Crime Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Does Columbia need an office dedicated to preventing violence?

October 3, 2023 3:52 AM ABC 17 News Team

It’s the city’s latest idea to take on violent crime.

Benton County man who escaped from Phelps County Jail charged with more felonies

October 2, 2023 10:42 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Warsaw, Missouri, man who escaped from the Phelps County Jail – and was eventually caught – this weekend is seeing more charges. Jonathan S. O’Dell, 33, was charged on Monday with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. A court date for the new charges has not been set.

Boone County judge denies motion to throw out murder charge in baby’s death

October 2, 2023 11:30 AM Hannah Falcon

The murder charge against the father of a baby found dead in Columbia will stay as the case heads to a jury trial early next year.

Jefferson City woman accused in November 2022 shooting pleads guilty

October 2, 2023 4:14 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City woman accused of shooting a woman in the leg this past November has pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, according to the Cole County prosecutor. Victoria Crumble, 41, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, Prosecutor Locke Thompson told ABC 17 News in an email. She was previously charged with first-degree

Man charged with two counts of sodomy now in Boone County Jail

October 2, 2023 3:42 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was charged in September with two counts of first-degree sodomy is now in the Boone County Jail. Colin Eugene Fair, 22, was charged on Sept. 21. He was brought to the jail on Sunday and is being held without bond. Casenet states he is from Centralia and the probable

Columbia police release more details after one person shot over weekend

October 2, 2023 11:07 AM Matthew Sanders

Columbia police say they found evidence of a shooting in the Cosmo Park area before a person was found shot at a north Columbia motel Saturday night

Boone Health gets online threat; police investigating

October 2, 2023 10:45 AM Matthew Sanders

Boone Health was the target of an online threat Monday morning, a spokesman for the hospital said.

Escaped Phelps County inmate captured

October 1, 2023 6:07 PM Euphenie Andre

ROLLA, Mo. (KMIZ) Jonathan O’Dell was found Sunday after escaping Phelps County Jail. He was taken into custody without incident in Ray County at approximately 5 p.m. Sunday by the FBI, per the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Ray County Sheriff’s Office. Just after 11 p.m. Friday, two inmates escaped the Phelps County Jail

Columbia police investigate shooting in North Columbia Saturday night

October 1, 2023 12:39 AM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) EDITOR’S NOTE: A correction has been made to say that the shooting occurred in North Columbia. There was a heavy police presence in North Columbia Saturday night at the Super 7 Motel on Rangeline Street. An ABC 17 News crew on scene saw at least four Columbia Police Department police vehicles, seven

FBI, local law enforcement searching for escaped Phelps County inmate

September 30, 2023 3:20 PM Hannah Falcon

PHELPS COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Federal and local law enforcement are searching for an inmate who escaped the Phelps County Jail Friday night. Just after 11 p.m. Friday, two inmates escaped the Phelps County Jail by “comprising the structural integrity of the cell and exiting the building,” according to a news release from the Phelps County

No criminal charges expected for Chariton County Sheriff

September 29, 2023 3:39 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) No criminal charges are expected to be filed on Chariton County Sheriff Erick Billups, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman. Billups was under investigation earlier this month by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug Crime Control. MSHP did not say why Billups was under investigation. “The investigation is

Changes coming to Columbia ARC after June fight

September 28, 2023 4:10 PM Lucas Geisler

ABC 17 News obtained video from the ARC showing portions of the fight involving multiple people.

California man charged after Moniteau County crash arrested, posts bond

September 28, 2023 3:29 PM Ryan Shiner

CALIFORNIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A California, Missouri, man was arrested and posted bond on Tuesday after hitting a Sedalia man with a truck and leaving the scene, according to court documents. Ethan Daniels, 20, was charged on Tuesday with leaving the scene of an accident – causing a serious injury, and operating a vehicle in a

Co-owner of Columbia restaurant facing arson charge in southeast Missouri

September 27, 2023 5:14 PM Marina Diaz

Casa Maria’s Cantina’s co-owner is facing an arson charge for her alleged role in starting a fire at a restaurant this summer in a Bootheel town.

Settlement reached in wrongful death lawsuit against deputy who killed Sedalia woman

September 27, 2023 8:11 PM Ryan Shiner

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A settlement has been reached in the wrongful death lawsuit that was filed against a Pettis County Deputy who killed a Sedalia woman in June 2020. The amount in the settlement was not disclosed in court documents. Hannah Fizer, 25, of Sedalia, was killed in the shooting after a traffic stop on

Columbia to hold community forum with police chief candidates next month

September 27, 2023 4:54 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia announced in a Wednesday press release that it will hold a community forum with its final police-chief candidates at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 at City Hall. Residents can submit questions online for the candidates to answer on the City’s BeHeard website for the police chief search. The

Mexican man charged with child sex trafficking in Boone County

September 27, 2023 3:39 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Mexican national has been charged in Boone County with second-degree child sex trafficking and sexual misconduct involving a child younger than 15 years old. Francisco Acosta-Flores, 33, is not in custody. A warrant was ordered for his arrest and no bond was set. According to the probable cause statement, Acosta-Flores knowingly

Fulton man charged with six counts of child porn possession

September 27, 2023 3:04 PM Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: Stuart’s bond has been updated after a source updated its information. FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) A Fulton man was charged on Wednesday with six counts of having child pornography. Robert Wayne Stuart, 35, is being held in the Callaway County Jail on a $50,000 bond. A court date has not been announced. He was

Two hearings set for Wednesday at the Missouri Supreme Court

September 27, 2023 5:19 AM Gabrielle Teiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments today for not one, but two court cases against the state beginning at 9 a.m. in Jefferson City. City of St. Louis, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al. The Supreme Court will hear arguments today for the city of St. Louis over

Documents: Mother of Columbia boy killed by gunshot gave conflicting stories

September 26, 2023 10:06 AM Matthew Sanders

The mother of a 3-year-old boy who was shot dead Sunday told police conflicting stories after the child was shot, according to court documents.