COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The trial over the second-degree arson charge of a Columbia restaurant owner is scheduled for February. Crystal Umfress is charged with felonies in two cases in southeast Missouri. In one case, she’s charged with second-degree arson. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026. The trial is set to start Feb.
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(Editor’s note, 5/27: The story and headline have been updated to reflect a Cole County judge’s changes to the amount of money awarded in the case.) COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Western District Court of Appeals upheld a Cole County jury’s decision to punish agriculture giant Monsanto for diseases developed by those using its product. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Police say advancements in DNA technology are helping in cold case investigations. Police are investigating 16 cold case homicides dating back to 1985. Three of these cases are over 30 years old. This includes the case of 59-year-old George Showalter, who was found dead inside a Red Roof Inn motel room
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Auxvasse man was charged this week with two counts of second-degree statutory rape. Taylor Logan Brown, 25, is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Callaway County Courthouse. The probable cause statement says that the youth was
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An inmate who is serving a life sentence for murder was charged with several felonies on Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted two corrections officers in 2023. James Henderson, 44, was charged in Cole County with first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of violence toward a Department of Corrections
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Louisville Courier Journal filed a complaint on Friday against a Kentucky school board that hired former Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood. Jefferson County Public Schools said in a social media post on Thursday that the Board of Education voted 5-2 on Thursday to offer a contract, though it did not
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man accused of firing shots in a south Columbia apartment complex told police that he was drugged at a bar and didn’t remember the events, according to a probable cause statement. Gabino C. Hernandez, 28, whose hometown is listed as Anderson, Missouri, in jail records, remained in the Boone County Jail
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man has been charged with a felony after he allegedly brought back a seagull from the Gulf of Mexico and amputated its wing with a pair of scissors. Aaron Lacey was charged on Thursday with felony animal abuse, misdemeanor animal abuse and violating an ordinance by the county commission. A
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police found evidence of gunfire on Friday morning in the 4300 block of Kentsfield Lane, the Columbia Police Department wrote in a Friday afternoon social media post. Police wrote that “all involved parties were gone” and that witness saw several people “cause a disturbance,” the post says. Police did not find anyone
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia teenager was certified as an adult on Friday for his alleged role in shootings on Dec. 21 and Jan. 27. Justin Lumley Jr., 17, is charged with four counts of first-degree assault, seven counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mid-Missouri is taking steps toward curbing violence through collaborative efforts between local, state and federal agencies. The Violent Crime Abatement Team — which began on Jan. 1 — looks to discuss recent violent crimes and arrests in the area during monthly meetings at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Discussions include sharing information about
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Police Department is looking for a man who allegedly exposed himself Wednesday afternoon near Stankowski Field. A press release from MUPD says witnesses saw the man expose himself before leaving. The release says he was last seen driving a white 2024 Volkswagen Jetta with a Minnesota license plate
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man on Thursday was charged in Cole County with having child pornography. Austin Russell, 27, is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled. The probable cause statement says the Boone County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force received a tip
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two juveniles were arrested in connection with a May 15 shooting in the 4600 block of Rice Road, according to a Wednesday press release from the Columbia Police Department. The release says a youth was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree assault, while another was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Another man has been charged in a child sex crime case in Morgan County. Jack Chick, 19, of Eldon, was charged on Wednesday with three counts of patronizing a sexual performance by a child and one count of fourth-degree child molestation. He was detained on May 14, but was released at the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Cole County man was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor after he allegedly followed a teenager at the Jefferson City Target and put a cellphone under their skirt. Christopher Whittle was charged on Wednesday with first-degree stalking and misdemeanor invasion of privacy. A warrant was issued for his arrest and
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman who was charged with murder in a fatal shooting at a Holts Summit apartment complex last month was indicted by a grand jury on Monday. Heather Smith, 37, of Holts Summit, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree child endangerment, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. An arraignment is
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City woman was charged on Wednesday after she was accused of raping a youth. Estelle Kerns, 35, was charged with first-degree statutory rape of someone younger than 14 years old. She is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A hearing was set for Wednesday. The probable cause
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By Paula Reid, Casey Gannon, Hannah Rabinowitz, Evan Perez and Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration is moving to dismiss federal oversight agreements in Louisville and Minneapolis reached following the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor and police killing of George Floyd, and dropping investigations into several major US police departments. The move, announced
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two men and two teenaged juveniles were detained after they allegedly broke into the vacant hospital in Mexico, Missouri, on Friday night, according to a Tuesday press release from the Mexico Department of Public Safety. The release says MPSD has been responding to the property at 620 East Monroe Street several times
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