Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was charged Monday in Audrain County after he allegedly poured gas on the yard and porch of a Mexico, Missouri, home early that morning.

Cheyenne Hott, of Mexico, Missouri, was charged with first-degree attempted arson, armed criminal action and fourth-degree domestic assault, a misdemeanor. He is being held at the Audrain County Jail without bond and a confined docket hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says officers were called just after midnight after the victim claimed Hott had poured gasoline on the victim’s yard and porch. The victim also allegedly said Hott had been holding a butane torch, the statement says.

A witness corroborated the victim’s statement and also claimed they heard Hott say he planned on burning down the home, court documents allege.

Hott allegedly told officers that he poured gas in the street, the statement says.

Court documents say Hott allegedly told police, “If you guys are going to get me with attempt wait until I get released and I’ll show you attempt.”

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A National Weather Service team identified damage from an EF-0 tornado Monday after it ripped through Hartsburg and crossed the Missouri River toward Fulton.

The tornado, with winds of about 85 mph, caused sporadic tree damage partially tore the roof of a hangar at the Fulton-Elton Hensley Memorial Airport on Friday. The weather service thinks the tornado touched down and lifted up multiple times along the track.

The severe weather outbreak led to at least six tornadoes that have been identified in or close to Mid-Missouri on Friday night: three in Morgan County, two in Benton County and the newly tracked twister in Boone and Callaway counties.

Crews with the NWS spent Monday surveying storm damage in Moniteau, Cole, Callaway and Boone counties, including a stop in Fulton. A spokesman for the NWS said overall damage reports were limited on Monday afternoon, but added that they still had yet to visit multiple counties. 

Callaway County EMS Director Charles Anderson said impacts were relatively minimal despite the length of the tornado’s track.

“A few trees falling down here and there, but nothing that impacted our response time or anything like that,” Anderson said. 

In Boone County, emergency management officials also reported only minor damage within populated areas.

“As far as from citizens and public safety reports, we only had one report come in as a large tree down inside the actual city limits of Hartsburg,” Boone County Director of Emergency Management Chris Kelly told ABC 17 News. 

Even with minimal damage reports, survey teams continue to examine even small indicators of tornado activity.

“They’re still looking at outcomes, even looking at minuscule any kind of signs of tornadic damage,” Kelly explained. 

At the same time, the storm served as the first real-world test of Boone County’s automated outdoor warning system, CommanderOne, which was adopted in May 2025.

Outdoor warning sirens were activated four times on Friday evening, at 7:43 p.m., 8:02 p.m., 8:18 p.m., and 8:42 p.m.,  as multiple tornado warnings moved through the area.

The system allows sirens to be triggered based on National Weather Service warning polygons, targeting only areas under threat.

“Our old way was three districts or three zones, one in the north, one in the central, and one in the south county. That wasn’t precise because us as humans have to look ‘Where is the polygon? Alright, this is the north and central zone.’ So at that point you’re warning areas that are not impacted by the warning, and so this is very precise,” Kelly said. “You want to alert with precision the areas under threat.”

Kelly also emphasized that outdoor warning sirens are designed to alert people who are outside and should not be relied upon as the sole source of warnings.

“Outdoor warning sirens are for folks that are outside, do not rely just on weather sirens. Likely, most people this was forecasted. They’re inside. They’re not meant to be heard inside. They’re meant for the people that are outside working, recreating to go inside, seek information from local media, news, or website.”

Boone County emergency management officials said residents should have multiple ways to receive alerts, including wireless emergency notifications, NOAA Weather Radio and local media as the severe weather season continues.

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Jessica Hafner

The National Weather Service in St. Louis has confirmed a sixth tornado touched down in Mid-Missouri following severe weather on Friday night.

The EF-0 tornado touched down at around 8:08 p.m. near Marion in Cole County, and continued along a more than 23 mile track through southern Boone and Callaway counties.

The tornado had maximum winds of up to 85 mph as it left tree damage in Cole County before it crossed the Missouri River and left behind some more tree damage in Hartsburg.

The tornado then lifted the roof of a hangar at the Fulton Airport on the southwest side of town before dissipating around 8:33 p.m.

This tornado was the 6th confirmed from Friday, after NWS Springfield survey crews found two tornadoes in Benton County and three in Morgan County.

Crews with the NWS spent Monday surveying storm damage in Moniteau, Cole, Callaway and Boone counties, including a stop in Fulton. A spokesman for the NWS said overall damage reports were limited on Monday afternoon, but added that they still had yet to visit multiple counties. 

Callaway County EMS Director Charles Anderson said impacts were relatively minimal despite the length of the tornado’s track.

“A few trees falling down here and there but nothing that impacted our response time or anything like that,” Anderson said. 

In Boone County, emergency management officials also reported only minor damage within populated areas.

“As far as from citizens and public safety reports, we only had one report come in as a large tree down inside the actual city limits of Hartsburg,” Boone County Director of Emergency Management, Chris Kelly, told ABC 17 News. 

Even with minimal reports, survey teams continue to examine even small indicators of tornado activity.

“They’re still looking at outcomes, even looking at minuscule any kind of signs of tornadic damage,” Kelly explained. 

At the same time, the storm served as the first real-world test of Boone County’s automated outdoor warning system, CommanderOne, which was adopted in May 2025.

Outdoor warning sirens were activated four times on Friday evening, at 7:43 p.m., 8:02 p.m., 8:18 p.m., and 8:42 p.m.,  as multiple tornado warnings moved through the area.

The system allows sirens to be triggered based on National Weather Service warning polygons, targeting only areas under threat.

“Our old way was three districts or three zones, one in the north, one in the central, and one in the south county. That wasn’t precise because us as humans have to look ‘Where is the polygon? Alright, this is the north and central zone.’ So at that point you’re warning areas that are not impacted by the warning, and so this is very precise,” Kelly explained. “You want to alert with precision the areas under threat.”

Kelly also emphasized that outdoor warning sirens are designed to alert people who are outside and should not be relied upon as the sole source of warnings.

“Outdoor warning sirens are for folks that are outside, do not rely just on weather sirens. Likely, most people this was forecasted. They’re inside. They’re not meant to be heard inside. They’re meant for the people that are outside working, recreating to go inside, seek information from local media, news, or website.”

Boone County emergency management officials said residents should have multiple ways to receive alerts, including wireless emergency notifications, NOAA Weather Radio and local media, as the severe weather season continues.

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Matthew Sanders

EUGENE, Mo. (KMIZ)

A deadly motorcycle crash closed the eastbound lanes of Highway 54 between Eugene and Brazito in Cole County on Monday afternoon.

According to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 77-year-old Jefferson City man was riding a 2023 Harley Davidson Tri-Glide Ultra motorcycle north when he went through a stop sign at Brown Road and hit the right side of a 2010 Mercury Mariner going east.

The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike and was pronounced dead on scene, according to the report. Two people in the Mercury, a 20-year-old Macks Creek woman and a 20-year-old Lake Ozark man, were taken to Lake Regional Hospital with minor injuries.

Eastbound traffic was being detoured around the crash site.

The road reopened just after 5 p.m.

It is unknown if the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The Mercury had extensive damage and the motorcycle was totaled.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The leader of a “cult-like” Amish community who was charged with felonies last month is now charged with manslaughter in the 2025 death of an infant.

Sam Shetler, 42, of Boonville, is now charged in Cooper County with three counts of trafficking for forced labor, a count of first-degree sodomy, first-degree sex abuse, four counts of kidnapping and one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. He was originally arrested and charged last month. The additional charges were filed on Monday. He is still being held at the Cooper County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

A bond memo filed on Monday says five more victims came forward because they “felt comfortable reporting now that” Shetler is in custody “and would no longer be able to exert his power and control over them or the community.”

A new probable cause statement that was filed on Monday says that a 6-month-old boy was found unresponsive on March 6, 2025. Resuscitation efforts by Cooper County EMS were not successful.

A deputy learned from the youth’s parents that the child had been sick since March 2, 2025,  and was having breathing issues and had “turned blue.” The parents brought the baby to Shetler, who allegedly identified as a “holistic doctor.”

Shetler allegedly gave a “lavender breathing treatment” that the parents gave to the baby, but the baby was not responsive on March 6, 2025. A biology virus report indicated the baby had multiple viruses, including COVID-19.

Several people in that Amish community allegedly believed that Shetler was a doctor or “healer” and that he had told them “English medical doctors do not know what they are doing,” court documents allege.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been charged with a misdemeanor after he allegedly danced while he was naked in an Aldi vestibule on Saturday.

Sidney Jones, 41, of Columbia, was charged with first-degree sexual misconduct. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was held on Monday.

The probable cause statement says Columbia police were called to an Aldi location in Columbia for a report of a naked man dancing in the vestibule. Court documents redacted the location of the Aldi. There are three locations in Columbia.

Multiple witnesses allegedly were able to describe seeing Jones naked at the Aldi and claimed there were multiple children in the store at the time.

Jones allegedly then danced naked outside of the store before going back to the vestibule to get his clothes, the statement says. Video allegedly shows Jones pulling up to the store in a vehicle before disrobing, the statement says.

Court documents say Jones is now banned from all Aldi locations.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Boone County dog breeder accused of animal abuse appeared in court on Monday.

Melissa Sanders, 26, of Columbia, is charged with 13 counts of felony animal abuse and one count of misdemeanor animal abuse. She is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. She previously faced 29 felony counts of animal abuse.

Sanders appeared in court by video from the jail, according to court filings. She waived a formal arraignment on Monday and pleaded not guilty again.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday and she was ordered to be transported to the courthouse.

Sanders ran Magnum Opus German Shepherds and a number of dead dogs, including a dozen dog skulls, were found at the property of the business when law enforcement served a search warrant in 2025, according to court documents in previous reporting. Several malnourished dogs were also found at the property.

Court documents say at least two living dogs that were found were on the brink of death.

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Haley Swaino

WARSAW, Mo. (KMIZ)

Smoke was rising just past the empty playground at Warsaw North Elementary School on Monday afternoon.

While Warsaw R-9 students and staff had the day off after the district closed Monday for storm damage clean-up, city crews were hard at work burning downed trees and snapped limbs after severe storms.

Two tornadoes touched down in Benton County around 7:30 p.m. Friday near Warsaw, according to the National Weather Service in Springfield.

An approximately 300-yard EF-1 tornado tracked east across the northern side of Warsaw and stopped near Highway 65 after traveling a little over 2.5 miles. The NWS said it flipped multiple mobile homes that were sitting on cinder blocks.

Pitts Homes, Inc., a mobile home dealer in the 29100 block of Old Highway 65, was hit by Friday’s storms.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw at least two flipped mobile homes and some that had blown off roofs or exterior damage. A spokesperson with Pitt Homes said all were display homes and no one was living inside.

A second tornado, an EF-0 about 200 yards long, caused damage to buildings and trees on Highway 83 and Route MM southeast of Warsaw. The maximum winds were recorded at 80 mph, the NWS said.

A carport near Pitt Homes, Inc. was seen flipped and in pieces; some of it mangled in a tree. ABC 17 also saw multiple bent road signs in the area.

Power was reported to be restored on Monday after more than 4,500 customers were without power around 8:30 p.m. Friday. ABC 17 saw many electric crews still working to remove tree limbs and storm damage debris from power lines on Monday afternoon.

The Warsaw R-IX School District announced in a social media post that classes would resume Tuesday.

The district said cleanup crews worked to get the back drive of the John Boise Middle School/High School campus cleared for traffic. An ABC 17 reporter was able to drive through and saw the parking lot cleared around 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Internet and network services were fully restored, according to another social media post. While cleanup continues, the district said the high school will adjust classroom locations as needed.

Scott Gemes, the Superintendent of the Warsaw R-IX School District, said the building that houses some math, science and art classes behind the high school had part of its roof blown during Friday night’s storm.

While the damaged roof was patched up by Monday afternoon, Gemes said some classes in that building will be moved to other classrooms for safety for the remainder of the school year.

A sign at the schools’ entrance was seen blown out next to a downed tree.

A damaged sign and downed tree were seen at the entryway of the John Boise Middle School/High School campus in Warsaw on Apr. 20, 2026. after two tornadoes touched down in the area three days prior.

About 10 minutes away from the school, on Polk Avenue off Highway 65, a local Mexican restaurant had about half its roof torn through.

Manager Lucio Carrera of El Camino Real said most employees were working and some customers were enjoying dinner when tornado sirens started going off Friday night.

He said some time went by and everything seemed to be fine. That’s when chaos hit.

“Everybody was kind of confused what was happening,” Carrera said. “It was so loud. And then the building was shaking, shaking really bad.”

He said what happened next could only be described as a loud, approaching train suddenly crashing.

“The only options we have is go under the tables. And the people in the kitchen, they tried to go to the walk-in cooler,” Carrer said.

Damage inside El Camino Real Mexican restaurant in Warsaw on Apr. 20, 2026. after two tornadoes touched down in the area three days prior.

After what he suspected was a tornado passed, he ran outside to shut the gas off because the hit caused a leak.

Many panicked customers rushed to their vehicles and left, Carrera said. One table still had a customers chips and salsa on it Monday afternoon.

When Carrera went back inside the restaurant after shutting of its gas Friday, he was relieved to see his staff was okay, besides an employee who suffered a minor head bump in the chaos.

Downed ceiling insulation and damage in the kitchen of El Camino Real Mexican restaurant in Warsaw on Apr. 20, 2026. after two tornadoes touched down in the area three days prior.

El Camino Real is expected to be closed for at least two months. Carrera is working with its insurance company.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman was charged with a felony after she allegedly threatened to kill a prosecuting attorney on Friday at the Boone County Courthouse.

Morgan Turgeon, 22, was charged with tampering with a judicial officer. She is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was scheduled for Monday afternoon.

The probable cause statement says a Columbia police officer saw Turgeon point at a prosecutor say she was going to kill her. The prosecutor was leaving the courthouse when Turgeon allegedly made the threat.

While in police custody, Turgeon allegedly told officers that she was upset that her fiancé was sentenced to three years in prison. She allegedly yelled at the victim advocate before leaving the courtroom and yelled that she wanted to kill the prosecutor. She allegedly denied seeing the prosecutor at the exit or pointing at her, the statement says.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A truck hit several parked vehicles, drove through yards and hit a home’s front porch before driving off early Sunday in Mexico, Missouri, according to police.

The Mexico Department of Public Safety stated in a news release that the driver, Luis D. Soberon-Companioni, 32, of Florida, was arrested a few minutes later during a traffic stop near East Love and Jeffries streets. The damage occurred in the 1500 block of North Olive Street.

Soberon refused to cooperate with a breath test and a blood draw, and police could not find a medical facility to draw his blood because of his agitated state, according to a probable cause statement. He kicked one officer in the groin, after which several officers carried him to a holding cell, the statement says.

Prosecutors charged Soberon-Companioni with four misdemeanors and two felonies. The felonies are for leaving the scene of a crash and tampering with physical evidence, and the misdemeanors are two counts of leaving the scene of a crash and one count apiece of DWI and fourth-degree assault.

An initial court hearing was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Bond was set at $25,000.

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