Court and Trials Archives

State asks for discipline against trooper accused of sexual abuse

June 13, 2023 6:30 PM Lucas Geisler

The Department of Public Safety is asking a state group take action against a trooper’s peace officer’s license following sexual abuse claims.

Fourth former University of Missouri fraternity brother takes plea deal in hazing case

June 12, 2023 9:37 AM Matthew Sanders

A fourth former member of a shuttered University of Missouri chapter of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Monday.

Man accused of killing wife in 2006 headed to court ahead of upcoming trial

June 9, 2023 5:45 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Keith Comfort will have a pre-trial hearing on Friday at 1:30 p.m. before his jury trial on Monday morning at the Boone County Courthouse. Comfort is charged with killing his wife in 2006. According to court documents, in 2019, authorities say Comfort admitted to police in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin that he killed his wife Megan

Columbia murder suspect asks for mental health commitment

June 8, 2023 9:40 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – The lawyer for a murder suspect in Boone County asked a judge to commit their client to a mental health facility. Emma Adams, 20, faces four felonies, including murder, for the killing of Sammy Clemons in January. Her attorney, Jeffrey Hilbrenner, asked Judge Jeff Harris to consider committing her to a

Columbia man pleads guilty to insurance, COVID business relief fraud

June 8, 2023 4:35 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man pleaded guilty on Thursday to federal charges for scamming insurance companies on car crash claims and fraudulently obtaining federal COVID-19 relief money. Lawrence Lawhorn made the plea in two separate cases on Thursday. Lawhorn pleaded guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud and identity theft in the car crash

Man pleads guilty after breaking into Audrain Community Hospital

June 8, 2023 3:11 PM Madison Stuerman

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) A Mexico, Missouri man was sentenced Monday after he pleaded guilty to breaking into a hospital. According to online court records, Geoffrey Allen pleaded guilty to an amended misdemeanor count of second-degree property damage after he broke into the Audrain Community Hospital last April. In a plea agreement, Allen will serve two

Several counties running out of time to expunge certain marijuana charges as deadline ends Thursday

June 8, 2023 6:25 AM Kennedy Miller

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ.) Thursday marks the deadline for counties to expunge low-level marijuana offenses, but several counties including a few in Mid-Missouri aren’t expected to make it. Columbia attorney and marijuana advocate, Dan Viets argues it shouldn’t be necessary to get a court order which forces circuit courts to follow Missouri’s constitution, but Missouri NORML says they’re

Man convicted of killing two Randolph County jailers set to be executed Tuesday

June 6, 2023 6:48 AM Kennedy Miller

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (KMIZ) The man convicted of killing two Randolph County jailers during a break-out attempt in 2000 is set to be put to death Tuesday evening. This follows recent information which paused his execution, revealing a juror at his 2010 resentencing only read at a third to fourth-grade level. The latest comments about

Court ends execution delay in Randolph County double-murder

June 2, 2023 5:12 PM Matthew Sanders

A federal appeals court has struck down a lower court judge’s stay of execution in the case of a man accused of killing two Randolph County jailers.

Execution in Randolph County case delayed

May 31, 2023 11:52 AM Matthew Sanders

A federal judge has granted a temporary reprieve for a man who was scheduled to be executed next week for the killing of two Randolph County jailers.

Organizations deliver letters to governor to stop death of Michael Tisius

May 30, 2023 11:39 AM Avery Roehler

Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty will deliver letters to the governor Tuesday in an effort to stop the execution of Michael Tisius.

Another fraternity member in MU hazing case takes plea deal

May 22, 2023 4:08 PM Ryan Shiner

One of the fraternity members accused in the alleged hazing incident that left Danny Santulli disabled took a plea deal on Monday.

New witness added in trial of Columbia man accused of killing wife in 2006

May 22, 2023 3:24 PM Hannah Falcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Lawyers are interviewing witnesses to prepare for a jury trial against a Columbia man who is accused of killing his wife in 2006. Keith Comfort, 41, is charged with second-degree murder. He is being held in the Boone County Jail on a $5 million bond. Comfort in 2019 allegedly admitted to police

Chariton County judge allows employee cases to be combined in deadly train derailment lawsuits

May 17, 2023 11:11 AM Hannah Falcon

A Chariton County judge on Wednesday will hear arguments from Amtrak and railroad company BNSF that the many lawsuits against them for a deadly June 2022 crash should be combined or go through arbitration.

Five suspects involved in various murder cases set to face Boone County judges

May 15, 2023 5:49 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ.) Five people charged in various murders around Boone County are set to face a judge today. The first murder suspect is set to appear at the Boone County courthouse at 10 a.m. Isaiah Charles Brunson is facing second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Jermaine Spain. Some may recall Brunson’s case which happened

Bond hearing scheduled for Columbia man charged with murder in weekend shooting

May 11, 2023 5:50 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.) 33-year-old suspect, Kimo Spivey is expected to make an appearance in court Thursday afternoon for a bond hearing. According to online court records, Spivey is facing several charges for the shooting death of Melvin Hooker III. The 33-year-old is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and weapons charges. Police responded to reports of multiple

Hearing set for Wednesday in lawsuit against attorney general’s transgender emergency rule

April 25, 2023 11:44 AM Hannah Falcon

The first hearing in a lawsuit challenging the Missouri attorney general’s rule restricting transgender medical treatment is set for Wednesday — a day before the restrictions would take effect.

Mother of the victim speaks about lawsuit against alleged CPS student assault

April 18, 2023 5:41 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.) A local law firm held a press conference over a lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools, where the mother of the victim spoke. The office hopes to bring attention to the school district’s actions in a case of abuse. The alleged abuse dates all the way back between the years of 2015 and

First trial date set in Columbia fraternity hazing case

April 13, 2023 12:55 PM Matthew Sanders

The first trial date has been set against the defendants accused in connection with a University of Missouri fraternity pledge’s alcohol poisoning in October 2021.

Woman sues City of Laurie in federal court; alleges drivers who let others know about ‘speed traps’ are targeted

April 11, 2023 8:08 PM Ryan Shiner

LAURIE, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday against the City of Laurie, claiming the city allows police officers to target drivers who let others on the road know about speed traps by flashing their headlights. No court dates have been announced, yet. The city has been summoned. In court documents,