Crime Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Does Missouri need harsher penalties for ‘swatting?’

January 11, 2024 2:15 AM ABC 17 News Team

Police were sent to Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s home Sunday night on a bogus call.

Schlude talks policies, staffing during first Columbia Police Review Board meeting as chief of police

January 10, 2024 4:28 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Jill Schlude attended her first Columbia Police Review Board meeting as the city’s police chief on Wednesday evening. Schlude described being grateful to the board, adding that she feels it’s important for both parties to be able to collaboratively work on issues. During the meeting, board members asked Schlude various questions regarding

Arson case for Casa Maria’s owner moved to Butler County

January 10, 2024 8:03 PM Ryan Shiner

DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) An owner of a Mexican restaurant in Columbia who has been accused of arson in Dunklin County had her case moved to Butler County on Wednesday. Crystal Umfress, 42, was charged with second-degree arson. Umfress is an owner of Casa Maria’s Restaurant in Columbia. Her lawyer had requested a change of venue

Investigators determine suspicious package sent to attorney general contained meth

January 10, 2024 1:12 PM Hannah Falcon

The suspicious package sent to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in April contained methamphetamine, according to records ABC 17 News obtained from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

City of Belle claims no sign of missing funds or misuse of guns amid mayor’s charges

January 10, 2024 4:18 PM Ryan Shiner

The City of Belle released a statement Wednesday saying that no money is missing from its bank accounts and that none of its guns are missing or have been misused.

Fulton man found guilty of statutory sodomy sentenced to 160 years

January 9, 2024 4:30 PM Ryan Shiner

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) A Fulton man who was found guilty of several counts of statutory sodomy was sentenced on Monday to 160 years in prison. Daniel Overstreet, 52, was found guilty in November of seven counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and one count of first-degree attempted sodomy. According to a press release from Callaway County Prosecutor

Camden County man accused of causing serious injuries in domestic assault

January 9, 2024 9:04 AM Matthew Sanders

A Macks Creek, Missouri, man was charged last week with four felonies on allegations that he severely abused a child, putting the victim in critical condition.

Teacher accused of statutory rape in Pulaski County arrested in Texas

January 9, 2024 5:59 AM Matthew Sanders

A teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student at a Pulaski County school was arrested last week in Texas, according to authorities there.

Moniteau County man accused of threatening to kill judge, prosecutor sentenced to probation

January 8, 2024 6:51 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A California, Missouri, man who was accused of threatening to kill the judge and prosecutor in a Cole County domestic assault case was sentenced on Friday to probation. Kody Sidebottom, 27, pleaded guilty on Friday to tampering with a judicial officer. He was sentenced to five years of supervised probation with

Columbia senator drafting bill to increase swatting punishment after call to secretary of state’s house

January 8, 2024 7:33 AM Hannah Falcon, Erika McGuire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) is working on legislation that would increase the penalty for swatting, following a swatting call to the secretary of state’s house on Sunday night. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was a target of a swatting attempt at his home Sunday night, Ashcroft posted on his social

Woman who pleaded guilty in Callaway murder case sentenced to 4 years in prison

January 8, 2024 3:50 PM Ryan Shiner

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) An Indiana woman who pleaded guilty in October to hindering the prosecution in a murder has been sentenced. Emily Ricketts, 27, of Indianapolis, was sentenced on Monday to four years in prison and was given credit for six months served. According to previous reporting, she was previously charged in 2019 with accessory

Campfire ignites Mexico storage building

January 8, 2024 9:48 AM Matthew Sanders

A fire made by someone camping in a Mexico, Missouri, storage building to cook and keep warm led to a blaze that destroyed the building Saturday, authorities say.

Boone County man accused of murder after allegedly assaulting woman on Christmas

January 5, 2024 3:30 PM Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: The age of the victim was updated after the press release from law enforcement was updated. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boone County man was charged on Friday with murder and other felonies after he allegedly assaulted a woman on Christmas. Jeffrey Edward Skaggs, 38, of Columbia, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree domestic

Trial dates set for case over Missouri law banning gender-affirming care for minors

January 5, 2024 10:44 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A bench trial has been scheduled for a case surrounding a Missouri law that bans gender-affirming care for minors and some adults. The 10-day trial schedule was decided on Thursday and is set to begin Sept. 23, according to Casenet. The ACLU had announced the lawsuit on July 25 after Gov. Mike

Bond motion denied for man accused in Dove Drive shooting

January 5, 2024 8:17 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A motion to reduce the bond for a Columbia man accused in a June homicide on Dove Drive was denied on Friday. Ja’Shaun Barney, 18, was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in relation to the shooting death of Deshon Joseph Houston, 33, who was found dead

Two men accused of two separate killings head to court Friday

January 5, 2024 4:23 AM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two Columbia men accused of murder in two separate cases are heading to the Boone County courthouse Friday to face a judge for their hearings. The first man set to appear is Sevance Brewer, who is multiple felony charges after allegedly killing a pregnant woman in north Columbia. Brewer is facing charges

Jefferson City man accused of leaving scene of accident, crashing vehicle into fence

January 4, 2024 7:49 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man was charged on Thursday after he allegedly caused more than $1,000 worth of damage while fleeing a crash site. Joshua Steen, 39, was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident that caused more than $1,000 worth of damage and four misdemeanors: Unlawful possession

Jefferson City teenager charged as adult in August shooting case

January 4, 2024 8:42 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City teenager has been charged as an adult in relation to an Aug. 8 shooting. Da’Shawn Johnson, 17, was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, resisting arrest, two counts of misdemeanor property damage and an infraction of second-degree trespassing. Court documents state

No issues in Columbia yet with drug stronger than fentanyl

January 4, 2024 6:43 PM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A drug more lethal than fentanyl has potential to grow and spread across the country. According to Forbes and CNN, nitazenes are a class of synthetic opioids similar to fentanyl but can be much stronger and more fatal. Nitazenes were made by researchers in the 1950s as an alternative to morphine, but

Belle man accused of sexually assaulting teenager

January 4, 2024 4:35 PM Ryan Shiner

BELLE, Mo. (KMIZ) An 18-year-old Belle man was charged on Wednesday with a pair of sexual assault charges. Issac James Pruett was charged with first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse. He was arrested on Jan. 4 and is being held at the Maries County Jail on a $10,000 bond, according to court records. A court