Author: KMIZ

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman who was charged with 29 counts of animal abuse has now been sued by more than a dozen dog owners from across the United States and abroad.

The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Boone County, names Magnum Opus German Shepherds LLC and its owner, Melissa Sanders, 26, and alleges widespread neglect, fraud, and abuse that led to the deaths and severe mistreatment of numerous dogs.

The plaintiffs, including 15 individuals and a couple from Nebraska, Virginia, Minnesota, California and Ohio, as well as Northern Ireland, claim they entrusted their dogs to Sanders for breeding, boarding, training or purchase, believing she was a professional breeder operating a high-quality kennel.

According to court documents, Sanders marketed Magnum Opus as an elite breeding operation focused on health, temperament and proper care; selling puppies for as much as $4,000 and charging for training and boarding services. Plaintiffs allege those representations were false and dogs in Sanders’ care were routinely starved, denied veterinary treatment, kept in filthy conditions and, in some cases, physically abused.

Melissa Sanders dog owner lawsuitDownload

The lawsuit details multiple dogs that died while in Sanders’ custody, including trained and service dogs, breeding dogs and puppies. Necropsy reports cited in the filing describe dogs suffering extreme weight loss, dehydration and starvation, with some dogs reportedly losing nearly half their body weight. Plaintiffs also allege Sanders provided false explanations for the deaths, including accidental strangulation or sudden collapse, and attempted to conceal the true conditions from the owners.

After receiving multiple complaints, Animal Control executed a search warrant at Sanders’ property in November 2025. Authorities allegedly found 16 living dogs in emaciated condition, at least nine dead dogs in various stages of decomposition, dog remains in trash bags, empty food and water containers, and feces throughout the home. Several dog skulls were found by authorities at the scene. Necropsies reportedly concluded that several dogs died of starvation.

Hannah Wilson, who is a part of the lawsuit, said her dog, Eri, went into Sanders’ care healthy and came out “severely” starved and pregnant. Nov. 16, 2025.

In addition to deaths, plaintiffs allege some dogs were returned severely malnourished, injured, or bred without owners’ consent. Several dogs were never returned and are presumed dead, the lawsuit says. Owners also claim financial losses from veterinary bills, necropsies, boarding fees, lost breeding income, and the loss of service dogs.

Elizabeth Van Erem, the attorney representing the dog owners, told ABC 17 News in a statement:

“I will say on behalf of my clients that there is no amount of money that could ever compensate them for the cruel and barbaric actions of Ms. Sanders, who continues to lack remorse for what she has done. My clients’ lives will never be the same.”

The petition brings multiple claims, including breach of contract, fraud, negligence, conversion, breach of bailment, violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiffs are seeking actual and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and other relief, and have requested a jury trial.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Transportation met with Boone County stakeholders to discuss what local funding can do to improve Interstate 70 as a lane is added to each side of the highway.

Improve I-70 Program Director Eric Kopinski said the goal of Wednesday’s meeting with Boone County commissioners, Columbia Chamber of Commerce representatives and others was to nail down the beautification aspects of MoDOT’s Rocheport-to-Columbia project. Local contractor Emery Sapp and Sons is leading that project, which is expected to start in the spring.

MoDOT has state funding to construct additional lanes, but would need local funding to update outer roads and add trees or fences.

“You’re going to see that as we start to make improvements this year, and even next year, that this will kind of be branded like Missouri-Columbia part of the corridor,” Kopinski said.

MoDOT’s first project, Columbia to Kingdom City, received funding from the City of Columbia, the University of Missouri and local businesses, Kopinski said.

Kopinski said decisions on how to enhance the highway west of Columbia need to be made within the next two to three weeks.

“We need decisions and also commitments for that funding that we can secure that and begin to move forward because the impacts for this next phase of the project, they’re going to happen very quickly,” Kopinski said.

Kopinski said there will also be a public meeting in early March, before construction on the 14-mile Columbia-to-Rocheport project starts. The project is expected to cost about $441 million, which Kopinski said has already been allocated and can be completed within that amount.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man accused of killing his wife during an argument over marital infidelity will appear in court for the first time Friday.

Malang J. Akbari, 46, was charged Tuesday with murdering his wife, Manhaz Akbari, by stabbing her to death in their home on East McCarty Street. Court documents say Malang Akbari suspected his wife of cheating. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, child endangerment and armed criminal action.

An Amber Alert was sent out for Akbari’s 18-month-old son and a 12-year-old, but the alert was later canceled. The baby was found safe at a relative’s house, and it’s not clear where the older child was found.

Akbari incident reportDownload

An adult child found Manhaz Akbari stabbed to death in the house after a call from Malang Akbari admitting to the killing. Malang Akbari had already fled the house with the children, according to court documents.

The adult child called 911. Police blocked off part of the street during the daylong investigation.

Multiple neighbors told ABC 17 News that Akbari moved to the United States from Afghanistan. The family attended First UMC church in Jefferson City, and Pastor Trevor Dancer wrote to ABC 17 News that the church helped the family resettle in Jefferson City.

“Like the other families, Malang Jan had worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan — serving, as I understand it, as a translator,” Dancer wrote. “Because of that service, he and his family became targets of the Taliban. The U.S. military brought them here as asylum seekers for their safety.

Dancer said the family seemed to be integrating, and the church’s focus is on helping the children recover after the killing.

“For most of the time, this family was average members of our community,” Dancer wrote. “They went to work and school. That was their hope coming here and remains the hope of the children.”

Malang Akbari remained in the Cole County Jail on Wednesday. He has been denied bond.

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Matthew Sanders

UPDATE: The charges in which Peterson is facing have been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was arrested on Wednesday after an hours-long standoff has been charged with multiple felonies.

Travis Peterson, 44, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree harassment and resisting arrest. A court date has not been scheduled. He is being held without bond.

Police announced they arrested a man before 2 p.m. Wednesday. Peterson’s information was not listed on the Boone County Jail’s online roster on Wednesday afternoon and a mugshot was not available.

Police were called at 9:17 a.m. to the 3300 block of Parker Street for a report of shots fired after Peterson allegedly fired a round in the middle of the street at his girlfriend, the statement says. Peterson’s girlfriend in court documents claimed the two had been arguing about “who needed to leave,” the statement says.

The victim went to leave the home and allegedly felt “something” pressed against the back of her head, turned around and saw Peterson had a gun, the statement says. Peterson allegedly said “what would it be like if I shot you right now,” court documents say.

The victim allegedly walked to Peterson’s work truck, which had “Socket” written on the side, and peterson fired the round, the statement says. The victim believes he fired the shot into the ground, the statement says.

Video recorded by the victim allegedly showed the Peterson threatening to shoot her, the statement says.

Several cars from the Columbia Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol were at the scene in the 3300 block of Parker Street. At least one armored police vehicle was at the scene.

CPD spokesman Colin Imhoff said the suspect threatened to shoot police but no one was hurt before, during or after the incident.

The response led nearby Albert-Oakland Middle School to keep students and staff inside the building while police worked. Columbia Public Schools later updated families to let them know school would dismiss at the normal time.

Police closed the street and issued a shelter-in-place order. The suspect was armed, but there were no hostages, the CPD spokesman said. Court documents say Petersont has a prior criminal history, which includes out-of-state charges for domestic offenses.

CPD wrote on its social media that nearby residents could return to their homes.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A trailer northwest of Columbia was the scene of a fire investigation early Wednesday.

The Boone County Fire Protection District was called to the 5800 block of North Oneal Road at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday after a trailer was set on fire over a dispute, Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said.

Boone County firefighters, along with deputies from the sheriff’s office, were at the scene.

No one was hurt.

Fire officials said no one was on scene when they arrived.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No one was hurt after a trailer caught fire in Boone County Wednesday morning.

Boone County Fire Protection District crews were called to a fire at North Oneal Road and West Fenton Road around 5:45 a.m. The road was temporarily closed, but has since reopened.

Boone County Assistant Fire Chief Gale Blomenkamp told ABC 17 News crews there were no injuries and nobody was on scene when fire crews arrived.

Law enforcement is investigating the scene.

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Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Kehoe gave his second State of the State Address before a combined session of the Missouri General Assembly on Tuesday.

Among the priorities stated by the Republican governor are budget cuts of about $600 million, along with a move toward ending Missouri’s income tax. Kehoe also issued several executive orders, including one that created a government efficiency group called Missouri GREAT.

You can watch his full speech here.

What do you think of Keheo going into his second year? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An underground stormwater project will require the City of Columbia to close a portion of South Rock Quarry Road at the end of the month.

A Tuesday press release from the city says the road will close between its intersection with East Nifong Boulevard and Telluride Lane to replace a failed stormwater pipe beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Work is expected to be completed by 7 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2.

Road closure and detour signs will be posted.  

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Fulton mom has been charged with a felony and a misdemeanor after she allegedly put methamphetamine in her child’s backpack on Monday.

Alexus Peppers-Wright, 28, was charged on Tuesday in Callaway County with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor illegally possessing drug paraphernalia. She is being held at the Callaway County Jail on a $45,000 bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says police were called to Bush Elementary in Fulton at 12:40 p.m. Monday about possible drugs being found in a child’s backpack. The student allegedly told someone – described as a witness – that “mom accidentally put these in my backpack and I don’t know what to do with them they have drugs in them,” the statement says.

Three people described as witnesses found a “zipper pouch” that had two syringes and a substance that tested positive as methamphetamine, the statement says.

Peppers-Wright showed up to the school at 2:48 p.m. and allegedly claimed to have known what was in the backpack, but claimed drugs in the bag belonged to a friend, the statement says. The zipper bag had “Property of Lexi” written on the side with a black Sharpie, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Sedalia man has been charged with manslaughter in Morgan County in relation to a Sept. 16 crash that killed two people.

Ruvim Izotia was charged on Monday with two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, two counts of driving while using a phone, one count of second-degree assault and three misdemeanors: Driving while using an electronic device, following another vehicle too closely and speeding.

A warrant for his arrest was issued on Monday and a $100,000 bond was set.   

The probable cause statement claims Izotia caused the crash with his Mercedes. Previous reporting shows an 18-year-old Sedalia man allegedly rear-ended a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Class S a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by a 48-year-old Cole Camp woman. The crash occurred on Highway 50 near Old Highway 50.

The hit pushed the Chevrolet into the oncoming lane, which caused another crash into a 2012 Mazda 3 – driven by a 38-year-old Russellville man, the report says.

The Russellville man was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 45-year-old Versailles man who was a passenger was pronounced dead at a hospital.

A Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper requested data from each vehicle, which allegedly showed the Chevrolet slow down from 57 miles per hour to 28 miles per hour, and then speed up again by 25 miles per hour after it was hit, the statement says.

Information from Life360 allegedly indicated there were 19 “distracted driving events” involving Izotia’s phone during the 21-minute trip, the statement says.

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