Author: KMIZ

Matthew Sanders

There’s been lots of talk since last year about Missouri’s congressional map and which version is in effect.

Republicans insist the current map is the “Missouri First” map approved last year during a special session by the Missouri General Assembly. That map splits up the Fifth District, which currently covers Kansas City, effectively taking out a safe Democratic seat amid a national bipartisan scramble to carve out an advantage in the House.

One major change comes in Boone County, which was split between the Third and Fourth districts after the 2020 census. The new map splits it between the Third and the Fifth along a different line. Residents of several other Mid-Missouri counties will also switch districts.

The new map is being challenged by an initiative petition drive. Thus far, opponents have not won the battle over the map in courts.

Do you know which district you’re voting in for the August primary? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

Despite the Columbia Police Department’s 2025  annual report showing violent crime trending downward for a fourth year in a row, Police Chief Jill Schlude said she isn’t taking a victory lap. 

CPD recently rolled out a new data dashboard, which forced the department to go back and clean up some of its 2024 data. According to Schlude, after cleaning up the 2024 data, CPD found that some categories of crime reported in previous years were not classified properly.  

“In my mind, anything prior to 2024, I don’t have a high degree of certainty about that data. So while it’s great and I’d love to celebrate that violent crime is down, I’m not saying that it’s not, but I think based on the cleanup we did to 2024, there is the possibility that there are crimes that are overreported, ” Schlude said. “We had to go back and fix all that data. I think it’s great to look at. I think once we have 26 under our belt, we’ll have a good, solid three years of data, and that will give us a better idea about trends.” 

CPD reported 470 violent crimes in 2025, six fewer than in 2024. 

CPD defined violent crime as a criminal act that involves a force or threat of force against a person. It may consist of murder or manslaughter, robbery, aggravated assault or rape. The department counts one crime for each victim.

Of the 853 people arrested for violent crimes, 197 were younger than 17. Juveniles between the ages of 10-17 accounted for 22% of all violent crime arrests, the second-highest total of any age group behind those ages 25 to 34, who accounted for 156 arrests.

Schlude says the numbers represent a growing nationwide trend. 

“Every police chief group that I’m in is talking about this exact problem.  Where that stems from, I think if someone knew or could solve that problem, they’d probably be very profitable. But I think trying to focus on what the causes are of that and then, frankly, how do we hold younger offenders accountable,” Schulde said. “There have been some changes in the state law this year that the governor signed off on in the public safety omnibus bill that will change how some juvenile cases are handled, how they can get adjudicated as adults.”

Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson told ABC 17 News in a statement that while his office hasn’t noticed more juvenile referrals, his office has seen “a lot of violent crime being committed in the younger than-25 years old age demographic. 

Thompson added the public safety bill Schlude referenced would allow county prosecutors to become involved in juvenile crime cases earlier in the process, giving them more opportunity to provide input.

In 2024, there were 52 reported victims of sexual assault. In 2025, that number dropped to 48, the lowest of the last four years. 

However, CPD’s 2025 annual report also showed that children ages 10-17 were the most commonly reported victims of sexual assault. Of the 44 reported sexual assault victims, 12 were between the ages of 10-17. 

“It’s always important to frame when you look at these numbers that this is reported crime. So that’s why I’m always cautious about over celebrating what looks like success or under celebrating because that’s a really hard thing,” Schlude said. “In my mind, with sexual assault crimes and domestic violence crimes, if we’re doing our job, more people, more victims are going to come forward. There’s no doubt in both of those categories those crimes are underreported. So when we get increases in them, I do attribute some of that to a great partnership with True North, Rainbow House Places like that who support  those investigations.” 

Reports of domestic violence in Columbia were higher than average in 2025. True North of Columbia Executive Director Michele Snodderley said the organization has already seen a rapid increase in services provided this year. However, like Schlude, Snodderley believes part of that increase may be tied to victims feeling less afraid to come forward and seek help.

“I don’t know if we’re seeing an increase in domestic violence or if we’re seeing an increase in our services because we’re removing that stigma,” Snodderly said. “We’ve been increasing our prevention and education, we’ve been increasing community outreach and awareness, so I’m hoping some of that is just because we are seeing people reaching out and they’re not scared to do so anymore.”

One area that Schlude praised was CPD’s homicide clearance rate. In 2025, the Criminal Investigations division held a 100% clearance rate for homicides. As of 2024, the national average for homicide clearance rates is 61%. In 2025, there were four murders involving guns. 

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ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A fugitive from Poland who was wanted for fraud was arrested on May 19 at Fort Leonard Wood, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Marcin Pióro, 46, has a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

The press release from the DOJ alleges that Pióro is the CEO of a financial services platform in Poland and was wanted by Polish authorities “for large-scale fraud and money laundering offenses tied to losses exceeding approximately 125 million PLN (over $30 million USD), with subsequent reporting indicating losses may exceed 150 million PLN.”

The release says Pióro joined the Army to receive a naturalization sponsorship.  We as arrested while he was participating in a military training exercise, the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A road-improvement project just north of Jefferson City is expected to begin next week and will last nearly a year.

Beginning Monday, June 1, Missouri Department of Transportation crews will start widening Westbound Highway 54 from Highway 64 to the Missouri River Bridge, according to a Wednesday press release from MoDOT.

A barrier will be built along the media and speeds will be reduced to 55 miles per hour during the initial phase, the release says. The passing lane will close each night from 7 p.m.-7 a.m.

Improvements include:

Providing southbound Highway 63 with a dedicated lane onto the Missouri River bridge,

Reconfiguring the ramp from Callaway County Route W (Airport Road) to Highway 54.  

Resurfacing the pavement on westbound Highway 54 approaching the Missouri River bridge. 

Construction is expected to completed by May 1, 2027.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man accused in a criminal case involving a baby’s death and accusations of sex crimes and slavery has requested for his case to be moved to another county.

Sam Shetler, 42, of Boonville, is charged with three counts of trafficking for the purpose of slavery/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 is being held at the Cooper County Jail without bond. A hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

Shetler’s attorney filed a motion on Tuesday asking the judge to move the case to either Montgomery, Monroe or Shelby counties.

The motion suggests that because of the small size of Cooper County and the amount of attention the case has received; it claims residents of the county would be “prejudiced” against Shetler if they were pooled for a jury.

Shetler – who had been described in court documents as a “cult-like” leader of an Amish community –is accused of forcing teenagers to work at the Mercy and Truth-Amish and Mennonite Retreat without pay and rubbing oils on young females to “heal” them, court documents in previous reporting indicate.

Following his March arrest, more victims came forward and accused Shetler of posing as a doctor that gave a “lavender breathing treatment” to a baby who suffered from multiple viruses in 2025, including COVID-19, court documents in previous reporting say. The baby died on March 6, 2025.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Kehoe on Wednesday dismissed calls for a special legislative session to suspend Missouri’s gas tax, citing concerns about road conditions and the impact on jobs for construction workers.

Some lawmakers had asked Kehoe to call a special session to vote on pausing the state’s 29.5-cent gas tax through the end of the year. Revenue from the tax goes to state and local road repairs and projects.

But Kehoe said Wednesday that he’s not sold.

“This revenue stream funds the jobs of the men and women across the state who work on these road projects, which contribute to the critical public safety and infrastructure needs of our state,” Kehoe said in a statement sent by his office.

He said a pause in funding would put Missourians out of work because of road project delays. However, he said he understands the strain high gas prices are putting on Missourians.

Kehoe also pointed out that the savings might not be passed on to consumers.

The statewide average for regular unleaded was $4.15 on Wednesday, according to GasBuddy.com, with several stations in Columbia still at $4.19.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 73-year-old woman died in a crash on Wednesday in Osage County on Highway 100 near Brandt Road, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report says the Linn woman drove a 2007 Chevrolet Impala eastbound when she suffered a medical emergency. The vehicle went off the right side of the road, hit several trees and a fence and went through a large field before overturning, the report says.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was brought to Morton Funeral Home in Linn, the report says.

Her passenger – a 70-year-old man from Bonnots Mill, Missouri – was flown to University Hospital in Columbia with serious injuries, according to the report.

Neither person wore a seatbelt, according to the report. The Impala was totaled.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Voters in Jefferson City and Columbia will be asked to approve new sales taxes this summer, while voters statewide will decide on whether to phase out the income tax.

Ballot issues were due to election authorities on Tuesday, creating the first picture of which questions will appear on the Aug. 4 primary ballot.

Gov. Mike Kehoe added several constitutional amendments to the ballot. The one that has drawn the most attention is a question of whether to phase out the state’s income tax in favor of increased sales taxes.

Amendment 5’s ballot text states:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

Phase out the individual income tax based on revenue growth;

Reduce personal property and other local taxes when local revenues increase;

Modify the sales and use tax to eliminate income tax and reduce local taxes; and

Protect local funding for public schools and other purposes?

The measure is under a legal challenge, with a Kansas City woman filing a suit against the Secretary of State, claiming the ballot includes multiple subjects and violates the state constitution.

Other statewide questions ask whether to keep a sales tax for water conservation and state parks and historic sites for 10 years; whether to change rules concerning assessors in charter counties; and whether to change the statewide process by which citizens put questions on the ballot.

Amendment 4 reforms the current initiative petition process and would make it harder for a measure to make the ballot by citizen petition. If approved, instead of an initiative petition requiring a majority vote in each congressional district, it would require a statewide majority vote.

With certification of the ballot over, county clerks are compiling sample ballots for voters.

“We create our ballots in-house, so we program those ballots and get those prepared for absentee voting and for sending out sample ballots to all registered voters,” Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said.

Columbia voters will see a 1% public safety sales tax on the August ballot. The measure would add a 1% general sales tax, with funds going solely to the Columbia Police Department and Columbia Fire Department. 

The city estimates that the tax will produce $38 million in revenue. The city plans to use the money to increase fire and police staffing and help with department equipment and renovations.

Jefferson City voters will also vote on extending the city’s half-cent sales tax for capital improvements until March 31, 2037.

Congressional map questions

The election is also taking place amid several lawsuits over Missouri’s congressional map. The new “Missouri First” map would split Boone County between the Fifth District and the Third District, which reach the edges of the state. The Republican-dominated legislature redrew the Kansas City’s Fifth District to eliminate the safe Democratic seat held by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is now certifying signatures for a drive to put the map on the November 2026 ballot. Election offices have until July 27 to determine if the measure has enough signatures for the ballot.

The change leaves residents in several Mid-Missouri counties — including Boone, Cole, Howard, Cooper, Moniteau and Osage — navigating new congressional boundaries, with some voters now shifted between Districts 3, 4 and 5 under the updated map.

Lennon said the secretary of state and Boone County websites have tools to help voters know which district they’re in under the old map and the new one.

“I am hopeful that there will be more clarity and resolution as we go through the process of creating the ballots,” Lennon said. “I would love to have a resolution well before the August primary.”

July 8th is the last day to register for the August primary.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The spouse of a man who died last year at the Boone County Jail has sued the jail’s medical provider Wednesday in federal court.

The lawsuit was filed by Grant Davis, who is described as the husband of Robert Muller-Russo in court documents. Defendants in the case includes jail nurse Melissa Hooks, her employer Turn Key Health Clinics and an unknown member of the jail’s medical staff referred to as “John Doe.”

All three defendants are accused of deliberate indifference to medical needs and wrongful death because of medical malpractice.

Muller-Russo died on April 23, 2025, according to previous reporting. He was 59 years old. He was being held for three misdemeanor charges after being arrested on April 16, previous reporting shows. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office had claimed in a press release at the time that “Contracted medical personnel, who were on site, were present when Mr. Muller-Russo was found.”

The lawsuit claims that Muller-Russo was jailed on April 7 and began having heart issues at 6:46 p.m. April 17. The unnamed staffer allegedly took vitals and determined there was nothing wrong with Muller-Russo, the petition says.

Other inmates reported to jail staff that Muller-Russo began having a possible seizure around 7:28 p.m. and staff allegedly determined there was nothing wrong with him again, the lawsuits says. An inmate then reported at 8:07 p.m. that Muller-Russo could not use his legs. He was then allegedly put in wheelchair and moved to a nurse’s holding cell, the petition says.

Muller-Russo allegedly awoke the next morning and could not see out of one of his eyes, but Hooks claimed he could after checking vitals, the petition says.

The Boone County Medical Examiner determined Muller-Russo died from “sepsis due to peritonitis resulting from appendicitis.”

 ABC 17 News reached out to Turn Key Health on Wednesday.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Eldon woman was charged on Tuesday in Cole County after she allegedly sold 1,000 ounces – or roughly 62.5 pounds – of someone else’s breast milk that she led a customer to believe it was her own.

Emily Buckley is charged with committing deceptive business practices. Court filings show she posted a pre-set $2,500 bond and her warrant was withdrawn.

The probable cause statement says someone described as “Witness 1” had previously made “donations” to Buckley. A second witness — after speaking to Witness 1 — was allegedly contacted by Buckley, asking if she would like to purchase breast milk, the statement says.

Witness 1 made a social media post about the incident, which the victim saw and led to her contacting law enforcement, the statement says.

The victim told law enforcement that she allegedly bought roughly 1,000 ounces of breast milk from Buckley on March 13 in the 2500 block of Southridge Drive in Jefferson City. The victim reported having “issues” with the breast milk, the statement says.

The victim allegedly had screenshots of messages between her and Buckley that would indicate the victim thought the milk came from Buckley, court documents say. She allegedly paid Buckley $200 through the website PayPal.

“In one message, Defendant stated, ‘I bag after each pump and freeze immediately.’ Victim stated that Defendant led her to believe this was Defendant’s breast milk,” the probable cause statement says.

Police spoke with Buckley over the phone on Saturday, May 23, where she allegedly admitted to selling the breast milk of someone described as “Witness 3” to the victim, the statement says.

“I asked Defendant whether Defendant believed Victim thought the milk was Defendant’s breast milk; Defendant stated that is what Defendant believes people think,” the officer wrote in the probable cause statement.

The officer spoke with Witness 3 that same day, and she allegedly told police that she had donated breast milk to Buckley in March, but told police she thought it was for Buckley’s child.

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