Author: KMIZ

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A county official in Mid-Missouri has given up his seat after being charged with child sex crimes.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a news release Monday that Richard Renno, Benton County treasurer, had resigned his office. Renno submitted his resignation after Bailey took legal action last week to remove him from office in a process known as “quo warranto.”

Renno, 62, of Lincoln, was charged in Benton County with child enticement and sexual misconduct involving a child younger than 15 years old. The probable cause statement says that Renno used the dating application Grindr in August to speak to a child younger than 15 years old. A witness allegedly gave a screenshot to law enforcement of Renno’s face and a nude photograph he sent through Grindr, court documents say.

A family member was able to identify Renno to law enforcement, the statement says.

“At this time, I have decided to take time to spend with my family and friends, as personal time is a valuable asset, not to be taken for granted,” Renno wrote in his resignation letter.

Benton County Treasurer Resignation LetterDownload

Renno remained out on bond Monday with special conditions, including no contact with anyone under age 18 except for supervised contact with family members, according to court records. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 22.

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Keriana Gamboa

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A boom that triggered emergency dispatchers to send out a warning about an “underground explosion” in a residential area of Columbia might have been fireworks, a city employee told ABC 17 News on Monday.

” I think maybe a firework, somebody probably threw one into the storm drain, ” City of Columbia stormwater supervisor Derek Altus said when asked what might have triggered the response that closed down part of Worley Street on Sunday.

Ronald Mooney, who lives in the area, said firefighters told him they had seen smoke coming from the sewer shortly after the initial reports.

“Well, I was sitting in my rocking chair watching TV, and I heard an explosion which sounded like an M-80 or cherry bomb or something like that,” Mooney said. “And it frightened me because I wasn’t expecting it.”

Columbia firefighters found no physical evidence to support the theory that fireworks caused the incident, and therefore could not verify that claim.

The Columbia Fire Department responded to reports of smoke and a loud noise coming from a storm drain at the corner of West Worley Street and Pennant Street.

Initial calls to 911 described it as an “underground explosion,” prompting Boone County Joint Communications to send an alert to residents.

The message read, “BCJC Urgent: Worley from Stadium to at least West Blvd is closed due to an underground explosion. Choose alternate route.”

Boone County Joint Communications director Christie Davis said Monday that the responding supervisor decided to send out that message due to the information they received at the time.

However, when crews arrived, they found no visible hazards, no injuries and no damage to nearby homes or infrastructure. It has been described since as a “non-event.”

“‘Nonevent,’ we mean that upon arrival and a thorough investigation, fire crews found no hazards present, no damage to homes or infrastructure, and no injuries. There was nothing active for our crews to mitigate,” CFD spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez said in a statement.

City crews conducted routine inspections of a manhole and storm drain near the area Monday.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman found dead Saturday night in her car was shot in her vehicle after an argument with her boyfriend, according to court documents.

Isaiah N. Goins, 26, of Columbia, was arrested Sunday at work on suspicion of killing the woman, whose name has been kept under wraps by the sheriff’s department. She is identified by the initials “M.G.” in the statement.

Goins was charged Monday with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was in the Boone County Jail on no bond.

M.G. had been out of town and returned to Columbia on Saturday night, the statement says. Goins had accused her of being unfaithful, investigators say.

Goins met M.G. and got into her car Saturday night before pulling out a gun on Lake of the Woods Road and demanding that M.G. let him out, the statement says. When M.G. pulled onto Geyser Road and stopped, Goins allegedly shot her during an argument and ran from the scene.

A deputy later found the car next to a house, where it had rolled to a stop but not hit the building, the statement says.

No court hearings for Goins are scheduled.

This marks the third homicide reported outside city limits in Boone County so far in 2025. For comparison, there were only two homicides recorded in all of 2024, one in February and another in June.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A ranger for Missouri State Parks was charged Sunday with three child sex crimes.

Prosecutors charged Billy G. Stephens III, 34, with child molestation, second-degree statutory sodomy, second-degree statutory rape, witness tampering and evidence tampering.

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office began investigating on Saturday after park ranger command staff told them about an interview with a victim, the sheriff’s office says in a news release.

“Rangers’ command staff cooperated fully with the investigation and assisted in devising a plan to take Stephens into custody,” the release states.

One victim told investigators that Stephens commits the abuse nightly and the abuse is accompanied by physical threats if the victims tell anyone, according to a probable cause statement.

It’s not clear where Stephens was arrested — the location is redacted in the probable cause statement. Stephens refused to speak with investigators without a lawyer, the statement says.

Stephens was booked into the Camden County Jail on Saturday and remained there Monday on no bond, according to online jail records.

Camden County Sheriff Chris Edgar said in the news release that the allegations against Stephens “are disturbing and, frankly, a betrayal of the trust our community puts in its law enforcement efforts. This office is committed to the equal administration of justice regardless of a suspect’s status as a law enforcement officer.”

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Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council voted to accept an almost $60,000 grant for the purchase of a new drone for the Jefferson City Police Department.

The grant is from the Jefferson City Missouri Police Foundation, a non-profit formed by local businesses to support the JCPD.

“We currently have drones, but they are outdated and old, and we can’t get the replacement parts for it, so we decided to purchase a new one,” Jefferson City Police Department Lieutenant Jason Payne said.

Payne said the grant will cover the entire drone purchase.

The drone will be from the BRINC company and has thermal imaging and third-party mapping capabilities. Drones are equipped with two-way communications so police and communicate with people during a scene or rescue. It can also deliver small items like defibrilators, Narcan and EpiPens in emergency scenarios. JCPD plans to use drones for search and rescue and crowd monitoring scenarios.

“They can cover large areas in rough terrain,” Payne said. “If there was a disaster, we can use them for assessing their disaster areas … also for safety, reduce the risk of officers going into potential areas of unknown suspects.”

“The truth is just drones lead to better outcomes,” David Benowitz BRINC Vice President of Strategy & Marketing Communications said. “Having those first eyes on scene without having to put a body in the way, being able to create distance, being able to get that information and being able to communicate with people remotely just leads to better outcomes.”

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 36-year-old man accused of running over a motorcyclist, who later died from his injuries, was charged Monday with murder.

Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Roger Johnson told ABC 17 News in an email that charges against Donald J. Legleiter had been changed to include second-degree murder in the death of Jeffrie W. Cash, replacing an earlier assault charge.

Legleiter, who is also charged with armed criminal action and leaving the scene of an injury crash, remained in the Boone County Jail on Monday on no bond. He was arrested a week ago following the incident on Allen Street in McBaine.

Witnesses told deputies that Legleiter had backed up in his SUV and run over the motorcycle with Cash on it, the statement says. Legleiter allegedly drove from the scene and abandoned the 2024 Toyota Highlander in a bean field.

Authorities later found and arrested him nearby.

Legleiter allegedly told deputies that he wanted to destroy Cash’s motorcycle.

Cash’s family told ABC 17 News last week that he died from his injuries Thursday night. Cash’s daughter, Makayla Cash, told ABC 17 News that her father would have needed constant care had he been able to survive the injuries he suffered to his head and body.

Makayla Cash said her father was defending a woman from Legleiter, which led to the fatal confrontation.

Legleiter made his first court appearance Wednesday. His next appearance is scheduled for Aug. 19.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Ashland man was charged with five felonies after he was accused of hitting a person with his car in Columbia early Monday morning.

Steven Brunstrom, 28, of Ashland, was charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, third-degree domestic assault, property damage and resisting arrest.

Columbia Police said officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Vandiver Drive for a crash with a pedestrian just before 2 a.m. on Monday.

Court documents state that Brunstrom allegedly hit his ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend before threatening to kill them.

Police said the woman told officers Brunstrom used his car to hit the man and pinned him against a house on Parker Street.

The man told police while at the hospital that he had stopped Brunstrom from hitting the woman before he started hitting him and allegedly threatening to kill them both.

Officers said the man told police Brunstrom tried to hit him with his car but missed before he turned around and hit him.

Court documents state the victim reported being on the hood of the car while Brunstrom drove it until he hit the house. The victim reported having his ankle pinned between the car, house and gas meter.

Brunstrom allegedly left the scene in his car he used to hit the man. Police said officers arrived at his house in Ashland and saw damage to a car matching the victim’s description.

Brunstrom is accused of trying to run from an officer and Boone County Sheriff’s Deputies while trying to arrest him. He ran about 20 yards before he was caught by officers, court documents state.

Police reported seeing tire marks in the front yard of the house on Parker Street and damage to the front corner of the siding and gutter. Officers also reported a broken gas meter at the house.

The woman victim had swelling around her right side of her face with a large red mark, according to court documents. The man was reported to have swelling on his face along with large cuts on his knees and lower legs and a possibly broken right ankle.

Investigators believe the crash was intentional, according to a press release.

Court documents state Brunstrom is currently out on bond for domestic assault and kidnapping in one case and possession of a controlled substance in a second case.

Brunstrom is currently being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date was not set as of 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A grant awarded to the Missouri Department of Transportation and the City of Columbia by the federal government has been canceled for the second time.

In a news release, Loop Community Improvement District spokesperson Carrie Gartner said a $2.13 million grant that would be used to improve Business Loop 70 in Columbia has been canceled.

“Federal Highway Administration has been told to withdraw the funds and close out the grant so we are unable to go forward with this important step towards a better street and a more welcoming gateway into Columbia,” the release states.

The grant was frozen in early March but was unfrozen within two weeks.

Gartner said the city and MoDOT were told on Friday the grant was canceled.

According to City of Columbia Engineering Manager Allison Anderson, the cancellation came as a result of President Donald Trump’s “One, Big Beautiful Bill” passing.

“Once that bill went through we kind of saw what was going to happen but Friday was when we got the official notice from federal highway,” Anderson said.

Gartner told ABC 17 News via email that about 60 communities across the nation were impacted as a result of the bill, accounting for $2.4 billion in funding.

“The people of Columbia and the City of Columbia have been amazingly supportive of our efforts to improve the Business Loop—which is not just an economic engine for the city but our main gateway into Columbia,” the statement reads. “Despite this setback, the Loop Community Improvement District hopes we have this same support as we explore all our options for funding this important redevelopment project.”

In a statement sent to ABC 17 News, the U.S. Department of Transportation said it plans to continue reviewing grant selections to ensure they align with the president’s executive orders.

The release from the Loop CID states that it plans to reapply for another federal grant if given the oppertunity but is also preparing if that does not happen.

“If federal funds are no longer available, we will work with the city to explore other locally-initiated funding tools that are not reliant on grants”

The grant was awarded in 2024 as part of the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant program. The grant was to be used to do a study of Business Loop 70 between Stadium Boulveard and Eastland Circle to find ways to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians.

“It’s kind of a gateway off of I-70 to our community and to have a really great looking business loop to just draw people, wanting to get them to stop in Columbia,” Anderson said. “Just really make business loop a quarter where people want to be again. Make it great for traveling in your car, but also for walkers and bikers.”

City officials requested $2.5-3 million for the study, according to the application filed in 2023. In October the City Council approved $500,000 in funds from the capital improvement sales tax to be used for the study along with the federal grant.

City spokesperson Sydney Olsen told ABC 17 News that the city plans to hold onto that funding in the project account as it explores other possible grants or funding mechanisms.

Owner of Woods Auto Spa on the Business Loop, Dimetrious Woods said hearing the news brings frustration for not only his business, but for the many small business owners in the city. He also said it raises the question of why.

“I’ve heard a couple things of Trump being involved in, or inflicting upon certain people. Me being myself, whenever it inflicts me, of course I’m going to open my eyes,” Woods said. “It doesn’t feel good hearing that it’s Trump. It’s been a lot of great policies but I’m not hearing a lot of great as of a thing like this. Who does a grant hurt? It only helps the community.”

The federal grant for the road safety audit of Business Loop 70 is still moving forward, according to Anderson.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two suspects involved in a deadly Dove Drive shooting in 2023 are set to be in a Boone County courtroom Monday.

Ja’Shaun Barney and Damarkus Williams are two of seven people involved in the deadly shooting, and are facing first-degree murder along with multiple other charges.

According to court documents, Ja’Shaun Barney requested a speedy trial on May 29. Williams’ four-day jury trial was previously set for this Fall but was cancelled; the court is set to reschedule the trial in Monday’s hearing.

Last month marked two years since Barney and Williams were accused in the shooting that killed Deshon Houston on Dove Drive in 2023. Out of the seven suspects in that shooting, Barney and Williams are the only ones who have not pleaded guilty.

Court documents say Deazes Turner, Deljuan Turner and Alqueze Jones shot and killed Deshon Houston from a white 2017 Ford Explorer driven by Barney; while Bryton Allen also shot at Houston from an Acura MDX driven by Williams.

All of the men originally had second-degree murder charges, which were later upgraded to first-degree murder.

Deljuan Turner pleaded guilty in November last year to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison. Jones, 21, pleaded guilty that same month to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Allen, 22, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to 20 years. He was also sentenced to four years in prison in an unrelated case where he pleaded guilty to resisting arrest in 2021.

Deazes Turner, 22, pleaded guilty in April to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Barney and Williams will be in front of Judge Joshua Devine at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

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Matthew Sanders

The heat wave that planted itself over our part of the country is here to stay for a few days.

This week, Mid-Missouri remains under an extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service. The high summer temperatures combined with heavy humidity have pushed the heat index into the triple digits.

It’s a level that’s dangerous for those without access to proper cooling and with certain health conditions. The conditions have led the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team to call a string of Weather Alert Days this week.

Mid-Missourians are used to hot, humid summers. But most could probably do without the kind of heat we’ve seen lately.

How hot is too hot for you? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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