Crime Archives

Columbia College celebrates launch of Nadria Wright memorial scholarship

July 14, 2021 11:42 AM Hannah Falcon

Nearly two years after Nadria Wright tragically lost her life, Columbia College is celebrating the Nadria Leeann Wright Memorial Nursing Scholarship.

Miller County man sentenced to prison for child sex crimes

July 14, 2021 5:33 PM Matthew Sanders

Luke A. Lessmeier pleaded guilty to one count of statutory sodomy in a Miller County courtroom. He will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he can be paroled, according to court records. He will have to register as a sex offender for life, county prosecutor Ben Winfrey said in a news release.

Missouri man accused of participating in Capitol riot

July 14, 2021 1:35 PM Associated Press

31-year-old Joshua David Dressel of Festus is the fifth person from the St. Louis region charged in connection with the riot.

The 300 block of East Burkhart Street in Moberly where a man was shot in the head.

Lawyer weighs in on eviction issues after fatal Moberly shooting

July 13, 2021 9:35 PM Zach Boetto

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A mid-Missouri attorney says many of her clients who are landlords are frustrated because an extended eviction moratorium bans most tenants from being evicted, even if they aren’t paying rent. Court documents we uncovered Monday detail an eviction dispute leading up to the fatal Thursday night Moberly shooting. “In my experience, courts

Supreme Court of Missouri considers future of Medicaid expansion

July 13, 2021 3:41 AM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri’s highest court will now decide on the future of Medicaid expansion in the state. The court’s seven judges heard arguments Tuesday morning in an appeal of a Cole County court decision ruling the voter-approved expansion unconstitutional. You can listen to the audio of arguments here. A Cole County judge ruled

Columbia man gets 16 years in prison for child molestation

July 13, 2021 5:23 PM Matthew Sanders

Cale Kliethermes pleaded guilty in April to first-degree child molestation, two counts of attempted child endangerment and one count of sexual misconduct involving a child under 15. Prosecutors dismissed another attempted child endangerment count as part of the plea deal.

Deadly Boone County hit-and-run crash draws 18-year prison sentence

July 13, 2021 3:18 PM Matthew Sanders

Amy Rievley pleaded guilty in a Boone County courtroom Monday to involuntary manslaughter with an enhanced punishment for being a persistent felony offender and leaving the scene of a crash that caused a death. She was sentenced to 15 years on the manslaughter charge and another three years on the leaving the scene charge. Those sentences will be served consecutively.

Jefferson City police arrest shooting suspect

July 13, 2021 9:37 AM Matthew Sanders

Officers arrested Trey L. Garrett, 26, on Monday at a Jefferson City home, according to a release from the Jefferson City Police Department. Prosecutors charged Garrett last month with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and being a dangerous felon in possession of a gun. The shooting happened June 4 on Broadway. Garrett had left by the time officers arrived, police said.

Settlement approved in Waffle House shooting case

July 13, 2021 11:08 AM Matthew Sanders

Judge Jeff Harris approved the confidential settlement in Boone County court Monday, court records show. The terms of the settlement are confidential, but the motion filed last month by A.W. Smith, the lawyer for Anthony Warren’s family, notes that structured settlements are in place for Warren’s three children.

Jerry Fitzwater, 79, charged in Moberly shooting.

Prosecutor says new charges coming this week after Moberly shooting victim dies

July 12, 2021 11:09 AM Matthew Sanders

Randolph County prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford said new charges are expected against Jerry L. Fitzwater after the shooting victim’s death. Fitzwater allegedly shot Mitchell Nickerson, 49, in the head last Thursday. Moberly police said Monday that Nickerson had died.

Monroe County man sentenced to life in prison for fiancee’s death

July 12, 2021 5:59 AM Meghan Drakas

A Cole County judge sentenced James Addie to life in prison without parole plus 10 years for the 2018 death of Molly Watson. Addie was convicted in April of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was sentenced at that hearing to 20 years on the armed criminal action count, but sentencing for the murder conviction was delayed until Monday.

Gunshots hit parked car in Mexico, Mo.

July 12, 2021 9:50 AM ABC 17 News Team

An argument led to shots fired outside a Mexico, Missouri, home late Saturday, police said.

Damage reported after shooting in Columbia Sunday night

July 12, 2021 9:17 AM Molly Stawinoga

Officers were dispatched to the 4300 block of Rice Road shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday night for several reports of shots fired.

Police investigate shots fired in Columbia early Saturday morning

July 10, 2021 2:25 AM Ben Fein

The Columbia Police Department along with the Crime Scene Investigation team were seen investigating after a shots fired call.

Suspect charged in Moberly shooting

July 9, 2021 12:48 PM Zach Boetto

The Randolph County prosecutor filed charges Friday morning against a Moberly man in connection with a Thursday night shooting.

One in custody after man shot in the head in Moberly

July 8, 2021 10:38 PM Karl Wehmhoener

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ) One person is in custody after officials found a man with a gunshot wound to the head Thursday night. The Moberly Police Department was notified of a person who was shot and bleeding in the 300 block of E. Burkhart St. around 8:22 p.m. When officers arrived they found a man lying

Columbia police officer gets probation in child’s death

July 8, 2021 10:11 AM Ben Fein

The crime carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail. The sentencing memo filed June 30 does not come with a recommended sentence for Heese, but notes that her chance of committing future crimes is low.

Holts Summit man accused in Dollar General armed robbery

July 8, 2021 11:39 AM Matthew Sanders

Tyler Williams, 24, was charged Thursday with first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. He is accused of robbing a Dollar General at 1414 Missouri Blvd. on Wednesday morning, the Jefferson City Police Department said in a news release.

Search underway in Callaway County for man accused of stealing from business

July 8, 2021 3:57 AM ABC 17 News Team

Several law enforcement agencies worked into the early hours of Thursday to find a suspect who ran from Callaway County Sheriff’s deputies.

Missouri Dept. of Conservation agents arrest three after illegal paddlefish operation in Morgan County investigation

July 7, 2021 7:07 PM Karl Wehmhoener

MORGAN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Dept. of Conservation Facebook page is reporting three people were arrested after an investigation into the illegal paddlefish operation in Morgan County. Officials report a 13-hour investigation lead to the individuals being in possession of five whole paddlefish and about 75 pounds of paddlefish eggs, or roe. Roe is highly