Homicide Archives

Missing Boone County man’s family seeks answers 10 years later

September 15, 2021 2:16 PM Joushua Blount

Wednesday marks 10 years since a Harrisburg man disappeared under suspicious circumstances.

Boone County prosecutor to dismiss murder case against JT McLean

September 15, 2021 9:38 AM Lucas Geisler

Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight told ABC 17 News on Wednesday that he plans to dismiss the case against JT McLean. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office sent a notice on Tuesday that McLean had died last week.

Miller County search warrant reveals details in double homicide

September 14, 2021 10:55 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Court documents reveal more about the circumstances around a Miller County double homicide that occurred around Sept. 8. Court documents show deputies found one person shot in the back of the head at home in Kaiser. Deputies also found a motorcycle, helmet and a bag in the woods behind the home, according

Wrongful death lawsuit filed in Osage County double homicide

September 13, 2021 1:15 PM Matthew Sanders

The lawsuit filed Friday in Osage County seeks damages for the deaths of Leonard Gerloff, 59, and Pauline Gerloff, 56, who were found dead in July at their Chamois home. Prosecutors charged Warren M. Taylor, 62, with two counts each of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. The Gerloffs were shot to death, according to the lawsuit.

Fingerprints, DNA taken from McLean in multi-state death investigation

September 10, 2021 1:12 PM Lucas Geisler

The Sioux City Police Department took the evidence from J.T. McLean’s body on Thursday, according to a search warrant obtained by ABC 17 News. The inventory lists just the fingerprints and DNA swabs.

South Dakota deputies serve warrants in J.T. McLean case

September 9, 2021 8:16 PM Lucas Geisler

ELK POINT, S.D. (KMIZ) Deputies found a white cord and rubber straps inside the truck a mid-Missouri murder suspect killed himself on Wednesday night. The evidence seized through a search warrant could be used in murder investigations in Boone and Miller counties. Deputies there are looking into the deaths of four people, including Allison Abitz,

Miller County victims connected to homicide suspect by ex-wife

September 9, 2021 5:50 AM ABC 17 News Team

According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, J.T. McLean, 45, was found in the area near Dakota Dunes late Wednesday night in a vehicle parked at a motel.

Boone County Sheriff’s Office looking for motorcycle connected to double homicide suspect

September 8, 2021 4:01 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Boone County Sheriff’s detectives got a tip that JT McLean had recently acquired a dark colored motorcycle and may have used that to leave the area.

Columbia woman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for a Feb. shooting

September 6, 2021 8:55 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Friday in a Feb. 2021 shooting. Elizabeth Dye received a 20-year prison sentence in the death of Maya Wootton. Police say Dye was homeless and living in a car, and shot Wootton in the basement of Wootton’s home on Orchard Court Lucas Harper pleaded guilty last

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you support the death penalty?

September 1, 2021 1:17 AM ABC 17 News Team

Lethal injection has come under scrutiny in recent years on ethical and constitutional grounds.

Missouri Supreme Court declines to halt Johnson execution

August 31, 2021 3:05 PM Associated Press

By JIM SALTER Associated Press The Missouri Supreme Court has refused to halt the October execution of a man convicted of a triple killing who claimed his intellectual disability made him ineligible for the death penalty. Ernest Lee Johnson is scheduled to die by injection Oct. 5 at the state prison in Bonne Terre. It

Court documents unsealed in Boone County double murder case

August 30, 2021 4:29 PM Matthew Sanders

In documents detailing the two first-degree murder charges against JT McLean, police say a witness, a supermarket receipt and neighborhood surveillance videos connect McLean to the scene where Allison Abitz, 43, and her daughter, Jozee Abitz, 11, were found dead in their home just south of Columbia on Aug. 22.

Columbia murder suspect released on bond

August 27, 2021 3:57 PM Matthew Sanders

Jeffrey McWilliams is suspected in the death of Augustus Roberts, who died at a home in the 1900 block of Lasso Circle on Dec. 11, 2017. He is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.

Murder charge upgraded against woman accused in Jefferson City boy’s death

August 26, 2021 9:46 AM Matthew Sanders

Quatavia Givens was indicted Wednesday on first-degree murder, child endangerment and abandoning a corpse charges in the death of Darnell Gray after he dropped the previous charges, which included second-degree murder, according to a Jefferson City Police Department news release.

Double murder suspect previously ordered to stay away from ex-wife and child, court documents say

August 26, 2021 11:29 AM Molly Stawinoga

The man accused of murdering a Fulton teacher and her daughter not only has previous run-ins with the law, but also previous familial disputes, including threats of violence.

Ex-wife of Fulton murder suspect says she’s ‘not surprised’ by charges against him

August 25, 2021 9:41 PM Leila Mitchell

Boone County prosecutors charged JT McLean with two counts of first-degree murder Wednesday in the deaths of his girlfriend, Allison Abitz, 43, and her daughter, Jozee Abitz, 11, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The sheriff’s office said McLean was the last person to see them alive but released no other details about the investigation.

Boyfriend suspected in double killing of teacher and her daughter

August 25, 2021 6:13 PM Matthew Sanders

Boone County prosecutors charged JT McLean with two counts of first-degree murder Wednesday, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The release said McLean was the last person to be in contact with Allison Abitz, 43, and her daughter Jozee Abitz, 11. The two were found dead in their home just south of Columbia on Sunday night.

Candlelight vigil to be held in honor of murdered Fulton teacher, daughter

August 25, 2021 4:32 PM Hannah Falcon

A candlelight vigil will be held in honor of Allison and Jozee Abitz, who were found dead in their home Sunday night.

Fulton Public Schools community coming together after killing of teacher and student

August 24, 2021 2:09 PM Meghan Drakas

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office was called Sunday night to the 7500 block of Lavender Drive, where deputies found the bodies of 43-year-old Allison Abitz and her 11-year-old daughter Jozee Abitz.

Fulton teacher, daughter killed; Boone County sheriff investigating

August 23, 2021 1:55 PM Matthew Sanders

Deputies found Allison Abitz and Jozee Abitz dead in the 7500 block of Lavender Court just south of Columbia after getting a call from a concerned family member late Sunday, the sheriff’s department said in a Facebook post.