child several times between June 10-29 and made several comments about the