Crime Archives

Documents: Witness helped identify Osage County double-murder suspect

July 26, 2021 2:08 PM Matthew Sanders

Prosecutors charged Warren M. Taylor, 62, with two counts each of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the deaths of Leonard Gerloff, 59, and Pauline Gerloff, 56, at their Chamois home. Authorities were called to the address Saturday afternoon and found Pauline Gerloff with an apparent gunshot wound to the head and Leonard Gerloff lying face down with blood on his body and clothes, according to a probable cause statement.

Columbia police investigating reported road rage shooting

July 26, 2021 10:49 AM Matthew Sanders

Police were sent at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday to a report of shots fired near South Providence Road and East Nifong Boulevard, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.

One man shot in Columbia Saturday night

July 24, 2021 11:58 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) One man was shot in the 3300 block of Dove Drive in Columbia on Saturday night according to the Columbia Police Department. CPD initially responded to a shots fired call along Dove Drive around 8 p.m. on Saturday night. When officers arrived on scene, they found a man with a serious gunshot

Jefferson City man faces charges after gas station shooting

July 23, 2021 8:11 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man is now charged for this week’s gas station shooting. Latrell Batts is charged with three counts of armed criminal action, two counts of first-degree assault, first-degree property damage and unlawful use of a weapon. He’s accused of shooting two people at this Phillips 66 on Stadium Drive

Boone County Sheriff’s Dept. investigating an accidental shooting in east Columbia

July 23, 2021 7:15 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a reported accidental shooting Deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 700 block of Demaret Dr. just after 5 p.m. Friday. Boone County Joint Communications received a report the person had been shot at a residence. Deputies reported the 32-year-old male has

Camdenton man arrested after a vehicle chase in Moniteau County

July 23, 2021 6:39 PM Karl Wehmhoener

MONITEAU COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Camdenton man was arrested after a chase in Moniteau County ends in a ditch Tuesday. According to the Moniteau County Sheriff’s department, deputies were patrolling the High Point area when a silver vehicle was spotted speeding on Hwy C. The vehicle sped off after turning on Cemetery road. The deputy

Fulton woman pleads guilty in boyfriend’s shooting death

July 23, 2021 11:55 AM Matthew Sanders

Kalesha M. Peterson was indicted by a grand jury in March 2019 on charges of first-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. She pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree involuntary manslaughter.

Vehicle, home damaged when shots fired near Columbia

July 23, 2021 2:25 PM Matthew Sanders

Deputies were called to a shots-fired incident in the 4400 block of West Bellview Drive late Friday morning, sheriff’s office Capt. Brian Leer said. A home and a vehicle were hit by bullets but no one was injured, he said.

Columbia assistant coach accused of distributing child pornography

July 23, 2021 10:07 AM Molly Stawinoga

Online records show Benjamin Melvin, 25, was being held Friday in the Boone County Jail without bond.

Columbia man arrested for November shooting

July 23, 2021 10:01 AM Molly Stawinoga

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia police arrested a man in connection with a shots fired incident in November 2020. Prosecutors filed charges against Aaron Jones, 20, on July 14, more than seven months after police say they identified Jones as the suspect in the case. According to court documents obtained by ABC 17 News, police responded

Jefferson City man gets probation in 2019 shooting

July 22, 2021 11:41 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man pleads guilty to several charges after a December 2019 shooting and gets five years probation. Jerome E. Malone entered a guilty plea for unlawful possession of a firearm, stealing a gun, resisting arrest and unlawful use of a weapon. Witnesses told police in 2019 that Malone and

Cole County man pleads guilty in arson case

July 22, 2021 11:15 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Russellville man has entered a guilty plea in a 2019 arson case after he set two fires at a trailer he co-owns. Dylan Moore received two years probation after pleading guilty to attempting-knowingly burning or exploding, second-degree property damage and second-degree harassment. Firefighters responded to the fires at a home

Man arrested after shooting at Jefferson City gas station

July 22, 2021 5:26 AM Zola Crowder

Officers on Thursday afternoon arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the shooting, according to a Jefferson City Police Department news release. He was already awaiting trial for first-degree robbery from a 2019 incident, police said.

Jerry Fitzwater in the Randolph County Courthouse.

Judge denies bond in deadly Moberly shooting

July 21, 2021 3:54 PM Zach Boetto

Judge Mason Robert Gebhardt on Wednesday set a Sept. 10 preliminary hearing date for Jerry Fitzwater of Moberly. Fitzwater, 79, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the shooting death of Mitchell Nickerson.

Fulton man faces multiple charges after allegedly hitting caseworker and officer with vehicle

July 21, 2021 7:37 PM Karl Wehmhoener

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Fulton police arrested a man Wednesday they say hit a caseworker and officer with a vehicle. Officers report Charles McMasters entered the caseworker’s vehicle drove the vehicle, hitting the caseworker and an officer on the scene. Both were knocked to the ground and suffered moderate injuries. Officials say McMasters drove away in

Kaiser building fire may be connected to Thursday night shooting at Lake of the Ozarks

July 21, 2021 5:20 PM Hannah Falcon

Osage Beach Fire Protection District responded to a building fire off Highway 42 at 11:30 Tuesday night. Crews were at a metal building with Midwest Drifters Motorcycle Club signs until 5 a.m. The Midwest Drifters were at the shooting Thursday night at the Bagnell Dam Bouvard strip, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Fulton man arrested for child porn possession

July 21, 2021 3:37 PM Karl Wehmhoener

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) A Fulton man was arrested on a Callaway County warrant for possession of child pornography after an investigation began in January. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force received a CyberTip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a person in the Fulton area who

Jefferson City police arrest man accused of exposing self to child in city park

July 21, 2021 10:24 AM Matthew Sanders

Officers were called at about 11 a.m. Tuesday to Ellis Porter Riverside Park on a report of a man who had exposed himself to a child in the women’s bathroom, according to a Jefferson City Police Department news release. The caller told police the man left the park in a black SUV.

Columbia man faces two more invasion of privacy charges

July 21, 2021 11:55 AM Lucas Geisler

Boone County prosecutors charged Ronald Dameron on July 12 and July 16 with attempted invasion of privacy. Police in both cases said women accused Dameron of following them around stores in Columbia and possibly trying to take pictures up their skirts.

Bike Night canceled in Lake Ozark after deadly shooting

July 20, 2021 3:05 PM Matthew Sanders

Police Chief Gary Launderville announced the cancelation in a meeting with business owners, according to a city news release. Bike Night is a business promotion targeting motorcycle enthusiasts that takes place on the third Thursday of every month. The deadly shooting took place on Bike Night.