Crime Archives

Columbia man pleads guilty to reduced charge in stepfather’s death

August 21, 2023 12:36 PM Matthew Sanders

A Columbia man charged in March 2022 with shooting and killing his father pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday and could spend more than two decades in prison.

Former respiratory therapist in Missouri sentenced in connection with patient deaths

August 20, 2023 4:40 PM Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Missouri respiratory therapist who pleaded guilty in the deaths of two hospital patients has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Jennifer Hall was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder but pleaded guilty in April to reduced first-degree involuntary manslaughter counts in the deaths of 75-year-old

Cole County Courthouse set to receive renovations

August 18, 2023 9:51 PM Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Cole County Courthouse has been standing in Jefferson City for more than 100 years, but it’s beginning to be in need some some repairs. During Tuesday’s Cole County Commission meeting, Judge Jon Beetem made a presentation about repairs to the courthouse, which included the main courtroom on the third floor.

Murder charge downgraded for man accused of killing baby

August 18, 2023 10:41 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Charges have been updated for a man accused of killing his child and abandoning the corpse. Staffone Fountain, 31, of Independence, was previously charged with first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse. He is now charged with second-degree murder, abandoning a corpse and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Fountain’s attorney

Four men arrested in Sedalia in relation to human trafficking investigation, law enforcement says

August 18, 2023 3:28 PM Ryan Shiner

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Four men were arrested Thursday in Pettis County in relation to a human trafficking investigation, according to a Friday press release from the Sedalia Police Department. The four men arrested, according to the release, on suspicion of patronizing prostitution were: Donald Reece, 62 of Sedalia;James Deer, 39 of Columbia;Tim Sinn, 44 of

Teenagers involved in Mexico vehicle thefts

August 18, 2023 12:15 PM David Kitchin

The Mexico Public Safety Department says five teenagers were detained and released after a resident reported suspicious activity in the northwest part of town Thursday evening.

Camden County man charged with drug trafficking

August 17, 2023 6:43 PM Ryan Shiner

CAMDENTON, Mo. (KMIZ) A Camden County man was charged Wednesday in Camden County with drug trafficking after deputies allegedly found 140 fentanyl capsules during a Tuesday traffic stop. Kevin Patrick Erdelen Jr., 41, was charged with first-degree drug trafficking. He is being held without bond at the Camden County Jail. An initial court appearance was

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Have you been a victim of a data breach?

August 17, 2023 4:03 AM ABC 17 News Team

The University of Missouri System said Wednesday that some students, workers and retirees’ information was compromised in a massive hack this summer of a file-transfer system.

City of Columbia sued, accused of negligence, racial discrimination in 2020 death investigation by mother of man who died

August 16, 2023 7:45 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is being sued by Doressia T. Mckee, who alleges racial discrimination led to the Columbia Police Department mishandling the death investigation of her son. Freddie McKee, 37, was found dead outside of a home in July 2020 on Switzler Street. On Dec. 8, after a request from the

Jury trial set for Fiji member accused in Santulli hazing case; trial to begin in January

August 16, 2023 6:59 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Trial dates have been set for one of the University of Missouri fraternity members accused in the Danny Santulli hazing case. Benjamin Karl, 21, of Columbia, was charged with felony hazing. A jury will be pooled from Warren County. A pretrial conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 4. A three-day

Judge dismisses charges against Versailles man accused in Jan. 6 riot

August 16, 2023 4:47 PM Matthew Sanders, Lucas Geisler

A federal court on Wednesday dismissed charges against a Versailles, Missouri, man who was being prosecuted for his actions at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Charge downgraded for Columbia man accused of murdering family member

August 16, 2023 3:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man accused of murdering a man last year saw one of his charges downgraded on Monday. Samuel E. Brotherton, 22, is now charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was previously charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Brotherton is being held at the Boone County Jail

Charges dropped in Fayette manslaughter case

August 15, 2023 8:55 PM Lucas Geisler

FAYETTE, Mo. (KMIZ) The Howard County prosecutor dropped charges against a man accused of killing a former Central Methodist University football player. Defense attorney Ben Faber told ABC 17 News that prosecutors dismissed the manslaughter case against Kundarrius Taylor. Faber could not specify when Prosecutor Deborah Riekhof dropped the case, due to it becoming a

Woman accused of murdering toddler ruled incompetent; trial pushed off until next year

August 14, 2023 3:12 PM Ryan Shiner, Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman accused of murdering a toddler five years ago was ruled incompetent by a judge on Monday. Quatavia Givens, 30, is charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, abuse or neglect of a child and abandonment of a corpse in relation to the death of 4-year-old Darnell Gray in

Man charged after manhunt in Montgomery County

August 11, 2023 11:33 PM Katie Greathouse

Prosecutors charged a man Friday in connection with a chase in Montgomery County.

Columbia Police arrest suspect in connection to Boone Hospital threat

August 11, 2023 9:49 AM Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Police have confirmed that a suspect has been arrested in connection to the threat made to Boone Hospital Thursday night. Police believe James Dean Lolley, 22, of Fulton, made a threat that put the hospital on lockdown for more than an hour. Lolley was booked into the Boone County Jail for

Jefferson City couple found guilty of child abuse given prison sentence

August 10, 2023 9:26 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City couple found guilty of child abuse and child endangerment in May was sentenced on Thursday. Daniel and Christina Dubey were tried by the court and found guilty on May 30 of three counts of child abuse and two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Daniel

Pretrial conference for woman accused of killing toddler set for next week

August 10, 2023 8:34 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman accused of killing a toddler had a court appearance this week and “the matter of competency was taken under advisement,” according to the Cole County prosecutor. Quatavia Givens, 30, is charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, abuse or neglect of a child, and abandonment of a corpse in

Boone Health given all clear, lockdown ends

August 10, 2023 6:37 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone Health was placed on a lockdown Thursday evening. A Boone Health spokesman told ABC 17 News in an email that the hospital was locked down at 5:52 p.m. after Boone County Joint Communications informed them that it received a call about someone possibly threatening the hospital. Spokesman Ben Cornelius said in

Jury trial date set for former Callaway County sheriff

August 10, 2023 6:19 PM Ryan Shiner

HUNTSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) The jury trial date has been scheduled for a former sheriff’s DWI case. Clay Chism was charged in last fall with a pair of misdemeanors: Driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. A pretrial conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18. A jury trial is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4.