Homicide Archives

Celebration of life held for Battle High School senior killed in shooting

January 24, 2022 11:29 AM Erika McGuire

The celebration of life for Roberto Lauer will be held at 4:30 p.m. at Battle High School, the Rev. James Gray said in a Facebook post.

Convicted murderers Joseph Elledge and Lynlee Renick both due in court Monday

January 24, 2022 5:50 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two convicted murderers are both set to continue with court proceedings Monday afternoon in Boone County. Joseph Elledge Mengqi Ji and Joseph Elledge Joseph Elledge was recently sentenced to 28 years in prison for second-degree murder in his wife, Mengqi Ji’s death. Elledge reported Ji missing in October of 2019. After investigators

Neighbors: Columbia shooting suspect and slain teen were friends

January 17, 2022 11:17 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Officers arrested Shawn P. Long, 18, on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

Bond denied for a Jefferson City man accused of a 2018 murder

January 17, 2022 8:26 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Cole County judge denied bond for a Jefferson City teenager accused of murder last Wednesday.

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.

Ex-officer Kim Potter found guilty of two counts of manslaughter for fatally shooting Daunte Wright

December 23, 2021 1:19 PM CNN Newsource

A jury on Thursday reached an outcome in the manslaughter trial of Kim Potter, the former Minnesota police officer who testified she mistook her service weapon for a Taser when she fatally shot Daunte Wright in April. The outcome will be read in court shortly.

Suspect in Lake of the Ozarks biker club shooting requests venue change

December 20, 2021 11:17 AM Matthew Sanders

Prosecutors charged Tonka Way-Con Ponder with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shootout that killed one man and injured four others during a July event for motorcycle enthusiasts at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Two more teens taken into custody for Sedalia homicide

December 15, 2021 8:20 PM Lucas Geisler

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – Police took two more teenagers into custody this week for their alleged roles in a deadly shooting in Sedalia. The police department said on Wednesday that the two taken into custody join a third teenager suspected in a break-in that led to someone’s death. Police said it took two of the

Suspect arrested after Friday morning fatal shooting in Sedalia

December 13, 2021 4:54 PM Karl Wehmhoener

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Sedalia police have arrested suspect(s) in connection to the Friday shooting homicide of Tylar Simon, 32. Officers found Simon with a gunshot wound at his home on Kentucky Avenue at about 3:30 a.m. Police tried life-saving treatment but Simon was pronounced dead at the scene. Sedalia police arrested the suspect after following

Jury recommends lighter sentence than prosecution sought in Renick murder trial

December 9, 2021 5:30 AM Ben Fein

Jurors found Renick guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of armed criminal action Thursday after over 13 hours of deliberations.

Sentencing hearing delayed for Joseph Elledge

December 9, 2021 6:41 AM Zachary Farwell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The sentencing hearing for a Columbia man convicted last month of killing his wife has been delayed. Public court records show a Boone County judge will hear Joseph Elledge’s lawyers request for a new trial on Friday, Jan. 7. 2022 at 1:30 p.m. Elledge is also expected to receive his sentence at

Jury suspends deliberation in Lynlee Renick trial

December 8, 2021 12:33 PM Matthew Sanders

The defense called Lynlee Renick to the stand as the third day of her trial at the Boone County Courthouse began. The trial is being heard here on a change of venue with a jury brought in from Clay County, Missouri.

Investigators testify to start day two of Montgomery County snake breeder murder trial

December 7, 2021 12:37 PM Matthew Sanders

Lynlee Renick is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the deadly shooting of her husband, Ben Renick, at his snake-breeding facility in 2017. Prosecutors allege Lynlee Renick enlisted two friends in her plot to kill her husband after her spa had financial troubles. However, they accuse Lynlee Renick of pulling the trigger.

Lawyers for Joseph Elledge request new trial

December 7, 2021 9:20 AM Zachary Farwell

Lawyers for Joseph Elledge filed the motion Friday in Boone County.

Prosecution expected to continue questioning witnesses in Lynlee Renick murder trial

December 7, 2021 5:29 AM Meghan Drakas

Renick is accused of killing her husband, world-renowned snake breeder, Ben Renick on the couple’s Montgomery County property on June 8, 2017.

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

Alleged co-conspirators testify in trial over Montgomery County snake breeder’s murder

December 6, 2021 10:34 AM Matthew Sanders

Lawyers for a woman accused of killing her snake breeder husband in Montgomery County blamed Ben Renick’s death on his wife’s ex-boyfriend during opening statements in her murder trial Monday.

Murder trial starts Monday for Lynlee Renick, accused of killing her reptile breeding husband

December 5, 2021 7:01 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) The murder trial of Lynlee Renick is set to start on Monday. Renick is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of her husband, Ben Renick. According to court records, the trial is set to start under Judge Kevin Crane in the Boone County Courthouse at

Man accused in deadly shooting extradited to Boone County

December 6, 2021 8:08 AM Zachary Farwell

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man accused of a deadly shooting has been extradited back to Boone County. According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Achterberg, 36, was booked into the Boone County Jail on Sunday afternoon. The Boone County Prosecutor’s Office charged him last month with first-degree murder and armed criminal action