Child Abuse Archives

Former Cooper County man accused in 1989 child sex crimes

May 16, 2022 12:00 PM Zachary Farwell

Prosecutors charged a Cooper County man last week in connection with a 1989 sexual assault.

Eldon man charged with sex crimes against a child

May 4, 2022 7:33 PM Karl Wehmhoener

An Eldon man faces sex crime charges after a nearly two-week investigation into the alleged crimes.

New charges filed against Audrain County man accused of sex crimes against children

April 15, 2022 8:31 PM ABC 17 News Team

An Audrain County man charged with previous sex crimes against kids has been charged with more crimes in Randolph County.

Jefferson City man charged with possessing and promoting child porn

April 12, 2022 8:00 AM Karl Wehmhoener

A Jefferson City man is facing charges of possessing and promoting child porn after a nine-month investigation into several emails sent and received of “apparent child sexual abuse material.”

Vandalia man charged with child abuse

April 6, 2022 10:29 PM Karl Wehmhoener

An Audrain County prosecutor has charged a Vandalia man with child abuse after he allegedly dragged the victim, assaulted her and left bruises on her body.

Woman faces multiple charges after 3-year-old found walking on Providence

April 4, 2022 8:45 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman is charged with child abuse after a 3-year-old is found walking on north Providence Road on Sunday morning with a dog. A Boone County prosecutor has charged Aliciana Hill with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, abuse or neglect of a child and possession of a controlled substance.

Miller County man charged with child molestation

April 1, 2022 9:37 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Miller County prosecutor has charged an Eldon man with child molestation after a nearly two-year-long investigation.

Pandemic worsens staffing issues at children’s advocacy center

March 30, 2022 9:01 PM Leila Mitchell

The Rainbow House, a local 24-hour children’s shelter and advocacy center, has struggled for months with not enough staff to serve the children it helps.

Man charged with child abuse after infant taken to hospital with broken ribs

March 30, 2022 10:18 PM ABC 17 News Team

A Boone County man is accused of fracturing an infant’s ribs dozens of times is being held in the Boone County Jail on no bond.

Belle man arrested for multiple counts of possession of child porn

March 23, 2022 2:43 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Belle man is facing multiple counts of possession of child porn after an investigation by the Maries County Sheriff’s Office.

Tuscumbia High School teacher accused of sex crimes against a student posts bond

March 11, 2022 7:41 PM ABC 17 News Team

TUSCUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Tuscumbia High School teacher who is accused of sex crimes against a student has posted bond. Michael Allen is charged with two counts of sexual contact with a student and two counts of second-degree sodomy. He posted bond Thursday to get out of the Miller County Jail. Allen is not allowed to

Miller County R-III girls basketball coach charged with sex crimes against a student

March 10, 2022 2:59 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Miller County prosecutor has charged the Tuscumbia High School girls’ basketball coach with sex crimes against a student.

Benton County man pleads guilty in death of child, abuse of another

February 24, 2022 3:11 PM Lucas Geisler

Ethan Mast pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder and first-degree assault. His attorney said he admitted to taking part in the abuse that killed 4-year-old Jessica Mast and hitting a young boy.

Elledge pleads guilty in child abuse case

February 22, 2022 9:56 AM Matthew Sanders

A Columbia man convicted of murdering his wife has pleaded guilty to abusing their child.

Plea hearing scheduled Tuesday morning for convicted killer’s child abuse case

February 21, 2022 8:02 PM ABC 17 News Team

Joseph Elledge is set to have a plea hearing Tuesday morning in his child abuse case.

Joseph Elledge pleads not guilty to three felony charges.

Judge plans to set trial date in Joseph Elledge child abuse trial

January 24, 2022 3:28 PM ABC 17 News Team

Jurors will be selected from Warren County after convicted killer Joseph Elledge child abuse trial after a hearing ended Monday afternoon.

Lawyers for Joseph Elledge file new requests in both cases

January 12, 2022 1:50 PM Zachary Farwell

The legal team for Joseph Elledge has filed new motions in both of his criminal cases.

Judge approves change of venue request in child death case

January 7, 2022 11:37 AM Zachary Farwell

Prosecutors have charged Kourtney Aumen and three other people in the December 2020 death of 4-year-old Jessica Mast.

Motion to dismiss filed for one suspect accused of killing a four-year-old girl

December 6, 2021 10:24 PM Karl Wehmhoener

WARSAW, Mo. (KMIZ) Kourtney Aumen’s lawyers filed to dismiss her charges that she is accused of abusing and killing 4-year-old Jessica Mast. Aumen’s lawyers say the charges do not state a cause against Aumen and do not inform Aumen of the nature and substance of the charges against her. Law enforcement believes she and three

Jury chosen in murder trial of Joseph Elledge

November 1, 2021 6:43 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Jury selection was finalized Monday, in the first-degree murder trial of Columbia man, Joseph Elledge. Judge Brouck Jacobs swore in the jurors around 6:15 p.m. on Monday. Jacobs, along with the prosecution and defense, spent all day Monday asking questions of jurors to find the group of people from Boone County to