Crime Archives

Young picked as new Ashland chief of police

January 16, 2024 10:02 PM Ryan Shiner

The Ashland Board of Aldermen unanimously approved Scott Young to be the city’s new police chief at its Tuesday night meeting.

Eldon child gunshot victim one of scores nationwide

January 16, 2024 11:38 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

An Eldon child killed Sunday by a gunshot wound to the head is one of about 130 who die by firearms each year, according to a major gun safety advocacy group.

Columbia man accused of domestic assault, knocking victim unconscious

January 16, 2024 3:44 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with first-degree domestic assault after he allegedly knocked out a victim at an apartment on Saturday. Ricky Hendren, 55, is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was set for Tuesday. According to the probable cause statement, police went to the

Man accused of sending nude photos of another without consent

January 16, 2024 3:03 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man has been charged after he was accused of sending nude images of another man without his consent. Casey Babcock, 42, was charged with nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, a felony. He was booked into the Boone County Jail on Dec. 19 and posted a $4,500 bond the same

Documents: Eldon man left loaded gun on table before child was shot

January 16, 2024 9:53 AM Matthew Sanders

An Eldon man left a loaded handgun on a living room table before a child was shot to death Sunday, according to court documents.

Man accused of drunkenly crashing vehicle into Cole County home

January 15, 2024 3:09 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Gerald, Missouri, man was arrested on Saturday night after he was accused of drunkenly crashing a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado into a home in the 3100 block of Southwood Hills Road in Cole County. According to arrest and crash reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Brian Lauth was heading southbound

Eldon man arrested after child shot, dies

January 15, 2024 1:12 PM Madison Stuerman

An Eldon man is facing charges after a boy was found dead in a home on Sunday.

Former Callaway sheriff who pleaded guilty to DWI has nearly $12,000 on hand for 2024 campaign

January 12, 2024 10:18 PM Ryan Shiner

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) A sheriff who was removed from his position last year has nearly $12,000 on hand for a 2024 campaign. Clay Chism has an active campaign committee for the Callaway County sheriff’s race in August. Chism has $11,761.89 on hand, according to a Missouri Ethics Commission’s quarterly campaign finance report for January. The

Lake Ozark man accused of flashing women on MU’s campus in 2021

January 12, 2024 3:38 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Lake Ozark man was charged with a pair of felonies this week after court documents say he exposed himself to two women at the University of Missouri’s campus in 2021. Jacob Paul Bush, 26, was charged on Tuesday with two counts of first-degree harassment. Charges were amended from misdemeanor charges filed

Murder suspect who was out on bond arrested in Jefferson City, now has additional charges

January 11, 2024 8:44 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man charged in relation to an overdose death was arrested on Dec. 31 and charged on Monday with a felony and a misdemeanor. Darren Thames, 29, was charged with second-degree murder in relation to a 2020 fentanyl overdose death in the 3400 block of north Ten Mile Drive.

Dispatch notes show timeline of swatting call to Missouri Secretary of State’s house

January 11, 2024 6:48 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) First responders got a fake call from a blocked number claiming someone had shot a woman at Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s house on Sunday night. The incident — now being investigated by law enforcement in Jefferson City as a swatting crime — started at 8:55 p.m., according to documents

Man charged after allegedly assaulting, kidnapping victim for $350 ransom at The Links

January 11, 2024 3:54 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was charged on Thursday after he was accused of assaulting and holding another person against their will for a $350 ransom. Ralik Brooks, 31, was charged with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree domestic assault and tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution. He is currently being held at the Boone County

Man charged with 13 child sex crimes in Phelps County

January 11, 2024 2:54 PM Ryan Shiner

ROLLA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Salem after he was charged with 16 sex crimes, 13 of which involving children, according to a social media post from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office. Dustin Leon Drennen, 34, was charged with 11 counts of statutory sodomy, two counts of first-degree

Man pleads guilty to rape, sentenced to nine years in prison

January 11, 2024 2:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 24-year-old man who pleaded guilty to rape and other sex crimes on Monday was sentenced to nine years in prison. Elijah Schwartz –who is listed as being from Ohio on Casenet – pleaded guilty to first-degree rape, second-degree domestic assault and two counts of second-degree sodomy. He was initially charged with

Police: No injuries reported after shots were fired in north Columbia

January 10, 2024 10:59 PM Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect property damage being reported after police released more information. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police say there were no injuries reported Wednesday night after shots were fired near Blue Ridge and Oakland Gravel roads. Columbia Police Sgt. Derek Moore told ABC 17 News that police responded to a shots-fired

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Does Missouri need harsher penalties for ‘swatting?’

January 11, 2024 2:15 AM ABC 17 News Team

Police were sent to Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s home Sunday night on a bogus call.

Schlude talks policies, staffing during first Columbia Police Review Board meeting as chief of police

January 10, 2024 4:28 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Jill Schlude attended her first Columbia Police Review Board meeting as the city’s police chief on Wednesday evening. Schlude described being grateful to the board, adding that she feels it’s important for both parties to be able to collaboratively work on issues. During the meeting, board members asked Schlude various questions regarding

Arson case for Casa Maria’s owner moved to Butler County

January 10, 2024 8:03 PM Ryan Shiner

DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) An owner of a Mexican restaurant in Columbia who has been accused of arson in Dunklin County had her case moved to Butler County on Wednesday. Crystal Umfress, 42, was charged with second-degree arson. Umfress is an owner of Casa Maria’s Restaurant in Columbia. Her lawyer had requested a change of venue

Investigators determine suspicious package sent to attorney general contained meth

January 10, 2024 1:12 PM Hannah Falcon

The suspicious package sent to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in April contained methamphetamine, according to records ABC 17 News obtained from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

City of Belle claims no sign of missing funds or misuse of guns amid mayor’s charges

January 10, 2024 4:18 PM Ryan Shiner

The City of Belle released a statement Wednesday saying that no money is missing from its bank accounts and that none of its guns are missing or have been misused.