Cole County mom, son charged after police respond after hearing gunshots
David Rice Jr. and Melissa Washia are facing charges after police responded to a home where neighbors reported hearing gunshots.
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Man who pleaded guilty to statutory rape in Columbia sentenced to four years in prison
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who pleaded guilty last month to a pair of child sex crimes has been sentenced. Jesus Hernandez, 38, pleaded guilty in Boone County on March 25 to second-degree statutory rape and second-degree statutory sodomy. He is being held at the Boone County Jail on an immigration detainer. He was sentenced on
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Another person charged in alleged Columbia gun theft ring
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Another woman has been charged in connection with an alleged gun theft ring in Columbia. Shannon Babich, of Columbia, was charged with stealing a gun and misdemeanor unlawful possession drug paraphernalia. A warrant was ordered and a $20,000 bond was set. She is not listed on the Boone County Jail roster. Babich
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Jefferson City man charged in Easter shooting that left victim with ‘serious’ injuries
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Prosecutors charged a Jefferson City man Sunday with three felonies for a domestic shooting. Paris M. Alexander was not in custody Tuesday in Cole County, according to jail and court records. He was charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Jefferson City police say
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Columbia man sentenced in $1.2 million federal fraud case
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who ran a scheme to defraud insurance companies through staged accidents and fraudulently applied for COVID-19 relief funds was sentenced Monday in federal court, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. Lawrence Courtney Lawhorn, 37, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison without parole and
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New trial date set for 2026 in case of man accused of killing Russellville classmate in 1991
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new trial date has been set for a man accused of killing his classmate in 1991. William “Chris” Niemet, of Fulton, is accused of killing his classmate, Greg Jones, in April 1991 in Russellville. Jones was 14. Niemet also would have been 14 at the time. Niemet was charged in 2020 with first-degree murder. Court
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Former Cooper County Jail employee accused of sexual misconduct with inmate
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was an employee at the Cooper County Jail has been indicted in Boone County for allegedly having sex with an inmate last year. John Dillehay, 48, was indicted on Friday on two charges, including sexual conduct in the course of public duty and misdemeanor making a false report. He
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Holts Summit man sentenced 91 years for rape, sodomy, domestic assault
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Holts Summit man was sentenced to 91 years in prison on Friday for several sex crimes. Mitchell Dean Fox III, 28, was found guilty on Feb. 7 of three counts of first-degree sodomy one count of first-degree rape, one count of second-degree domestic assault, one count of third-degree domestic assault, one
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Columbia Police say witnesses of crimes coming forward could help bring answers to unsolved cases, but understands the risk
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Police say witnesses of crimes coming forward to authorities with information could help them unravel unsolved cases. But they also understand, there could be a risk. “I think there’s a variety of reasons [why a person would not come forward to police],” CPD Lt. Matt Gremore said. “I don’t think anybody
Continue Reading Man who pleaded guilty to drug charge in relation to 2020 shooting death sentenced to probation
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who pleaded guilty to a drug charge in relation to a 2020 shooting death has been sentenced. Isaiah Brunson pleaded guilty in November to delivery of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to five years of probation. He was previously charged with second-degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance. The
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Woman charged with six felonies including murder in Callaway County shooting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Prosecutors charged a Holts Summit woman Thursday with six felonies in a shooting that killed one person and left two others injured. Heather M. Smith, 37, was charged with second-degree murder, child endangerment, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. She was in the Callaway County Jail
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Columbia teen accused of shooting at car filled with people indicted by grand jury
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 16-year-old boy who is charged as an adult after he was accused of shooting at a vehicle filled with people in January has been indicted by a grand jury. Samiyon Myers, of Columbia, is charged with first-degree assault, delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of armed criminal action, two
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Amber Alert canceled for Cape Girardeau child
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Amber Alert was canceled late Wednesday by the Missouri State Highway Patrol for a 5-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted by her “non-custodial mother.” According to an update from the Highway Patrol just after 10:30 p.m., the child is safe and the suspect is in custody. The alert states that Kelsi
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Police were called to Cosmo Park prior to shots being fired on Saturday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A witness to a weekend shooting at Columbia’s Cosmo Park that left two people hospitalized says police were already at the park before gunfire erupted. Initial information suggests the gathering included fraternity and sorority members from Jefferson City and Columbia. Police do not currently have anyone in custody. Royal Lyon, a sophomore
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‘We need more lighting’: Lack of lighting in Northeast Columbia neighborhood raises safety concerns
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Northeast Columbia has seen a high volume of shootings in recent years, with police being dispatched to Rice Road 35 times already this year, which includes a pair of shots fired calls. After covering multiple incidents in the area, one thing has stood out. The lack of lighting at night. The City
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Man at Fulton State Hospital arrested in 1989 cold case surrounding Springfield teen’s killing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A patient at Fulton State Hospital has been arrested after he was accused of raping and killing a teenager in 1989. Paul Edward Bowles, 62, was booked into the Callaway County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of second-degree murder, forcible rape and forcible sodomy. Jail records show that he will be brought
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Man accused of murder in North Carolina arrested at Ft. Leonard Wood
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was in basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood was arrested by Army personnel on Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree murder and concealment of death. A press release from the Fayetteville, North Carolina, Police Department says that Tyrique Zavier Leroy Williams, 26, is accused of killing Annie Lock. Williams is
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University of Missouri, Columbia police working together to increase downtown safety
The University of Missouri says it’s continuing to make safety a top priority for people on and around campus. UM System President Mun Choi said during a news conference Thursday after a meeting of the board of curators that leaders at the University of Missouri and the Columbia Police Department are working to increase patrols
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Death penalty no longer on the table for Jefferson City man charged with first-degree murder
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The death penalty is no longer an option in the case of a Jefferson City man accused of stabbing the mother of his child to death. Sergio Sayles was charged in 2023 with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence, misdemeanor second-degree stalking and misdemeanor second-degree harassment. The venue for the
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Man accused of firing gun in parking lot during ‘underground racing event’ faces more felony charges
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who was charged earlier this week after he allegedly fired a gun in a parking lot has been charged in another case. Jadon Gooldy, 20, was charged on Monday with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of misdemeanor fourth-degree
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