Crime Archives

Columbia murder, arson suspect appears in court

January 22, 2024 11:02 AM Matthew Sanders

A neighbor saw the suspect in a murder and arson moving things out of a southwest Columbia home the night of the fire, according to court documents.

Woman accused of stealing nearly $6,500 from employer in December

January 22, 2024 3:19 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman was charged on Friday in Boone County with stealing after she was accused of taking $6,400.55 from her employer in December. Bonita Foster, 61, was charged with two counts of stealing more than $750. A warrant for her arrest was requested and a $10,000 bond was set, according to

60 Missouri corrections officers, staffers urging governor to halt execution of ‘model inmate’

January 22, 2024 11:27 AM Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Dozens of Missouri Department of Corrections staff members are urging Gov. Mike Parson to grant clemency to a man scheduled to die in April for killing his cousin and her husband, with a former warden calling him a “model inmate.” Sixty corrections officers and other staff members signed onto a

Columbia man arrested in connection with deadly house fire

January 20, 2024 4:20 PM abc17news-Newsroom

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Police arrested a suspect in a deadly house fire Friday. Steven Martin Strumpf, 31, is in custody in the Boone County Jail after a deadly house fire in the 3900 block of Deerfoot Way. Strumpf is facing murder, arson and weapons charges, according to Columbia Police Department. Steven Martin Strumpf, 31Courtesy:

Tech support scams one of top causes for fraud loss in seniors

January 19, 2024 7:06 PM Morgan Buresh

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) An elderly Jefferson City man was exploited out of more than $40,000 this month as part of a tech-support scheme, and police want to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else. Two Texas men were charged this week with the financial exploitation of an elderly person after they were accused

Man injured in Camden County crash accused of DWI in MSHP report

January 19, 2024 2:48 PM Ryan Shiner

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) An Osage Beach man who suffered moderate injuries in a crash was accused of driving while intoxicated Thursday night on Route A at Midway Road, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol crash and arrest reports. The crash occurred as a 2008 Chrysler Pacifica – driven by James Thacker, 39 – was

Alec Baldwin charged for second time in fatal ‘Rust’ shooting

January 19, 2024 1:36 PM CNN Newsource

By Josh Campbell, Cheri Mossburg and Elizabeth Wagmeister (CNN) — Actor Alec Baldwin has been indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on charges connected to the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust,” new court documents show. Baldwin is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. The first involuntary manslaughter charge

Callaway County Sheriff Chism’s pay to end in February

January 19, 2024 10:30 AM Matthew Sanders

Callaway County will stop paying its suspended sheriff, Clay Chism, next month.

Columbia man accused of stabbing another man several times at Douglass Park

January 18, 2024 2:38 PM Madison Stuerman, Mitchell Kaminski

Court documents state that Columbia police responded to a call at Douglass Park where they found a victim with stab cuts to his head and neck.

Two charged in financial exploitation of 78-year-old Jefferson City man in apparent nationwide scheme

January 18, 2024 10:00 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Two Texas men were charged with the financial exploitation of a 78-year-old Jefferson City man after they allegedly collected thousands of dollars. Brandon Lamar Martin, 37, and Tarus Delynn Prince, 50 – both of Killeen, Texas – were arrested at 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. Warrants were issued for both and $50,000 bonds

Lawyer for Belle’s mayor files several motions in stealing trial

January 18, 2024 4:25 PM Ryan Shiner

MARIES COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A number of motions were filed in court on Wednesday on behalf of the mayor of Belle. They attorney for Darryl White Jr. filed a motion to dismiss, a motion to for a change of venue, a motion for a jury trial and a request for a speedy trial on Wednesday.

Jefferson City man charged with rape, statutory rape

January 18, 2024 4:12 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man was charged on Wednesday with multiple sexual assault charges. Christopher Williamson, 23, was charged with first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree statutory rape. A warrant was issued for his arrest on Thursday and an order was placed to keep the probable cause statement under seal. The

Man pleads guilty in April 2023 Jefferson City shooting case

January 18, 2024 3:53 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man pleaded guilty to a pair of felonies on Thursday and was sentenced to four years in prison in relation to a nonfatal shooting from last year. Timothy Benson, 19, pleaded guilty to unlawful gun possession and tampering with evidence. He was previously charged with accessory to armed

Police respond to report of assault, Rogers Street temporarily blocked

January 17, 2024 6:52 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Rogers Street in central Columbia was blocked off on Wednesday night and a number of police and other emergency vehicles were seen. The Columbia Police Department wrote on its social media at 7:40 p.m. that it responded to a report of an assault in the 400 block of Providence Road. Police told

Part-time teacher in Jefferson City charged with attempted murder for husband’s alleged poisoning

January 17, 2024 10:42 AM Matthew Sanders, Nia Hinson, Ryan Shiner

A Jefferson City woman was being held Wednesday in the Cole County Jail after allegedly trying to poison her husband.

Man charged with murder in J. Pfenny’s shooting denied public defender

January 17, 2024 8:39 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was charged with the murder of a Jefferson City bar employee and patron in 2022 has been denied a public defender. Damien Davis, of Kansas City, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon

Columbia man accused deceptive business practices sentenced to 10 years in prison

January 17, 2024 7:45 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who was accused of deceptive business practices was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison. Mark Doninelli, 47, pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree odometer fraud, five counts of forgery, one count of deceptive business practices, intent to defraud by failing to make a sales tax return,

Young picked as new Ashland chief of police

January 16, 2024 10:02 PM Ryan Shiner

The Ashland Board of Aldermen unanimously approved Scott Young to be the city’s new police chief at its Tuesday night meeting.

Eldon child gunshot victim one of scores nationwide

January 16, 2024 11:38 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

An Eldon child killed Sunday by a gunshot wound to the head is one of about 130 who die by firearms each year, according to a major gun safety advocacy group.

Columbia man accused of domestic assault, knocking victim unconscious

January 16, 2024 3:44 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with first-degree domestic assault after he allegedly knocked out a victim at an apartment on Saturday. Ricky Hendren, 55, is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was set for Tuesday. According to the probable cause statement, police went to the