Homicide Archives

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.

Former reporter subpoenaed in Joseph Elledge murder trial

August 20, 2021 6:41 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A judge approved an out-of-state subpoena in court earlier Friday for the Joseph Elledge murder trial. An order for Gladys Bautista to appear in court was approved by Judge Jacobs in court. She is a former local reporter who interviewed Elledge before he was arrested. Prosecuting attorney Dan Knight says she is

Judge allows recordings as evidence in Joseph Elledge murder case

August 3, 2021 10:20 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Judge Brouck Jacobs will allow recordings of Joseph Elledge as evidence in the upcoming murder trial. Elledge is charged with first degree murder in the death of his wife Mengqi Ji. Judge Jacobs ruled that the recordings are relevant and admissibale. “After a hearing on 7/15/21, the Court took under advisement the

Man charged with second-degree murder after Friday morning stabbing in Ashland

August 2, 2021 1:48 PM Karl Wehmhoener

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ) A man is facing multiple charges after a Friday morning fatal stabbing. According to court documents, Robin Morales-Sanchez allegedly assaulted Moises Hernandez-Sanchez and then stabbed him in the torso 10 times and the neck once on the morning of July 30. Morales-Sanchez is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal

Arrest warrant issued for murder suspect in Ashland homicide

August 1, 2021 10:04 AM Meghan Drakas

ASHLAND Mo. (KMIZ) An arrest warrant has been issued for the murder suspect in an Ashland homicide. According to Ashland Police, 19-year-old Robin Morales-Sanchez is wanted for the Friday morning murder of Moises Hernandez-Sanchez. Morales-Sanchez also assaulted another individual according to police. Morales-Sanchez is being charged with murder in the second degree, assault in the

Jefferson City man charged with murder after shooting at Lazy Gators May 29

July 28, 2021 4:25 PM Karl Wehmhoener

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man is charged with the shooting death of a man at Lazy Gators in Camden County over Memorial Day weekend. Officials allege Chad Brewer shot Vonza Watson in the abdomen after a fight May 29. Brewer was arrested at the scene after deputies allegedly found drugs in his

Documents: Witness helped identify Osage County double-murder suspect

July 26, 2021 2:08 PM Matthew Sanders

Prosecutors charged Warren M. Taylor, 62, with two counts each of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the deaths of Leonard Gerloff, 59, and Pauline Gerloff, 56, at their Chamois home. Authorities were called to the address Saturday afternoon and found Pauline Gerloff with an apparent gunshot wound to the head and Leonard Gerloff lying face down with blood on his body and clothes, according to a probable cause statement.