Court and Trials Archives

Indiana man sentenced for Jefferson City armed robbery of a pharmacy in July 2018

November 22, 2021 7:34 PM ABC 17 News Team

An Indianapolis man was sentenced in federal court in connection with the armed robbery of a Jefferson City Walgreens.

Columbia man to be sentenced for role in West Broadway shooting

November 22, 2021 5:14 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man is set to be sentenced Monday for his role in a shooting along West Broadway in May. Dequan Hughes, 22, was found guilty of second-degree assault and armed criminal action in early October. Dequan Hughes After being found guilty of both charges, the jury recommended a total of three

Motion to dismiss filed in 2018 Jefferson City fatal shooting case

November 19, 2021 5:58 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A motion to dismiss charges has been filed in a 2018 Jefferson City fatal shooting.

Three teens indicted by Callaway County grand jury for breaking into Oakley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jan. 2021

November 19, 2021 4:18 PM ABC 17 News Team

A Callaway County grand jury has indicted three teens for burglary and other charges related to a Jan. 2021 incident involving the Oakley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church and other locations.

Man charged in downtown shooting faces resisting arrest charge

November 18, 2021 5:57 PM ABC 17 News Team

A Boone County prosecutor has charged a Columbia man connected to last weekend’s shooting with resisting arrested after he ran from police.

Columbia man pleads guilty to drug conspiracy charges following a shooting in Dec. 2017

November 18, 2021 1:07 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Columbia man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy following the shooting of a co-conspirator at his residence in Dec. 2017.

Man charged in connection with Sunday shooting in downtown Columbia

November 15, 2021 2:59 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Boone County prosecutor has charged a Columbia man after Sunday’s shooting at Vibez Lounge.

Prosecutor hopes Ji death raises awareness for domestic violence resources

November 12, 2021 5:50 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County prosecutor Dan Knight said he felt acquainted with Mengqi Ji after spending two years trying to get her justice. Knight said he watched several videos of Ji in the time he spent prosecuting her husband, Joseph Elledge, for killing her. Knight said it was clear Ji was a loving mother

Court documents reveal new details about two Columbia shootings

November 12, 2021 1:39 PM Zachary Farwell

The Boone County Prosecutor’s Office has charged two men after a shooting in Columbia late last month.

Extradition hearing scheduled on Tuesday for Columbia murder suspect caught in Iowa

November 12, 2021 5:54 PM ABC 17 News Team

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department says an extradition hearing will be held on Tuesday in Iowa for Mark Achterberg.

Closing arguments begin Thursday in Joseph Elledge murder trial

November 10, 2021 5:42 AM Ben Fein

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Closing arguments in the Joseph Elledge murder trial will start Thursday morning. The defense finished up its last piece of evidence just after 3 p.m. Both sides will now go over what charges jurors might consider convicting Elledge of. Elledge is charged with first-degree murder. That comes with just one penalty in

Woman charged after firefighters find dogs in motel during fire call

November 10, 2021 9:29 PM ABC 17 News Team

Prosecutors charged a woman Tuesday after firefighters found malnourished dogs in a motel room while responding to a fire in September.

Man sentenced for his role in Columbia killing

November 9, 2021 10:00 PM Katie Greathouse

A judge sentenced a man Tuesday to four years in prison for his involvement in a deadly shooting in February.

Texts, photos between Elledge and Ji shown to start second week of trial

November 8, 2021 5:50 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) This morning the prosecution continued presenting their case against Joseph Elledge, he is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Mengqi Ji who went missing in October of 2019. Both sides of the case spent hours going over the contents of Elledge and Ji’s electronic devices reviewed by State

Soil expert discusses dirt found on Elledge boots

November 6, 2021 10:50 AM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri State Highway Patrol criminalist said soil found on Joseph Elledge’s boots closely matched soil found at the site where his wife was buried. Prosecutors led the sixth day of the Joseph Elledge murder trial with testimony from Will Randle, the patrol’s lead trace evidence analyst. Randle said he inspected a

Anthropologist explains his review of Ji’s remains found at Rock Bridge State Park

November 5, 2021 5:50 AM Ben Fein

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An anthropologist spoke this afternoon to jurors, explaining his review of Mengqi Ji’s remains found at Rock Bridge State Park. Doctor Mark Beary says Ji’s remains were missing several bones, including her right arm and the hyoid bone in her neck when they came to the Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dr.

Missouri Appeal Courts denies efforts to move Rams lawsuit out of St. Louis

November 3, 2021 9:31 AM CNN Newsource

By KMOV Staff Click here for updates on this story ST. LOUIS, Missouri (KMOV) — The Los Angeles Rams and NFL are making another Hail Mary attempt to avoid a St. Louis jury. The two organizations are petitioning to appeal a judge’s decision in August that keeps their trial, centering on the team’s relocation, out

Man charged after allegedly threatening minors on Halloween

November 2, 2021 7:23 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Montgomery County prosecutor has charged a man after he allegedly threatened seven teens with a gun on Halloween.

Opening statements in the murder trial of Joseph Elledge reveal Elledge killed Mengqi Ji

November 2, 2021 5:18 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Both sides presented their opening statements in the Joseph Elledge murder trial in court Tuesday, revealing both the prosecution and defense agree Elledge killed Mengqi Ji in their apartment. Elledge is charged with first-degree murder and is accused of killing his wife Mengqi Ji in October 2019. Both sides will work to

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