Crime Archives

Tyson Smith plans to prefile legislation on dog-breeding facilities; woman appears in court for Columbia animal abuse care

November 20, 2025 4:36 PM Ryan Shiner, Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A representative for Columbia in Missouri’s state house plans on prefiling legislation about dog-breeding facilities. Democratic State Rep. David Tyson Smith wrote on his social media on Thursday that he plans on prefiling a bill that would require regular inspections at dog-breeding facilities. The announcement comes after Melissa Sanders, 26, of Columbia,

Jefferson City man faces child porn charges

November 20, 2025 3:53 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man was arrested and charged after authorities claimed he possessed and sent child pornography. Nathaniel Devalle, 19, was charged in Cole County with first-degree promoting child pornography and two counts of child porn possession. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has

Montgomery City woman accused of hitting youth with tennis racket, horsewhip

November 20, 2025 3:12 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman from Montgomery City has been charged with a plethora of felonies after she was accused of abusing three children. Shelley Denese Haislip, born 1968, was charged Wednesday in Montgomery County with four counts of abusing a child younger than 14 years old, three counts of first-degree kidnapping and three counts

Columbia police make arrest in Phillips 66 robbery; claims teen involved in other recent armed robberies

November 20, 2025 7:12 AM Gabrielle Teiner, Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy who allegedly robbed a Phillips 66 on Paris Road on Thursday morning, the Columbia Police Department wrote in a press release. Police say the teenager was arrested after a search warrant was served in the 2600 block of Quail Drive. Police claim the teenager is tied

2 charged in connection with Centralia burglary where over $9,000 worth of items were taken

November 19, 2025 7:04 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two people have been charged in connection with a burglary that occurred last month in Centralia that resulted in roughly $9,000 worth of items being stolen. Chase Wyatt, 39, of Centralia, was charged with stealing more than $750. He was also charged in another case on Thursday with passing a bad check.

Woman accused of embezzling from Boonville nonprofit now charged in Boone County

November 19, 2025 2:23 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman accused of embezzling nearly $50,000 from a Boonville nonprofit has now been charged with a similar crime in Boone County. Jennifer Waibel, 52, of Boonville, was charged last week in Cooper County with stealing more than $25,000. Her bond in that case was reduced and she is no longer listed on the Cooper

Moniteau County man charged with first-degree child molestation

November 19, 2025 6:08 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man from California, Missouri, was charged in two separate cases on Wednesday. Addison Dunafon was charged with first-degree child molestation in one case and tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution in another. A no-bond warrant was issued in the child molestation case. He was also charged earlier this year

State looks to revoke POST license of former Centralia cop charged with domestic assault

November 19, 2025 4:57 PM Ryan Shiner

EDIT: This article has been corrected. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The state is looking to revoked the POST license of a former Centralia police officer who is charged with several felonies. Curtis Higby, of Mexico, Missouri, was charged earlier this year in Audrain County with two counts of first-degree domestic assault, a count of armed criminal

Influx of dogs from breeder abuse case puts CMHS at capacity

November 19, 2025 4:00 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Central Missouri Humane Society is out of space to take in new dogs after it saw an influx of canines from a Columbia animal abuse case. Last week, dog breeder Melissa Sanders, 26, was charged with three counts of felony animal abuse and 15 counts of misdemeanor animal abuse. Sanders runs

State requests more time in case against women charged in connection with officer-involved shooting

November 19, 2025 2:07 PM Olivia Hayes

PARIS, Mo. (KMIZ) The state has requested more time for evidence discovery in its case against Patty and Lois Armour. Lois Armour, 78, and Patty Armour, 51, both of Paris, are charged with second-degree murder and hindering a felony prosecution. The state was expected to present its case against Lois Armour on Wednesday in a

Moberly man accused of pulling out gun during drunken road rage incident

November 18, 2025 3:49 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Moberly man was charged with a felony after he allegedly pointed a gun at another man during a drunken road rage incident on Monday evening. Roben Teter Jr., 29, was charged in Randolph County with unlawful use of a weapon. An arraignment is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Wednesday. The probable cause

Missouri AG, Auditor investigating MSHSAA after claims of racial, sex discrimination

November 18, 2025 7:17 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Attorney General’s Office and Auditor’s Office are investigating the state’s governing body for high school sports after claims of sex and racial discrimination were made. A Tuesday press release from both offices alleges that a whistleblower was not eligible for an at-large position on MSHSAA’s board because they are white

Man accused of breaking into several vehicles on MU’s campus, stealing car from Boonville

November 18, 2025 4:51 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An 18-year-old man was charged with several crimes after he allegedly broke into several cars on the University of Missouri’s campus. Larron Brown was charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, five counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of misdemeanor stealing and five counts of first-degree property damage. He is being

Stover man charged with more child sex crimes

November 18, 2025 4:17 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Stover man who was already accused of several counts of statutory rape has been charged with more child sex crimes. Colby Hader, 28, was charged on Monday in Morgan County with three counts of statutory sodomy, two counts of first-degree statutory rape, one count of promoting a sexual performance by a

Man who gives ‘lessons to children’ charged with having child porn

November 18, 2025 3:00 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who currently teaches lessons to children at his home was charged on Friday with having child pornography. David McGowan, 62, was charged in Boone County with five counts of child porn possession. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond and an initial court appearance was

Man accused of threatening to stab owner, employee at Southside Pizza

November 17, 2025 9:56 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was arrested on Sunday evening after he allegedly threatened to stab the owner of Southside Pizza in Columbia and an employee at the business. Danial Knott, 22, was charged in Boone County on Monday with second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and two counts of fourth-degree

Columbia man pleads guilty in federal gun case

November 17, 2025 5:54 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man pleaded guilty on Friday to a federal gun charge, according a press release from the Department of Justice. Lajuan Martin, 31, pleaded guilty to being a felony with a gun. He is being held at the Cole County Jail and a sentencing hearing has not been announced. The release

Boone County dog breeder charged with animal abuse pleads not guilty, seeks no-bond release

November 17, 2025 11:27 AM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boone County dog breeder charged with several counts of animal abuse is asking a judge to let her out of jail without bond. Melissa Sanders, 26, of Columbia, faced a Boone County judge for the first time Monday. She pleaded not guilty and had a bond hearing set for 1 p.m.

Woman charged with child abuse after youth tests positive for meth

November 17, 2025 3:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Audrain County woman was charged with several felonies after her she was accused of abusing her child. Tiffany Cox, of Vandalia, was charged on Monday with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, child abuse, possessing a forging instrument, forgery, drug possession and misdemeanor possessing drug paraphernalia. A warrant was issued

Man accused of stabbing woman in Columbia after argument

November 17, 2025 3:09 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was arrested and charged in Boone County after he allegedly stabbed a woman on Sunday morning after an argument. Isaiah Bowser, 23, was charged on Monday with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. Court information says his residence is