News

The Columbia Police Department and Chief Ken Burton released statements Wednesday, saying they respect a court’s decision to free Ryan Ferguson, but are pursuing with the Kent Heitholt murder investigation. Ferguson was released from prison Tuesday after spending nearly a decade behind bars for the 2001 murder of Heitholt, the Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor.

The Maries County Sheriff says a man reported missing from Raymore on Tuesday was found safe in Vienna. Law enforcement in western Missouri had been looking for Kenneth Hunt, 87, who was last seen outside Odessa Tuesday night. The Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Endangered Silver Advisory Alert for Hunt, because he has dementia.

Ryan Ferguson, a Columbia man imprisoned 10 years for murder and robbery, was released from prison Tuesday. The Missouri Attorney General confirmed Tuesday he will not seek a retrial of 29-yea-rold Ferguson. Attorney General Chris Koster announced he will not retry or seek further legal action against Ferguson. Koster said in a statement: “After studying

Jefferson City’s conference center facilitator endorsed the Farmer Holding Company’s Capital Mall proposal Tuesday night. Mayor Eric Struemph told ABC 17 News, “It appears now that one proposal is much stronger than the other.” Kirk Farmer told ABC 17 he was happy with tonight’s endorsement. The final public hearing is planned for 5:30p.m. Thursday. The

Jefferson City 0 vs. Rock Bridge 4 Fatima 1 vs. Southern Boone 6 Helias 1 vs. Union 0

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Jordan Clarkson scored a career-high 31 points and Jabari Brown added 17 to lift Missouri past Southern Illinois 72-59 Tuesday night. Clarkson, Brown and Earnest Ross combined for 59 points as the rest of the Tigers only shot 5-of-11 from the field. After trading baskets through the first half, the Tigers

A free Thanksgiving meal will continue to be held in Columbia, despite the recent death of its well-known organizer. Former City Councilwoman Almeta Crayton passed away in October, but her popular holiday charity event, Everybody Eats, will go on as scheduled. It will be the 16th year for the program. This year, food baskets will

Just minutes after being released from prison, Ryan Ferguson held a press conference Tuesday evening to thanks his supporters. Earlier Tuesday, the Missouri Attorney General confirmed he would not retry Ferguson. Attorney General Chris Koster announced he will not retry or seek further legal action against him at this time. After Ferguson was transferred from

While Thanksgiving is still weeks away, the giving spirit is in the air Tuesday morning. Columbia’s Salvation Army began its Christmas Assistance sign-up Tuesday and will continue until Nov. 20. Other organizations started months ago and are looking for sponsors to support their families in need. This year, charities are finding they have more needing

A recent rape has student residents at Aspen Heights fearing for their safety. The student housing complex has seen a rash of crime, from break-ins to a shooting, but police say this rape is the worst. A 19-year-old female was chased near the clubhouse, pushed to the ground, and allegedly raped by a man in

Police are investigating a forcible rape that happened at the troubled Aspen Heights apartment complex in Columbia. Police were called to the University Hospital emergency room on Nov. 11 in reference to an assault that happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 1 or 2. Investigators say the 19-year-old female victim was walking near

A veteran of the Korean War lost his home during a fire on Veterans Day. Around 11:47 a.m., several fire crews were called to the mobile home fire near Henderson Drive and Highway MM in Sunrise Beach. Firefighters say the fire began in a pile of leaves that spread to a storage shed and the

Columbia police have made an arrest in a kidnapping and rape case that happened back in September. Police say the case started at the end of September when officers were called out the 1200 block of Wilkes Boulevard in reference to a kidnapping. Investigators say Marcus Smith confronted a female victim with a handgun in

The Missouri Attorney General has hours left to try and stop a motion that would allow Ryan Ferguson to be released from prison on bond. Ferguson had his murder conviction overturned by the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals last Tuesday. His attorney, Kathleen Zellner, filed a motion the same day to get him out

Police say a death investigation in Jefferson City is no longer considered suspicious. Officers say the death happened Monday morning at 1104 block of E. High Street. Joseph Morgan, 35, was found dead in an apartment. Police said they took several people into custody for questioning, but all have since been released. Tuesday morning, Lt.

An Endangered Person Advisory has been canceled for an Eldon teenager who was last seen Oct. 28. Police say Ethel M. Parker, 16, was found safe in Miller County. They aren’t releasing any other details at this point. Parker had been missing since her boyfriend dropped her off on Grand Avenue in Eldon around 7:47

A man is in jail after allegedly trespassing at Fire Station No. 2 on Worley Street in Columbia. Damien Shaw, 31, of Columbia, was arrested for multiple outstanding warrants, but he is being held on an arson warrant out of Baldwin County, Ala. The trespassing incident happened early Saturday morning. Just after 5 a.m., firefighters

South Callaway 7 vs. Blair Oaks 17 Hannibal 7 vs. Helias 42 Macon 0 vs. California 39 Ava 14 vs. Eldon 19 Waynesville 0 vs. Camdenton 35 South Shelby 7 vs. Westran 56 Marceline 26 vs. Milan 0 Local quarterfinals match-ups (Saturday at 1:30 pm) Class 1: Westran at Marceline Class 2: Blair Oaks at

As temperatures drop well below freezing this week, Jefferson City fire crews prepared for a seasonal fire problem. “Space heater fires, we usually have four to five here right away, we’re afraid,” said Capt. Tim Young of JCFD. “They’re a very common thing as soon as the weather turns cold.” Young demonstrated for ABC 17

Jefferson City police are investigating two robberies that happened just minutes apart. A man told police he was assaulted and robbed by three men wearing masks in the 1000 block of Elizabeth Street early Saturday morning. ABC 17 News has learned the victim later saw his alleged attackers and rammed their car with his pickup