Crime Archives

Jury recommends lighter sentence than prosecution sought in Renick murder trial

December 9, 2021 5:30 AM Ben Fein

Jurors found Renick guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of armed criminal action Thursday after over 13 hours of deliberations.

Sentencing hearing delayed for Joseph Elledge

December 9, 2021 6:41 AM Zachary Farwell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The sentencing hearing for a Columbia man convicted last month of killing his wife has been delayed. Public court records show a Boone County judge will hear Joseph Elledge’s lawyers request for a new trial on Friday, Jan. 7. 2022 at 1:30 p.m. Elledge is also expected to receive his sentence at

Jury suspends deliberation in Lynlee Renick trial

December 8, 2021 12:33 PM Matthew Sanders

The defense called Lynlee Renick to the stand as the third day of her trial at the Boone County Courthouse began. The trial is being heard here on a change of venue with a jury brought in from Clay County, Missouri.

Suspect in deadly motorcycle crash has second court hearing

December 8, 2021 1:53 PM Joushua Blount

Police say 72-year-old Susan Hanel was driving on Providence Road on Nov. 30 when she turned in front of Skylar Maddox, causing him to crash into her vehicle while on his motorcycle.

Auxvasse police chief charged with misdemeanor domestic assault

December 8, 2021 4:42 PM Matthew Sanders

Deputies identified Kevin Suedmeyer as a suspect after they were called to a domestic disturbance near County Road 325 and Route H in the Carrington area, according to a Callaway County Sheriff’s Office news release. Deputies arrested Suedmeyer that evening on suspicion of fourth-degree domestic assault, according to the release. The sheriff’s office said Suedmeyer was off-duty at the time of the incident.

Lynlee Renick to take the stand in day three of her murder trial

December 8, 2021 4:43 AM Ben Fein

Lynlee Renick told a judge yesterday she plans on taking the witness stand in day three of her murder trial Wendesday, more than three years after she allegedly killed her snake-breeding husband Ben Renick in 2017.

Eldon School District canceled classes Tuesday due to ransomware attack

December 7, 2021 5:31 PM Karl Wehmhoener

ELDON, Mo. (KMIZ) The Eldon School District canceled classes Tuesday after a ransomware attack on the district’s servers. Eldon Superintendent Matt Davis says the cyberattack was discovered on Dec. 5 by the district’s technology director. In a release, Davis says the technology director worked through the weekend to restore access to computer systems needed to

Investigators testify to start day two of Montgomery County snake breeder murder trial

December 7, 2021 12:37 PM Matthew Sanders

Lynlee Renick is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the deadly shooting of her husband, Ben Renick, at his snake-breeding facility in 2017. Prosecutors allege Lynlee Renick enlisted two friends in her plot to kill her husband after her spa had financial troubles. However, they accuse Lynlee Renick of pulling the trigger.

Memorial held for motorcyclist killed in Columbia hit and run

December 7, 2021 12:17 PM Joushua Blount

Gilbane Motorsports will honor Skylar Maddox, 25, of Columbia, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Waves Cider Company, 604 Nebraska Ave. Maddox died Nov. 30. Susan Hanel, 72, of Columbia, has been charged with several crimes in the crash, including driving while under the influence of drugs.

Lawyers for Joseph Elledge request new trial

December 7, 2021 9:20 AM Zachary Farwell

Lawyers for Joseph Elledge filed the motion Friday in Boone County.

Prosecution expected to continue questioning witnesses in Lynlee Renick murder trial

December 7, 2021 5:29 AM Meghan Drakas

Renick is accused of killing her husband, world-renowned snake breeder, Ben Renick on the couple’s Montgomery County property on June 8, 2017.

Car crashes into Columbia home early Tuesday morning

December 7, 2021 6:06 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police are looking for a driver after an SUV crashed into a Columbia home early Tuesday morning. An ABC 17 News crew saw at least five Columbia Police Department patrol cruisers around 2:15 a.m. at the scene of the crash near Leslie Lane and Newton Drive. Police said the driver wasn’t at

Automated license plate reader leads to police chase

December 6, 2021 9:39 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man accused of crashing into cars during a police chase that sent multiple people to the hospital. Deputies say 60-year-old Harold Fogle sped off in a ford explorer Thursday near I-70 and Providence rd. Fogle allegedly ran a red light and hit two

Motion to dismiss filed for one suspect accused of killing a four-year-old girl

December 6, 2021 10:24 PM Karl Wehmhoener

WARSAW, Mo. (KMIZ) Kourtney Aumen’s lawyers filed to dismiss her charges that she is accused of abusing and killing 4-year-old Jessica Mast. Aumen’s lawyers say the charges do not state a cause against Aumen and do not inform Aumen of the nature and substance of the charges against her. Law enforcement believes she and three

Two charged with sex crimes against a family member

December 6, 2021 9:51 PM Karl Wehmhoener

VERSAILLES, Mo. (KMIZ) A Morgan County prosecutor has charged two men with sex crimes after the victim talked with Morgan County Sheriff’s detectives in Oct. 2021. The victim told detectives that Jason Fields had molested her in 2015 and Logan Hood had raped her in 2019. Prosecutors also charged Fields and Hood with incest. According

Alleged co-conspirators testify in trial over Montgomery County snake breeder’s murder

December 6, 2021 10:34 AM Matthew Sanders

Lawyers for a woman accused of killing her snake breeder husband in Montgomery County blamed Ben Renick’s death on his wife’s ex-boyfriend during opening statements in her murder trial Monday.

City health director and city council members discuss how to implement the 2014 Mayor’s Task Force on Community Violence Monday night

December 6, 2021 2:25 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia/Boone County Health Director Stephanie Browning and city council members discussed how issues in the 2014 Mayor’s Task Force on Community Violence have already been addressed in the community and what still needs improvement in the future. This discussion took place at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Watch the presentation replay

Police search for driver of apparent stolen vehicle in central Columbia

December 6, 2021 11:32 AM Matthew Sanders

ABC 17 News crews saw several police units and officers on foot searching areas of central Columbia. Cpl. Kyle Green with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said police asked troopers for help while they were pursuing a stolen vehicle. The driver ditched the vehicle and ran in the area of Worley Street before troopers arrived and witnesses say he was armed, Green said.

Murder trial starts Monday for Lynlee Renick, accused of killing her reptile breeding husband

December 5, 2021 7:01 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) The murder trial of Lynlee Renick is set to start on Monday. Renick is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of her husband, Ben Renick. According to court records, the trial is set to start under Judge Kevin Crane in the Boone County Courthouse at

Man accused in deadly shooting extradited to Boone County

December 6, 2021 8:08 AM Zachary Farwell

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man accused of a deadly shooting has been extradited back to Boone County. According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Achterberg, 36, was booked into the Boone County Jail on Sunday afternoon. The Boone County Prosecutor’s Office charged him last month with first-degree murder and armed criminal action