Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway had her eyes set on Microsoft on Tuesday afternoon, claiming the online video game service Xbox Live has had “recurring allegations” of sexual misconduct involving minors.

Hanaway in a post on social media claimed Xbox Live is being used “by predators to trade child sexual abuse material, to groom children, and to lure children to in-person meetings.”

In her post, Hanaway cited a Boone County case where a Texas man was charged in August with various child sex crimes.

Michael Moya, 33, of Austin, Texas, was charged on Aug. 26 with child enticement, misrepresenting his age while soliciting a minor, sexual misconduct involving a child younger than 15 years old and misdemeanor giving pornographic material to a minor.

Moya is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond and has a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Court documents in previous reporting say Moya presented himself on Xbox Live as a 15-year-old and had exchanged illicit images and videos with a child victim.

Hanaway in her post claimed Xbox Live has “inadequate or easily bypassed age verification procedures,” “ineffective default settings” and safeguards regarding sending messages on the platform, poor reporting tools, a lack of “adequate information and warnings provided to minor users” and “maturity restrictions.”

A highly debated online age-verification law was signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe in July.

Hanaway also claimed there is a “lack of adequate systems” to determine if safety measures on the platform are effective.

The letter, dated Oct. 1, says Xbox has 30 days to respond.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Arizona man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a pair of felony charges in a Miller County crash that killed a woman in September 2024.

Khalil Manygoats, 28, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated that caused serious injuries and drug possession. He was ordered to serve a 120-day program at the Missouri Department of Corrections. He is being held at the Miller County Jail.

He pleaded guilty in crash that killed Larose Spencer, 36, of Phoenix, Arizona. Spencer was allegedly on the back of Manygoats’ motorcycle when he crashed it into a median barrier, court documents in previous reporting say.

A second man, Anthony Floyd II, 25, of Eldon, is charged in the case with leaving the scene of an accident and tampering with evidence. A five-day jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 4-8. A pretrial conference is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30.

Court document in previous reporting claim a caller told police Floyd was involved in the crash and had the vehicle towed from the scene.

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed on Monday against both men, Lane Splitters and Motion Motor Sales.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: The number of school resource officers has been corrected, and a video reporting an erroneous number has been deleted.

Columbia’s Youth Advisory Council heard from two school resource officers Tuesday about their roles in schools and how students can help improve campus safety.

The presentation from Columbia Police Department officers came as the council looks for ways to support youth safety, one of its two main priorities alongside environmental health and climate change.

The committee was looking for ways members can be involved in youth-safety initiatives. The discussion highlighted several areas for potential outreach, including encouraging students to remain aware of their surroundings, follow school security procedures and take safety drills seriously.

School resource officers try to maintain an informal atmosphere when interacting with students to help them feel comfortable approaching officers. The program has been around for over a decade and initially started as the D.A.R.E. program.

The city and Columbia Public Schools renewed its SRO agreement this summer, with the Columbia City Council approving an agreement Aug. 3 that provides for five officers during the regular school year and summer school session.

The expansion increased the number of SROs from four to five, with an additional officer assigned to Hickman High School. CPD already had one officer at Rock Bridge High School and two at Battle High School.

Under the agreement, CPS reimburses the city for 75% of the officers’ salary and benefit costs.

CPS partners with CPD to place officers in schools and build relationships between law enforcement, students, families and school staff.

The district selects officers in coordination with CPD. The process includes interviews with a police department representative, the principal of the school where the officer would serve and the district’s director of safety and security.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the officers discussed their day-to-day responsibilities, including building relationships with students, giving classroom presentations and helping schools respond to safety concerns. CPS told ABC 17 News in March that SROs also worked 78 events outside regular instructional hours.

During a March review of the program, district officials reported that SROs had investigated 144 crimes during the 2025-26 school year, compared with 186 during the full 2024-25 school year. Responses to disruptions, however, increased from 217 to 239.

The district has identified de-escalation training and stronger relationships between schools and families as areas for improvement.

Officers also use classroom presentations to discuss safety and reinforce expectations for students. They said a recent incident in which a student opened a door that was not a designated student entrance to someone who was not a student provided an opportunity to reinforce building security procedures.

The officers also emphasized the importance of students remaining aware of their surroundings in hallways, particularly when using phones or wearing headphones.

They said students who are distracted may be less likely to recognize developing conflicts and could become caught in the middle of an altercation. One example discussed during the meeting involved a student accidentally being exposed to pepper spray during an incident.

SROs also help ensure students take safety drills seriously and participate in school activities, including presentations and events outside regular classroom hours.

The officers are part of a broader security system within the district. CPS also has a safety and security team made up of retired law enforcement officers, along with building-level safety and security aides who perform duties such as monitoring metal detectors.

During Tuesday’s meeting, students also raised questions about security cameras that use artificial intelligence.

The officers said the cameras can help identify and track someone involved in an incident based on characteristics such as clothing. However, they said SROs do not typically manage the camera system, which is overseen by the district.

The officers said older cameras had poor image quality and a lot of blind spots. They were also motion-activated and sensitive, so they would miss things. Access to recorded footage is limited to building administrators, district safety and security personnel and law enforcement, the officers said.

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Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Aiyanna Williams’ family is focusing on her legacy after Misael Covarrubias pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder along with seven other charges in the 2025 downtown Columbia shooting that killed her.

A family representative told ABC 17 News the family does not wish to comment on the plea and is focusing on healing. The representative said the family appreciates attention on the scholarship fund in Williams’ honor.

The Day Dreams Foundation is raising money for the Aiyanna Williams Memorial Scholarship. Executive Director Adonica Coleman told ABC 17 News the fund has raised about $25,000 and needs about $11,000 more to be endowed.

The scholarship will award $1,500 each spring to a graduating high school senior. The first award is expected in May 2027. Coleman said Williams’ mother, Phyllis, helped shape the scholarship criteria.

“The recipient does not need to be the most accomplished student-athlete, performer or leader,” Coleman said. “It’s that the scholarship seeks to recognize a young person whose character, heart and determination embody the spirit of Aiyanna.”

In a written statement, Stephens College President Shannon Lundeen said the college remembers Williams “not for the tragedy of her death, but for the remarkable young woman she was: determined, compassionate, joyful, and deeply committed to caring for others.”

Williams first received a Day Dreams scholarship in 2015 to dance with Missouri Contemporary Ballet, according to the foundation. Donations to the memorial scholarship can be made through Day Dreams Foundation’s donation page, where donors can select Williams’ name.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman accused of causing a deadly crash last year in Boone County saw her manslaughter charge upgraded after a grand jury indictment was filed on Friday.

Kyshonda Williams, 31, is now charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and failure to yield in the crash that killed Ethan Cash, 25, on Nov. 2, 2025. An arraignment for the new set of charges is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26.

She was previously charged with second-degree involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and failure to yield.

Previous reporting says police claimed Williams failed to yield to oncoming traffic that had the right of way while turning left onto Kennesaw Ridge Road and hit Cash, who was on a motorcycle.

Court documents in previous reporting state Cash tried to avoid the crash. Police said Williams allegedly ran over the motorcycle and the victim with the back tire of the car.

Williams was arrested in Tennessee.

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Nathalie Jones

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County judge could decide by Friday whether guard CJ Gunn will be eligible for his fifth season of college basketball, which he intends to play at Mizzou.

Gunn and his legal team on Tuesday appeared in a Boone County courtroom as his eligibility battle with the NCAA continues. He filed a lawsuit on Oct. 7 in an attempt to get a fifth year of eligibility. The hearing centered on whether or not the 22-year-old is eligible to be an active member of the 2026-27 Mizzou men’s basketball roster, as well as his stint in a Canadian professional basketball league.

After arguments were made by both sides, Judge Jeff Harris said he will look to have a final decision by the end of Friday, but noted it’s not a hard deadline.

Gunn’s legal team argued the current NCAA guidelines support his eligibility for the upcoming season, while the NCAA opposed his request for emergency relief. The NCAA said that its rules regarding professional basketball participation are clear.

The guard played for roughly three weeks under contract for the Calgary Surge in May and appeared in three games in the Canadian Elite Basketball League following his departure from DePaul. Gunn’s team argued the circumstances of when he played should be considered, as the NCAA’s new five-in-five eligibility rule was not in place yet. His attorneys claimed he would have given up the money he earned in Canada had he known he could return to college and play for Mizzou, emphasizing he is willing to repay the $524 he earned.

Gunn’s attorneys referenced NCAA Bylaw 12.6, which says the new eligibility rule went into effect in August. His attorneys stated it shouldn’t be applied to Gunn’s involvement in the CEBL, since he had no knowledge of a possibility of a fifth season at the time.

His team also added his name was automatically entered into the NBA Draft, since he was a graduating senior. They said he didn’t withdraw from that draft because he didn’t know another year of eligibility may have been on the table.

His legal team also spoke from an affidavit that head coach Dennis Gates submitted, which stated Gunn would not take the place of another player on the roster. On Sunday when Gates talked to local media members after Mizzou’s pro day, he said the entire team came to an agreement that bringing on Gunn and Mark Mitchell was good for the program.

The NCAA was against the request, arguing its professional participation rules are clear and that playing professionally outside the NBA should still count as professional experience.

Several lawsuits have been filed by athletes this year by athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility, including University of Missouri athletes Sterling Webb, Addie Dobson and Melanie Walker.

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Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Howard County Prosecutor’s Office charged two Central Methodist University football players with assault on Wednesday, according to online court records.

Kamarrion Ferguson, 20, and Michael Hourel, 22, were booked into the Howard County jail on Monday and remain there as of Tuesday evening.

According to the probable cause statement filed with the Howard County circuit clerk, the charges stem from an incident in which both men allegedly assaulted a teammate. The statement said the victim told police that a team rule requires anyone late for practice to fight another player.

The victim said the player he was to fight didn’t want to engage other than “to do ‘body shots,'” at which point Hourel allegedly objected and hit the victim in the face. At that point, others – including Ferguson – allegedly joined in hitting the victim as well.

The victim’s injuries were serious enough to require a consult with a concussion specialist “due to the possibility of a brain bleed.”

While talking to police, Hourel reportedly said that as a team captain, he’d had issues with some players being not held accountable for tardiness. He also reportedly admitted to hitting the victim “with open hands in the face.”

Ferguson is a junior from Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Hourel is a senior from Andalusia, Alaska. Both have arraignments scheduled for Wednesday morning.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman is facing several charges in connection with a chase that occurred over the weekend in Callaway County.

Sydney Akers, 29, was charged on Tuesday in Callaway County with aggravated fleeing, second-degree assault, armed criminal action, first-degree property damage, leaving the scene of an accident, resisting arrest and four misdemeanors: Driving while intoxicated, speeding, driving while revoked and not stopping at a stop sign.

She is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Previous reporting from a news release claims Akers almost hit a deputy’s patrol vehicle on Saturday night in Fulton.

A chase occurred on Route F and ended near County Road 341 and the release said Akers told law enforcement she had a gun and wanted to be shot. A deputy then fired shots but it wasn’t clear if anyone or anything was hit, according to previous reporting. Someone at the scene told ABC 17 News they heard six-to-eight gunshots.

The probable cause statement says Akers was going 100 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone. She allegedly hit her breaks, which led to a deputy rear-ending her vehicle on two separate occasions, the statement says.

A deputy fired shots at Akers during a 30-minute standoff and a second fired a beanbag shotgun that hit Akers in her shoulder, the statement says. Another less-than-lethal round was fired at Akers while she was getting out of the vehicle, the statement says.

A breath sample was collected and her blood alcohol content was .135, court documents say.

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Haley Swaino

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri American Water customers in Mid-Missouri could be billed $15 more per month under a proposal submitted to state regulators.

Seven public hearings have been set for December to discuss a general rate increase, the Missouri Public Service Commission announced in a news release Tuesday.

According to the PSC, Missouri American Water Company filed contracts with the commission requesting a net increase in annual base rate revenues of about $191.9 million.

The request is tied to significant investments in water and wastewater infrastructure, according to Missouri American Water spokesman Ken Franklin.

“These investments include replacing aging water and wastewater mains, upgrading treatment facilities, storage tanks, wells, pumping stations, fire hydrants, meters, and other critical infrastructure needed to continue providing safe and reliable service,” Franklin wrote in an email. “The request also reflects ongoing investments necessary to maintain and improve the systems that serve customers throughout the state.”

This will make for a drastic spike in water bills. The average St. Louis County customer using 5,900 gallons per month would be billed $23 more. Customers outside St. Louis County who use 4,500 gallons would have to pay an additional $15 per month.

Missouri American Water serves at least 11,697 customers in the Jefferson City area, its service area map shows. There are more than 400 users in Wardsville and Taos, respectively. Missouri American has about 5,400 customers in the Mexico area and about 8,700 in Warrensburg.

Multiple Jefferson City customers ABC 17 spoke with Tuesday were not shocked by the increase proposal. Many said they do not want higher bills at a time when money can already be tight, and gas more expensive.

“$15 extra is that much less gas in the car, that much less groceries in the store,” Jefferson City resident and Missouri American Water customer Jeremy Kean said.

He believes more expenses going towards utilities could hurt people living on a lower or fixed income.

“For people making three, six digits a year, that’s not much,” Kean said. “But for people that are making 15, 20, 30 and so forth a year, that $15 is a huge amount over that year.”

A $15 a month increase would have customers paying $180 dollars more a year for water.

Kean said an increase like that can be especially hard on budgeting parents.

“In a household, that $15 is one meal, two meals for that week,” Kean said.

Five in-person public hearings and two virtual ones are scheduled to allow people the opportunity to ask questions and provide testimony to the commission. Each will begin with a question-and-answer session followed by public testimony.

“The water company will be able to come in and say, ‘Here’s all the expenses that we’ve had up to this point that we feel should be able to be allowed to be recovered by law,'” Missouri Public Service Commission spokeswoman Sarah Fontaine said. “It also allows for folks to come in and be able to get comments in front of the commission so that the commission can hear from the public as to their thoughts on the rate increase request.”

If the commission were to consider all testimony and decide to allow the increase, Fontaine said customers could expect the rate change to take effect in early summer 2027.

The hearing schedule is as follows:

Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. (in-person) – Governor State Office Building, Room 310, in Jefferson City. Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. (in-person) – University of Missouri–St. Louis, Millennium Student Center, Century Room C, 17 Arnold B. Grobman Drive, in St. Louis. Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. (in-person) – Missouri Southern State University, Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center, Cornell Auditorium, 3950 E. Newman Road, in Joplin. Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. (in-person) – Branson RecPlex, Community Room C, 1501 Branson Hills Parkway, in Branson. Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. (in-person) – St. Joseph City Hall, City Council Chambers, 1100 Frederick Ave., in St. Joseph. Dec. 17 at noon (virtual) – meeting number/access code: 2631 278 7030. Password: 0304 Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. (virtual) – meeting number/access code: 2865 616 2337. Password: 0304

To join a virtual hearing by phone, call toll-free 1-312-535-8110, listen to the prompt and enter the meeting number/access code, followed by the pound symbol.

Members of the public looking to attend a virtual hearing are also encouraged, but not required, to register in advance, the release says. People are asked to send their first and last name, phone number, email address and the hearing they will attend to pscinfo@psc.mo.gov or by calling 1-800-392-4211 no later than 5 p.m. the day before the hearing.

Customers who can not attend a hearing and would like to provide a written comment can submit them to the PSC at P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, or by using the commission’s online comment form, using reference file number WR-2026-0304.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Walmart on West Broadway in Columbia was open Tuesday, a day after it was closed when water flooded the store.

The store was closed Monday, with workers telling ABC 17 News reporters that a water main broke and caused flooding. A Walmart spokesperson didn’t comment on the cause of the closure, merely saying the company treats safety as a top priority.

The Walmart website listed the store as open Tuesday, and a phone operator confirmed it was open as normal.

Columbia has three Walmart stores, with other locations on Grindstone Parkway in the southern part of the city and Conley Road in the northeast part of Columbia.

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