COLUMBIA MO. (KMIZ) The National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform provided updates on the progress of the ongoing work to prevent violence around the City of Columbia. The group was contracted in early January to explore ways the city can curb violent crime. Since the NICJRs contract started the group has been working on 2
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Salem, Missouri, man was sentenced to nine consecutive life sentences on Thursday in a child sex crime case, the Phelps County prosecuting attorney announced in a social media post. Dustin Drennan, 37, was found guilty by a Texas County jury on April 29 to five counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, two
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Moberly man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to fraudulently obtaining $284,840 through COVID-19 pandemic-era financial assistance, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. Steven Hendren, 33, pleaded guilty in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud. He will be sentenced on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Hendren was indicted in
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Human trafficking is believed to impact at least 27.6 million people globally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Large sporting events like the upcoming FIFA World Cup create a prime environment for traffickers, with big crowds helping them fly under the radar. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said Wednesday that her
Continue Reading Editor’s note: The headline has been updated to be more clear. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Another business that sells 7-OH has agreed to suspend sales in the state, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced in a Wednesday afternoon press release. The release says Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading, LLC, also known as RRR, agreed to immediately stop
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Jefferson City filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the operator of the Quality Inn over records regarding its lodging tax. Court documents show the city is suing DEAA Hospitality and Paresh Patel, of Peoria, Illinois, for not submitting records for the city’s lodging tax at the June 1 City Council meeting. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 32-year-old Jefferson City man has been accused of sexually abusing a child from 2019-23. Dakota Benton was charged with statutory sodomy of a child younger than 14 years old and first-degree child molestation. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Charges have been dropped against a Mexico, Missouri, man accused of shooting and killing his brother more than two years ago. Charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon against Stephen Welch were dropped last week, said Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger. Boone County Prosecuting Attorney
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman who worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of wire fraud, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. Lakeysha Day, 45, pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining $20,000 from a Paycheck Protection Program loan in 2021. A sentencing hearing
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman who is accused of killing a University of Missouri student and burning his body in 2023 is still not mentally fit to stand trial, according court documents filed on Monday. Emma Adams, 24, of Columbia, is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence and abandoning a corpse
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COLUBMIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was sentenced on Monday after he pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in a February 2025 shooting. Terrell Fields pleaded guilty on Monday to unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence and stealing a gun. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He had been
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 42-year-old traveling nurse was charged Monday with sexually assaulting a patient in the Phelps Health hospital emergency room. James H. Todd, 42, was in the Phelps County Jail on Tuesday on a no-bond warrant for two counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of first-degree rape and a count of first-degree sexual
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol on Monday released video from a May 7 chase that ended with a man shooting himself. Law enforcement had chased Steven A. Swanson, 32, after he allegedly shot and killed a 35-year-old man and injured a 65-year-old woman near the 5100 block of North Douglas Drive, outside
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man who was on probation for a first-degree assault plea from 2024 has been charged again. Timothy Jerome Dale, 57, was charged on Monday in Cole County with second-degree assault, drug possession and tampering with evidence. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond and a
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Several Boone County Sheriff’s deputies were seen in the 4300 block of W. Bethany Drive in Southwest Columbia on Saturday. An ABC 17 News reporter on scene observed law enforcement putting up crime scene tape. The reporter also saw at least eight evidence markers placed on scene. The reporter also saw an
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mom’s Demand Action Missouri and Powerhouse Community Development led a joint effort against gun violence Friday night. In light of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, the groups gathered with and for survivors of gun violence at Douglass Park in Columbia. Attendees wore orange in solidarity. Two of those in attendance included Kimberly
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A registered sex offender in Fulton has been charged with a child sex crime. James Dale Courtney, 63, has been charged in Callaway County with statutory sodomy of a person younger than 12 years old. He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. A court date has not been
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) EDITOR’S NOTE: The incorrect age requirement for medical marijuana has been removed. A couple from Mexico, Missouri, was charged with multiple felonies Thursday after they reportedly admitted to police giving their young children marijuana to help with their behavioral problems. Joseph L. Croghan and Makayla Lynn Croghan were each charged with drug
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CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office says the search for an alleged armed man who ran away during a traffic stop has been resolved, after he died by suicide. The law enforcement agency wrote on its social media on Thursday night that it is looking for a man near Route E, East
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KM(Z) American Shaman has agreed to suspend the sale of kratom and 7-OH products in Missouri, the state’s Attorney General’s Office shared in a Thursday press release. AG Catherine Hanaway announced in March that her office was suing the business and its affiliated companies under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, claiming that its
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