Crime Archives

Extradition hearing scheduled on Tuesday for Columbia murder suspect caught in Iowa

November 12, 2021 5:54 PM ABC 17 News Team

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department says an extradition hearing will be held on Tuesday in Iowa for Mark Achterberg.

Defense and prosecuting attorneys react to Joseph Elledge’s murder conviction

November 12, 2021 5:55 AM Ben Fein

A jury took until the early morning hours Friday to deliver a 28 year sentence recommendation, after Joseph Elledge was convicted of 2nd degree murder on Thursday.

Jury recommends 28-year prison sentence for Joseph Elledge

November 11, 2021 4:20 AM ABC 17 News Team

A jury recommended a 28-year prison sentence for Joseph Elledge after finding him guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Mengqi Ji.

Possible murder weapon discovered during arrest in Boone County homicide

November 11, 2021 12:15 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo, (KMIZ) Iowa police believe they may have discovered the murder weapon in a motel room while arresting a Columbia man accused of homicide. A Columbia murder suspect was arrested Wednesday in Creston, Iowa in the shooting death of Justin W. Stidham. According to police, at 5:15 p.m the Iowa State Patrol, Creston Police

Closing arguments begin Thursday in Joseph Elledge murder trial

November 10, 2021 5:42 AM Ben Fein

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Closing arguments in the Joseph Elledge murder trial will start Thursday morning. The defense finished up its last piece of evidence just after 3 p.m. Both sides will now go over what charges jurors might consider convicting Elledge of. Elledge is charged with first-degree murder. That comes with just one penalty in

Woman charged after firefighters find dogs in motel during fire call

November 10, 2021 9:29 PM ABC 17 News Team

Prosecutors charged a woman Tuesday after firefighters found malnourished dogs in a motel room while responding to a fire in September.

Murder suspect’s wife reacts after he’s captured in Iowa

November 10, 2021 12:18 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Mark Achterberg was taken into custody Wednesday night in Creston, Iowa. Boone County prosecutors charged Achterberg on Tuesday with first degree murder in the shooting death of Justin W. Stidman. “This is such a sad and preventable situation,” said Kerra Prohaska, Achterberg’s wife. “My heart goes

Hannibal man charged after allegedly damaging a sprinkler causing flooding at Randolph County Jail

November 10, 2021 12:13 PM Karl Wehmhoener

HUNTSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) A Randolph County prosecutor has charged a Hannibal man after he allegedly damaged a water sprinkler causing the flooding at the Randolph County jail. Colton Miller is charged with damage to jail property. According to jail records, Miller was in custody for first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. Investigators reviewed video footage

Sedalia homeowner who shot burglary describes encounter

November 10, 2021 10:01 AM Karl Wehmhoener

A Sedalia homeowner shot a burglary suspect Wednesday morning.

Authorities arrest man accused of running after vehicle chase in Osage County

November 10, 2021 7:50 AM Zachary Farwell

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Osage County SheriffMike Bonhamr reprots the suspect is under arrest. According to the Jefferson City Police Department, officers searched for the man near Algoa Road and Stertzer Road. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office stated a deputy conducted a business check at Casper’s 66 in Linn, Missouri around 6:30 a.m. The sheriff’s

Joseph Elledge on the stand for nearly eight hours in his murder trial

November 9, 2021 5:31 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Joseph Elledge told jurors his version of what happened to his wife Mengqi Ji in 2019. Elledge has been on the stand for six hours now as his murder trial goes into its second week. Elledge took the stand and talked about what the defense called in opening statements a “tragic accident”

Deputies searching for man charged with first-degree murder after Columbia shooting

November 9, 2021 5:29 PM ABC 17 News Team

A Boone County prosecutor has charged a Columbia man in connection with a deadly shooting.

Man sentenced for his role in Columbia killing

November 9, 2021 10:00 PM Katie Greathouse

A judge sentenced a man Tuesday to four years in prison for his involvement in a deadly shooting in February.

Police searching Eastgate apartment complex after reported shooting

November 9, 2021 2:25 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Mulitple police are at the Eastgate apartment complex searching for evidence after a reported shooting.

Texts, photos between Elledge and Ji shown to start second week of trial

November 8, 2021 5:50 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) This morning the prosecution continued presenting their case against Joseph Elledge, he is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Mengqi Ji who went missing in October of 2019. Both sides of the case spent hours going over the contents of Elledge and Ji’s electronic devices reviewed by State

Man charged after downtown Columbia shooting Saturday night

November 8, 2021 1:28 PM Kennedy Miller

A Boone County prosecutor has charged a Columbia man after a shooting Saturday night near Broadway and Hitt Street.

Boone County prosecutors charge driver suspected of deadly DWI

November 8, 2021 5:40 AM Zola Crowder

Duncan McCracking, 24, of Columbia, was charged with DWI that resulted in death and armed criminal action.

Columbia residents comment on Saturday night’s Downtown shooting

November 7, 2021 9:40 PM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) A shooting Saturday night in Downtown Columbia left people running to safety and wondering what happened. The shooting happened on East Broadway and near Hitt St. around 11:20 p.m. Bracken Sullivan and his roommate live above the India’s house restaurant downtown where the shooting happened. He said he thought someone was knocking

Missing Jefferson City girl found in Kansas

November 7, 2021 2:50 PM Chanel Porter

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) UPDATE: As of 9:30 p.m. Sunday night the child was found in Kansas and the suspect is in custody. The Jefferson City Police Department issued an Endangered Person Advisory for a missing person incident that occurred at 1309 Jefferson Street at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday. An eight-year-old girl Dakota Sky Autumn

Man in custody identified after an officer-involved shooting in downtown Columbia

November 7, 2021 12:11 AM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – The Columbia Police Department said one man is in police custody after a shooting downtown around 11:20 p.m. on Saturday. An officer observed one adult male brandishing and discharging a firearm. The officer fired his Department-issued service weapon at the suspect. The suspect, Christopher Michael Sledd, 51 of Columbia, surrendered to