Failure-to-appear warrant issued for embattled Casa Maria’s owner in arson case
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A warrant was issued on Tuesday for an owner of a south Columbia Mexican restaurant after she did not appear for a hearing in a felony case.
Crystal Umfress, of Columbia, was charged last year with second-degree arson. A warrant was issued in the case on Tuesday for failure-to-appear. A $100,000 bond was set.
That case was moved from Dunklin County to Butler County in January. A jury trial was scheduled for Feb. 3, 2025. She is accused of hiring another person to burn down Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant in Kennett.
Kerry Raymond was allegedly hired by Umfress to set fire to Lupita's Mexican Restaurant, court documents say. Raymond was also charged with second-degree arson and his case was moved to Stoddard County in November 2023. A case review is scheduled Feb. 13, 2025.
Umfress was also charged in Dunklin County last week with two counts of filing false documents and three counts of forgery. A no-bond warrant was issued last week in that case, which includes an order to extradite within 2,500 miles.
In the forgery case, she was accused of impersonating state officials in emails and accused other Mexican restaurants of crimes. Court documents say Umfress asked for information about the liquor licenses of “various” restaurants and falsely claimed hearings were scheduled for an investigation.
She also allegedly tried to pose as the owners of other Mexican restaurants and asked for officials to revoke their liquor licenses, court documents say. Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina in Columbia had its liquor license suspended this summer after the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control claimed a name was forged on the license and Umfress’ felony charge was not disclosed.
