Crime Archives

A court’s ruling on AI-generated child sexual abuse material could lead to complications in Missouri investigations

September 2, 2026 7:51 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A recent decision by a federal appeals court judge to dismiss a charge for ‘possession of virtual child sexual abuse material’ has raised concerns for one Missouri advocate. Steven Anderegg was originally charged with producing, distributing and possessing child sex abuse materials and sending the material to a minor. Anderegg allegedly produced

Jefferson City man gets indicted in fentanyl overdose case

September 2, 2026 9:38 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man was indicted by a federal grand jury in a fatal overdose case, according to a Wednesday press release from the Department of justice. Bryan Isiah Thomas, 37, is charged with multiple counts of distributing fentanyl and a count of distributing drugs resulting in death. He is being held

Police staffing among concerns for bar owners talked about during CPD downtown roundtable

September 2, 2026 6:07 PM Melissa Houston

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Police Department hosted a roundtable on Wednesday afternoon for downtown Columbia bar’s and businesses over downtown safety concerns. Police Chief Jill Schlude said that the reason for this meeting was to reengage withowners and have a better line of communication between them and personnel. “This is just kind of trying to

Missouri Supreme Court considers final attempt to get ‘Missouri First’ map on November ballot

September 2, 2026 2:43 PM Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments for two lawsuits from a group trying to get the mid-decade “Missouri First” congressional map Map on the November ballot. This is the final attempt to get the map, which lawmakers passed during a special session on mid-decade redistricting, in front of voters. People Not

Wrongful death lawsuit filed against pair accused in 2024 killing of Columbia man

September 2, 2026 6:35 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two people who are charged in connection with the death of a Columbia man have been sued in civil court. Alexander Aklan is charged in Boone County with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree drug trafficking, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action in the 2024 death of Antonio Davis, 56.

Several men arrested in Boone County child sex crime sting have cases moved up to federal court

September 2, 2026 4:43 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Eight men who were arrested during a week-long sting in Boone County over child sex crimes have had their cases moved up to federal court, the Western District of Missouri announced in a Wednesday press release. Deputies arrested several men in June who attempted to meet with who they thought were minors

Truck driver in tractor-trailer crash involving 42,000 pounds of paint charged with DWI

September 2, 2026 3:49 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A truck driver who crash a semi carrying 42,000 pounds of paint on Tuesday in Montgomery County was charged with three misdemeanors. Lonnie Britton, of Middletown, Delaware, was charged on Wednesday in Montgomery county with driving with intoxicated, having a BAC too high to drive a commercial vehicle and reckless driving. The

Columbia man arrested in standoff was wanted for chase, gun threat

September 2, 2026 10:51 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 23-year-old Columbia man arrested after a standoff that shut down a busy street was wanted for allegedly threatening a family member with a gun and leading police on a chase. Ethan J. McCauley was arrested Tuesday after a standoff that lasted about two hours on Fyfer Place, just off East Broadway.

2 detained after standoff at East Broadway intersection led to road closure

September 1, 2026 2:48 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Part of East Broadway was closed Tuesday afternoon in Columbia as police were in a standoff. A photo submitted to ABC 17 News showed a police Bearcat armored vehicle in the area of East Broadway and Fyfer Place, adjacent to Boone Hospital. The Columbia Police Department wrote in a social media post

New Florence man faces 29 felony counts in alleged shooting

September 1, 2026 9:17 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A New Florence man was charged with 29 felonies after he allegedly shot at someone during an argument on Sunday in Montgomery County. Keeland Sanders was charged with first-degree domestic assault, 14 counts of armed criminal action, one count of second-degree assault, 12 counts of unlawful use of a weapon, one count

18-year-old charged after allegedly firing shots through walls of home

September 1, 2026 8:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An 18-year-old man was charged with four felonies and four misdemeanors after he allegedly fired a gun in a Fayette home while threatening multiple victims on Monday morning. Eric Jackson Jr. was charged in Howard County with armed criminal action, endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of illegal use of

Hearing scheduled for next week in 1991 Cole County murder case

September 1, 2026 6:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A hearing was scheduled on Monday for Cole County murder case dating back to 1991. William “Chris” Niemet, of Fulton, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his Russellville classmate Greg Jones in April 1991. Jones was 14. Niemet also would have been 14 at the time. Niemet was charged in 2020 with

Boone County receives $307k cyber crimes grant

September 1, 2026 6:20 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County will receive a $307,205.85 grant to fight cyber crimes, according to documentation provided to ABC 17 News. That figure is up from the grant it received last year, which was worth $303,044. The county applied for the cyber-crimes grant with the state and was notified of its award on Aug.

MSHP: Semi-truck driver arrested after Montgomery County crash

September 1, 2026 9:05 AM Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A semi-truck driver was arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Tuesday morning after a crash on Interstate 70 in Montgomery County. MSHP Troop F shared on X, that troopers responded to the crash involving a semi-truck loaded with 42,000 pounds of paint at the 166 mile marker of eastbound I-70. Traffic

Man accused in Moberly woman’s shooting death waives arraignment, has bond hearing next week

August 31, 2026 8:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man charged with first-degree murder in a Moberly woman’s shooting death waived his arraignment on Monday. Christopher Viley, 51, was arrested after a standoff on Thursday after police claim he shot and killed Cheryl Gravitt, 57, on Aug. 23. He is being held at the Randolph County Jail without bond. A

Man charged with patronizing prostitution from teens has initial court hearing

August 31, 2026 11:59 AM Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 35-year-old man was charged Monday on accusations that he tried to pay one or more teenagers for sex at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. Boone County prosecutors charged Colton Cranford on Monday with a single count of patronizing prostitution with a person between the ages of 15 and 18. In a

Man accused of armed robbery on Clark Lane over dirt bike, silver chain

August 31, 2026 4:03 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man has been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly robbed someone on Saturday night on Clark Lane while holding a gun. Keith Marks Jr., 25, of Columbia, was charged on Monday in Boone County with first-degree robbery, illegal gun possession and armed criminal action. He is being held at the

Former Moberly daycare owner pleads guilty to child endangerment ahead of trial

August 31, 2026 12:40 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – A former daycare operator pleaded guilty to four felonies Monday ahead of her bench trial on child abuse charges in Randolph County. Naomi Hess pleaded guilty on Monday to four counts of first-degree child endangerment. The class D felonies carry a maximum seven-year prison sentence. Hess will be sentenced on November

Judge denies motion to revoke bond for man charged in 2020 Columbia nightclub shooting

August 31, 2026 5:40 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man charged in a deadly 2020 Columbia shooting will not have his bond revoked after arguments in Monday morning’s pre-trial hearing. Curtis Allen Lewis is charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with a shooting that killed Tershawn Kitchen. Kitchen was a

Youth suspect in custody in south Columbia robbery

August 30, 2026 4:46 AM Alison Patton

A juvenile was arrested after an armed robbery in south Columbia on Saturday evening.

According to a news release from the Columbia Police Department, officers were called to the 400 block of Maple Grove Way around 6:45 p.m.