Crime Archives

Co-owner of Columbia restaurant facing arson charge in southeast Missouri

September 27, 2023 5:14 PM Marina Diaz

Casa Maria’s Cantina’s co-owner is facing an arson charge for her alleged role in starting a fire at a restaurant this summer in a Bootheel town.

Settlement reached in wrongful death lawsuit against deputy who killed Sedalia woman

September 27, 2023 8:11 PM Ryan Shiner

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A settlement has been reached in the wrongful death lawsuit that was filed against a Pettis County Deputy who killed a Sedalia woman in June 2020. The amount in the settlement was not disclosed in court documents. Hannah Fizer, 25, of Sedalia, was killed in the shooting after a traffic stop on

Columbia to hold community forum with police chief candidates next month

September 27, 2023 4:54 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia announced in a Wednesday press release that it will hold a community forum with its final police-chief candidates at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 at City Hall. Residents can submit questions online for the candidates to answer on the City’s BeHeard website for the police chief search. The

Mexican man charged with child sex trafficking in Boone County

September 27, 2023 3:39 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Mexican national has been charged in Boone County with second-degree child sex trafficking and sexual misconduct involving a child younger than 15 years old. Francisco Acosta-Flores, 33, is not in custody. A warrant was ordered for his arrest and no bond was set. According to the probable cause statement, Acosta-Flores knowingly

Fulton man charged with six counts of child porn possession

September 27, 2023 3:04 PM Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: Stuart’s bond has been updated after a source updated its information. FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) A Fulton man was charged on Wednesday with six counts of having child pornography. Robert Wayne Stuart, 35, is being held in the Callaway County Jail on a $50,000 bond. A court date has not been announced. He was

Two hearings set for Wednesday at the Missouri Supreme Court

September 27, 2023 5:19 AM Gabrielle Teiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments today for not one, but two court cases against the state beginning at 9 a.m. in Jefferson City. City of St. Louis, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al. The Supreme Court will hear arguments today for the city of St. Louis over

Documents: Mother of Columbia boy killed by gunshot gave conflicting stories

September 26, 2023 10:06 AM Matthew Sanders

The mother of a 3-year-old boy who was shot dead Sunday told police conflicting stories after the child was shot, according to court documents.

Boone County man charged with child porn possession

September 26, 2023 6:39 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boone County man was charged on Tuesday with two counts of possessing child pornography. Nicholas Toeniskoetter, 28, was arrested on Monday, according to the probable cause statement. His address listed on Casenet is Columbia, but jail records indicate he is from Ashland. On June 8, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office Cyber

Several crime categories down at University of Missouri

September 26, 2023 4:48 PM Matthew Sanders

Multiple types of violent crime and drug and alcohol violations were down at the University of Missouri in 2022 from previous years, according to the school’s annual safety report.

Columbia Parks and Rec staff eye changes at ARC after June fight

September 26, 2023 4:28 PM Lucas Geisler

Columbia Parks and Recreation is considering several changes to the Activity and Recreation Center following a fight with a gun this summer.

Police: Woman arrested after lying about child being trapped in vehicle on fire

September 26, 2023 3:12 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A St. Louis woman was arrested on Monday after allegedly making a false call to police, according to a Tuesday press release from the Jefferson City Police Department. According to the release, Jefferson City Communications took a call at 6:51 p.m. Monday about a child locked inside a vehicle that was

Columbia police arrest man accused in child’s shooting death

September 25, 2023 11:35 AM Morgan Buresh, Matthew Sanders, Ryan Shiner

Boone County’s top prosecutor said Monday that his office has charged a man with second-degree murder and other violent felonies after the shooting death of a 3-year-old Sunday.

Woman charged, allegedly found with more than 1.5 pounds of meth

September 25, 2023 8:16 PM Ryan Shiner

MILLERSBURG, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman was charged and arrested after a Callaway County Sheriff’s deputy allegedly found her with about 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine in her car early Friday. Lori Michelle Williams, 50, was charged with second-degree drug trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to drive within

Audrain County teenager charged with DWI after crashing vehicle during chase with Callaway deputies

September 25, 2023 4:12 PM Ryan Shiner

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Mexico, Missouri, teenager has been charged after allegedly leading Callaway County deputies on a high-speed chase on Saturday and crashing his mom’s car. Blake Lewis Mason, 18, was charged this weekend with resisting arrest by fleeing and driving while intoxicated – having a person younger than 17 years old in

Man charged with sodomy arrested in Illinois, extradited to Boone County

September 25, 2023 3:41 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was charged in July with first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse is now in the Boone County Jail. Dayvion Robinson, 23, was arrested by the Lincolnwood Police Department in Illinois on Sept. 14, according to court records. A notice of extradition was filed by a Boone County assistant Prosecutor

Prosecutor files first-degree murder charge in Monroe County death

September 25, 2023 12:43 PM Matthew Sanders

Prosecutors have enhanced a murder charge and added another charge against a Monroe County man accused in a 2021 killing.

Mexico police looking for man who shot himself in the foot

September 25, 2023 11:53 AM Dan Kite

Mexico, Missouri, police say they are having trouble finding a man who shot himself in the foot Sunday night.

3-year-old boy dies after being shot Sunday afternoon, suspect identified

September 25, 2023 2:48 AM Erika McGuire, Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 3-year-old boy who was shot Sunday afternoon in north Columbia has died, the Columbia Police Department said early Monday morning. Police have identified Larry Brownlee Jr., 28, as a suspect. Brownlee is wanted on an arrest warrant for second-degree murder, armed criminal action and a felon in possession of a firearm.

POLICE: Three-year-old boy shot in Columbia

September 24, 2023 2:51 PM abc17news-Newsroom

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Police are investigating a shooting that led to a 3-year-old boy being shot. Police do not have an update on the victim’s condition, who was taken to a local hospital. “That child sustained a gunshot wound to his torso. They made the decision to quickly scoop the child up, put the

Callaway County man arrested for assault, drug possession

September 23, 2023 3:05 PM abc17news-Newsroom

A man was arrested this week in Callaway County for several charges relating domestic assault and illegal drugs.