Crime Archives

Man arrested after deadly shooting in Benton County

July 19, 2021 2:21 AM Molly Stawinoga

A 28-year-old died Sunday after a shooting in Benton County.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you concerned about crime at the Lake of the Ozarks?

July 19, 2021 1:16 AM ABC 17 News Team

Two people have died in shootings this summer at the Lake of the Ozarks.

One person arrested after shooting during a domestic disturbance

July 16, 2021 10:30 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia police arrested one person after shots were fired inside of a residence in the 4600 block of Oakview Dr during a domestic disturbance at 5:41 p.m. Mug Shot: John P. O’Connor Police located and arrested John P. O’Connor, 37, near the residence with a firearm in his possession. officers located property

Man charged with first-degree murder after shooting death in Rolla

July 16, 2021 7:37 AM Josie Anglin

One person died from a gunshot wound in Rolla, Missouri, on Thursday night.

Man charged with first-degree assault in deadly Lake of the Ozarks shooting involving motorcycle clubs

July 15, 2021 9:07 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Hickory County man has been charged with two felonies in connection with a deadly Thursday night shooting during an altercation between motorcycle clubs on the Bagnell Dam Strip at Lake of the Ozarks.

Local businesses react to shooting at Bagnell Dam Strip

July 16, 2021 3:17 PM Ben Fein

Business owners on the Bagnell Dam Strip say last nights shooting, is something they’ve never seen in their years at the lake.

Jerry Fitzwater, 79, charged in Moberly shooting.

Murder charge filed in Moberly shooting

July 16, 2021 2:23 PM Matthew Sanders

Randolph County prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford on Friday added a first-degree murder charge against Jerry L. Fitzwater in the July 8 shooting death of Mitchell Nickerson, 49. Fitzwater is also charged with armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

One in custody after reported carjacking and chase

July 16, 2021 1:55 PM Matthew Sanders

Officers caught up to the reported stolen car Friday afternoon near Wilkes Boulevard and Seventh Street. A Columbia Police Department spokeswoman said officers were called to a carjacking on Pannell Street at about 12:30 p.m.

3 men charged over 2018 fatal Missouri tourist boat accident

July 16, 2021 10:10 AM Associated Press

The charges were filed Friday in Stone County against Ride the Ducks Branson captain Kenneth Scott McKee, general manager Charles Baltzell and manager on duty Curtis Lanham. All three face 17 felony counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, and McKee faces 12 additional charges.

Columbia man charged with three felonies in shots-fired incident

July 15, 2021 1:47 PM Matthew Sanders

Channing T. Williams, 27, was charged Thursday with shooting at a person, vehicle or building, armed criminal action and illegal gun possession. He was in the Boone County Jail on Thursday with no bond.

Joseph Elledge pleads not guilty to three felony charges.

Judge hears arguments on allowing secret recordings as evidence in Joseph Elledge murder case

July 15, 2021 5:28 AM Leila Mitchell

Joseph Elledge was charged in Feb. 2020 with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Mengqi Ji.

Gov. Mike Parson signs the fiscal 2021 budget

Bipartisan police reform package signed into law

July 15, 2021 12:27 PM Hannah Falcon

Gov. Mike Parson signed a package of police and criminal justice reform bills into law Wednesday. The bills, championed by state senators Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Buchanan) and Brian Williams (D-St. Louis), go into effect on August 28.

Police respond to a report of shots fired on Scott Boulevard.

Columbia police investigating after shooting damages vehicle Wednesday night

July 15, 2021 9:19 AM Molly Stawinoga

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department said a vehicle was damaged when someone opened fire on Scott Boulevard Wednesday. Police respond to a report of shots fired on Scott Boulevard. According to a news release from CPD, officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Scott Boulevard shortly after 7 p.m. Once they arrived

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.