News

A Mid-Missouri man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his son-in-law. Friday, Donald Bateman, 68, pleaded guilty to first degree murder in Moniteau County Court for the death of Antoine Johnson,43, in California last September. He is now sentenced to life without parole. In court, Moniteau County Prosecutor said it

Scott Boulevard in Columbia was down to one lane just south of Thornbrook early Friday evening. A car and a motorcycle were involved in an accident, and a motorcycle was pulled out of a ditch. Stay with ABC 17 News for the latest on this developing story.

The recent rain in Columbia may have caused a stormwater pipe to fail. A sinkhole was discovered Friday on Nebraska Ave. near Providence and I-70. Columbia Public Works officials said the storm water failed causing the hole. By Friday evening it is still not clear if the natural gas line is affected. If it is

Jefferson City Police are gearing up for the St. Patrick’s Day weekend to curb drunk driving. Police said they’ve never had a major problem with DWI offenses, but they do get a few arrests before the holiday. However, with the warmer temperatures they’re expecting larger crowds this year, which could mean more people making bad

A former pastor charged with child sex crimes is set to be in court Friday. Travis Smith is charged with statutory rape and sodomy for a 2005 incident. According to court documents, Smith had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl in 2005. Documents state they met through Smith’s church, the First Baptist Church in

The University of Missouri has received another major gift. ABC 17 News was there for Friday morning’s announcement at the Reynolds Alumni Center. Mark Wilkins, a resident of St. Louis, gave the College of Arts and Sciences $1 million to create the Mark Wilkins Fund for Excellence. The money will go towards faculty enhancement so

The American Red Cross Heart of Missouri Chapter is helping a family after a house fire in Miller County. Two adults and two children were displaced after the blaze off Eastwood Road in Eldon. Volunteers provided food, clothing, and shelter to the family. The family is now staying with relatives.

A man in jail on drug charges is now accused of killing a Boonville boy. Jerry Penticuff is in prison in Boonville for selling drugs. Police in Nevada said they’re filing new charges in the death of 3-year-old Ethan Warner. Warner went to the hospital last fall when his mother came home and found burns

An MU building is clear after it was evacuated for a hydrogen leak. The Columbia Fire Department responded to the MU Animal Science Research Center on Campus Drive around 9:30 Friday morning. Investigators said an employee was transferring a connection between an empty hydrogen tank and a full tank when she could not stop it

The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office are still investigating a house fire that happened just before early last Sunday morning. It happened in the 1200 block of County Road 352 near Millersburg. Multiple fire departments responded to the scene and Callaway County EMS responded to provide support. After crews

A Columbia man is in prison for apparently having drugs and a handgun. Police said 25-year-old Joshua Houston was a passenger in a car that was pulled over in the area of Claudell and Worley this week. The officer could smell marijuana and Houston refused to get out of the car at first. When he

ABC 17s Sherree Burruss recaps high school girls basketball semifinals on Thursday night covering Cairo, Boonville and Tuscumbia.

A group of protesters were marching through Columbia Thursday night. A group of 50-60 people were walking down Turner Avenue toward Jesse Hall on the University of Missouri campus just after 10:00 p.m. While the group was walking through the Francis Quad, they appeared to be chanting, “They think it’s a joke, black lives matter.”

Burglars struck again in one east Columbia neighborhood. There have now been at least four daytime break-ins in the East Ridge Park neighborhood just in the last month. After Thursday’s burglary, the landlord told residents he’ll be installing security systems in each of the homes. Residents said they hope it will deter suspects, but just

Two police officers are recovering Thursday after a shooting outside the Ferguson Police Department early Thursday morning. This happened as protests outside the department started to quiet, starting a turbulent investigation involving nearly a dozen law enforcement departments. County Police and Highway Patrol will handle security outside the department. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon

Leaders from Lincoln University in Jefferson City got back Thursday night from a mission in Cuba. Five employees made the trip, including the University’s new president, Dr. Kevin Rome. They had several goals. They wanted to explore opportunities for researching agriculture and look into exchange programs for students and staff. President Obama recently loosened some

Wednesday, about 10 911 calls were made reporting a bar in northeast Columbia. Whisky Wild Saloon closed its doors months ago after then-owner Ben Bradley was accused of not paying some of his employees and distributors. Earlier this week, Abc 17 News reported the new owner plans to re-open the bar to the public later

Missouri GOP chairman John Hancock is still in office and said he is not going anywhere after a few lawmakers called for his resignation. The fallout comes after late state auditor and gubernatorial candidate Tom Schweich’s suicide. Hancock said its a time for the party to be unified, not divided. He said he’s disappointed by

The woman who has the power to charge a state Trooper after the drowning of a teenager last summer has stepped down. Special prosecutor, Amanda Grellner, is no longer looking into the death of Brandon Ellingson. Ellingson was the 20-year-old who drowned while in Highway Patrol custody at the Lake of the Ozarks last summer.

After the latest events in Ferguson, ABC 17 News sat down with a member of Mid-Missouri law enforcement. We talked to Captain Doug Shoemaker from the Jefferson City Police Department about the recent police violence. Shoemaker said it’s a well-known struggle for anyone trying to protect the public. He said officers have to compare their