Court and Trials Archives

First trial date set in Columbia fraternity hazing case

April 13, 2023 12:55 PM Matthew Sanders

The first trial date has been set against the defendants accused in connection with a University of Missouri fraternity pledge’s alcohol poisoning in October 2021.

Woman sues City of Laurie in federal court; alleges drivers who let others know about ‘speed traps’ are targeted

April 11, 2023 8:08 PM Ryan Shiner

LAURIE, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday against the City of Laurie, claiming the city allows police officers to target drivers who let others on the road know about speed traps by flashing their headlights. No court dates have been announced, yet. The city has been summoned. In court documents,

Library books become part of Missouri budget debate

March 28, 2023 12:26 PM Hannah Falcon

Libraries, their funding and local control figured heavily into a state House debate Tuesday morning, acting as a preview for what was to come later in the day when lawmakers take up the state budget.

Columbia man files lawsuit against Secretary of State for allegedly blocking initiative petition

March 25, 2023 4:56 PM Hannah Falcon

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft alleging he illegally blocked an initiative petition. In the Cole County lawsuit, Harry “Chip” Cooper says he submitted two initiative petitions with enough signatures. The lawsuit alleges Ashcroft’s office rejected the petitions after the deadline and did not provide a

Monday hearing for man accused of killing Hermann officer canceled

March 19, 2023 7:27 PM Isabella Roberts

HERMANN, Mo. (KMIZ) The hearing for the man accused of killing a Hermann officer and critically injuring another officer originally scheduled for Monday was pushed back indefinitely until a new judge can be found. Kenneth Simpson made his first court appearance on Wednesday, March 15. Since then, several changes have been made to who will

MSHP trooper arrested on suspicion of DWI in Callaway County

March 16, 2023 4:49 PM Lucas Geisler

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism told ABC 17 News that deputies arrested Kelley S. Young just after 2 a.m. Saturday, March 4. Chism said a deputy stopped Young around Highway 54 near New Bloomfield

Federal lawsuit accuses former CPS security staff of concussing student

March 9, 2023 11:38 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – A lawsuit from a Columbia family accuses a former security staff member of concussing their teenaged soon and chipping his tooth during school. The lawsuit from the family of “J.J.” as he’s referred to in court documents, was moved from state to federal courts on Monday. J.J.’s family accused former assistant

Columbia police find 12,000 doses of cocaine, fentanyl during traffic stop

March 1, 2023 12:13 AM Katie Greathouse

Boone County prosecutors charged two Florida men Monday after police said they found more than 12,000 doses of a cocaine-fentanyl mixture during a traffic stop.

State says recordings, lies enough to prove murder in Elledge case

March 1, 2023 12:20 AM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – Attorneys said Joseph Elledge’s recorded arguments with his wife and his lies about her disappearance were enough to prove he intentionally killed her. The attorney general’s office filed its response to Elledge’s appeal on Monday. Assistant attorney general Zeb Charlton said hours of recorded arguments between Elledge and his wife Mengqi

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Missouri’s wrongfully convicted be compensated?

February 20, 2023 3:26 AM ABC 17 News Team

Last week, Lamar Johnson’s conviction was vacated, setting him free from a wrongful conviction.

Pettis County clerk sues county commission, IT department head over recordings

February 9, 2023 4:32 PM Ryan Shiner

The Pettis County clerk and two employees have sued the Pettis County Commission and the head of the county’s IT department after claiming they were recorded illegally.

Man convicted in Ben Renick murder claims key witness testimony hearsay

January 31, 2023 6:45 PM Lucas Geisler

ST. LOUIS (KMIZ) The man convicted of helping kill a prominent snake breeder in Montgomery County is asking for a new trial. Attorneys for Michael Humphrey filed his appeal on Jan. 26 in the state’s Eastern District Court of Appeals. The appeal says Judge Jason Lamb should not have allowed a key witness to testify

Mexico man accused of arson, murder after fatal December fire

January 27, 2023 11:05 AM Kennedy Miller

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) The Audrain County prosecutor issued an arrest warrant Thursday for a man who is allegedly connected with a fire in Mexico that killed a woman last month. Brandon Spears, 43, is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and armed criminal action. An apartment complex in the 1200 block of

Columbia rape suspect’s bond set at $1 million during Friday hearing

January 27, 2023 3:22 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – A Boone County judge gave a Columbia rape suspect a $1 million cash-only bond at a hearing on Friday. Judge Kevin Crane gave Travis Birkhead, 37, the chance to post a bond to get out of the Boone County Jail. Birkhead, of Columbia, previously had no bond while he faces charges

Bond review hearing scheduled for Columbia doctor accused of rape and assault

January 27, 2023 5:24 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) On Friday afternoon a bond review hearing is set for the Columbia doctor accused of raping and assaulting a woman. Travis Birkhead faces charges of first-degree rape and fourth-degree assault. Back in December Birkhead’s public defender argued for Birkhead to be released with a GPS monitor. However, Boone County Judge Josh Devine rejected Birkhead’s request as

Columbia Board of Education approves April 4 ballot language without Basye’s name

January 23, 2023 7:04 AM Kennedy Miller

An initial hearing in a former state representative’s lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools to get his name on the April election ballot has been set for Tuesday.

Bench trial continues for Jefferson City man accused of killing Lincoln University student

January 20, 2023 6:11 AM Kennedy Miller

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man facing murder charges for a shooting in 2018, is set to continue his bench trial on Friday morning at the Cole County Courthouse. Alfred Chism Jr. allegedly admitted to killing a Lincoln University student back in 2018. According to court documents, Chism says he shot Charon Session in self-defense. Chism claimed Session had been verbally harassing him prior

Pre-trial conference scheduled for man who confessed to killing his wife in 2006

January 19, 2023 5:47 AM Kennedy Miller

BOONE COUNTY Mo. (KMIZ) On Thursday, a pre-trial conference is scheduled for a Columbia man who admitted to killing his wife back in 2006. Comfort first reported his wife as missing after he allegedly killed her in 2006. After 13 years, Comfort finally confessed to killing his wife, Megan Shultz after she allegedly told him she was

Woman accused of murder, burning body appears in court; more hearings set

January 13, 2023 3:20 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman accused of murder appeared in court Friday by video from the Boone County Jail. Emma Adams, 20, refused to appear in court on Thursday. She is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence and abandoning a corpse. She pleaded not guilty. Adams is being held in

Woman accused of murder to appear in court

January 13, 2023 7:44 AM Kennedy Miller

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated. The victim has yet to be identified by officials. BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A 20-year-old woman accused of murder is expected to appear in court on Friday at 1 p.m. in the Boone County Courthouse. Emma Adams is charged with murder after an “unidentifiable” man was found dead