Author: KMIZ

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo.

A woman claims that her German Shepherd is among the 16 dogs found alive at a Boone County dog breeders’ property, who was charged with several counts of animal abuse.

Melissa Sanders, 26, of Columbia is charged with a total of 18 counts of animal abuse, including three felonies and 15 misdemeanors.

Boone County Sheriff Deputies and Animal Control received a search warrant for Sanders’ property and business, Magnum Opus German Shepherds. Authorities found several dead dogs in various stages of decomposition and dog skulls in bags.

Wilson said her dog, Eri, was rescued and is now being held at the Central Missouri Humane Society as “evidence.”

“I am thankful that she was spared and that she is alive. She’s not in good condition, but I’m glad she is still here with us,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she and Sanders were best friends, and Sanders had co-ownership of Eri for breeding and boarding purposes. She said a friend told her authorities found several dead dogs on Sanders’ property Thursday, and she reached out to Animal Control to see if they had Eri.

“The animal control officer sighed a big sigh of relief and said she was one of the two German Shepherds found alive,” Wilson said.

Eri was “severely” starved and pregnant, Wilson said, but she was alive.

Wilson lives in the St. Louis area, and was regularly texting Sanders. She said she had no idea what Sanders was doing, and never would have trusted her with Eri had she known.

“I truly think that at one point she did care a lot about her animals. I saw it, I saw that she cared. And I don’t know what happened, if anything happened. I don’t know if she was always like this, but I’m just disgusted that I called her my friend,” Wilson said.

Wilson created a Facebook page to try to get other dog owners connected to the dogs found at Sanders’ property.

She said she also created a Google Form to help people locate their dogs that went missing or were rehomed while in Sanders’ care. Wilson told ABC 17 News she received over 20 people who are looking for their missing dog, and has 10 or fewer submissions for dogs who have been re-homed.

Wilson claims animal control has access to the Google Form as well.

Tiffany Barboud bought her dog, Fenrir, two years ago from Sanders and she said she was shocked to hear the news.

“From my experience with her, definitely would never have made me guess that something like this would happen,” Barboud said.

Barboud said Sanders was knowledgeable about dogs and didn’t suspect anything when she visited Sanders’ home two years ago.

“The house was relatively clean for having that many dogs in the house, all the dogs looked well fed, taken care of,” Barboud said. “Everything pointed towards just a good, ethical breeder. I didn’t see any warning signs.”

ABC 17 News reached out to Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services.

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Nia Hinson

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County firefighters battled a fire at a small metal building on Sunday night.

The Boone County Fire Protection District was called to the 1400 block of north Boothe Lane just before 8 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters found fire coming from the inside of a small metal building but were able to bring the fire under control within roughly 15 minutes, according to a BCFPD firefighter on scene.

Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp told ABC 17 News in a text message that a truck and tractor inside of the building were saved. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

An ABC 17 News reporter on scene saw several Boone County firefighters checking for hotspots in the area around 9 p.m.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council is expected to revisit a controversial ordinance Monday that targets pedestrians standing on medians on a majority of city roads.

The ordinance would regulate the use of medians, road crossings, and islands by both motorists and pedestrians at intersections with speeds of 35 mph or greater, average daily traffic volumes of 15,000 vehicles or greater, or where the median width is fewer than 6 feet wide.

If adopted, the ordinance will:

Prohibit crossing a major road anywhere except in a crosswalk, a pedestrian-control signal, or an intersection if those things aren’t available.

Prohibit being on a median less than 6 feet wide except when crossing the road.

Prohibit getting out of cars while in a traffic lane or within a major intersection.

Prohibit approaching cars on a major road unless the car is legally parked.

Prohibit people in vehicles from engaging with pedestrians at major intersections.

Critics of the ordinance include Ward 3 council member Jacque Sample, who requested to delay voting on the ordinance until a later date. Students in the Young Democratic Socialists of America also voiced concern over the rule, calling it “irrelevant” to addressing gun violence. This came after MU President Choi proposed plans to reform homelessness in the city following the death of Stephens College student Ayanna Williams, who was shot and killed downtown in late September.

According to previous reporting, the City Council plans to table the vote on the ordinance on Monday, with the council instead reviewing and discussing a pedestrian study report on roads in the area.

Supplemental – Street and Intersection Pedestrian Safety Study (Final)Download

The study also found that from 2019 to 2023, 32% of deadly crashes in Columbia were pedestrian-related, which is higher than the national and state rates.

In Missouri, pedestrian and bicycle deaths increased by 77% while other traffic fatalities increased by 40% between 2012 and 2022.

According to city documents, the ordinance is on second reading and vote, with the Public Works Department suggesting to adopt the rule. The Council can vote on an ordinance after it has been read three times for public notice.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman who says worked with breeder Melissa Sanders at Columbia Second Chance, claims she noticed and reported concerning behaviors to the organization.

Melissa Sanders

Torre Taylor, a former manager at Columbia Second Chance, said Sanders was contracted to train dogs in April. Taylor said she noticed what she said were concerning behaviors, like intensely correcting dogs. But Taylor said it wasn’t until a Columbia Second Chance dog was left in Sanders’ care, that she reported her concerns to her supervisor.

“I was letting my supervisor know that I had some real concerns about Melissa,” Taylor said.

Taylor says she worked at Columbia Second Chance for around five years. She told ABC 17, the dog, Galoshes, went to Sanders’ home for two weeks over the summer. She claimed Galoshes weighed about 80 pounds and came out around 60 pounds. Taylor also said the dog’s teeth had been “severely filed down”. She said it was possible he was chewing on the kennel or trying to eat hard objects.

Taylor said Galoshes was previously in a foster home and had some wear on his teeth, but she claims it got “dramatically worse” while in Sander’s care. Taylor said she reported her concerns verbally four times and sent a letter voicing her concerns, about potential abuse.

“I directly did tell some of the staff that you need to go and inspect this facility, something’s wrong, something’s going on there,” Taylor said. “Unfortunately, again, nothing came about after I voiced my concerns.”

Sanders was charged with 18 counts of animal abuse on Friday, after the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Control searched her home and place of business, Magnum Opus German Shepherds LLC. Authorities said they found 16 living dogs and several dead dogs, according to previous reporting. Court documents state many dogs were malnourished and lacking access to food and water.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Columbia Second Chance said the organization wasn’t aware of these allegations saying, “We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the recent charges of animal abuse filed against a former contract service provider who briefly conducted training sessions under our supervision. At Second Chance, the safety and well-being of the animals in our care is—and always will be—our highest priority. We want to be absolutely clear: had we known of any concerns, allegations, or behavior of this nature, we never would have engaged her services. Every training session conducted was directly supervised by our staff or committees, and no aversive tools or techniques were permitted,” the post reads.

The Facebook post also said Sanders was immediately terminated from working with Columbia Second Chance. Second Chance Executive Director Giulia Hall said in an email to ABC 17, that she is aware of Taylor’s claims, but refutes them.

“Our rescue is deeply committed to the health, safety, and humane treatment of all animals in our care. We are aware of the statements made by a former employee, Torre, which are factually incorrect,” Hall said. “The specific allegations of knowledge of animal abuse are false. Out of respect for the legal process and to ensure the integrity of our organization’s operations, we cannot discuss personnel matters or ongoing internal investigations in detail,” Hall wrote.

Hall claims Taylor did not report abuse during her time with the organization and said, “her concerns were based on techniques used, and general concerns of differing personality.”

Taylor said she never got a response to her letter, but Hall acknowledged it was received.

“We did receive the resignation letter, however, those concerns mentioned were vague, but addressed with Melissa directly at the time. No concerning behavior was observed with Second Chance animals, as all sessions were attended by a senior member of SC,” Hall wrote.

Hall also said she talked with Sanders about the concerns Taylor brought up.

Sanders is being held in the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not yet been set.

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Nia Hinson

GASCONADE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person is dead and another seriously injured after a motorcycle crash in Gasconade County Saturday evening, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report says the crash occurred on U.S. 50, half a mile east of Cave Hill Road, shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday.

A 2007 Kawasaki – driven by a 66-year-old Washington man – was heading eastbound on Highway 50 when it hit a deer that entered the roadway, the report says.

The man was flown to Mercy Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The passenger – a 51-year-old Washington woman – was taken to Mercy Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.

According to the report, both the man and the woman were wearing helmets. The motorcycle was totaled in the crash.

MSHP Troop F said it was investigating a deadly motorcycle crash in Gasconade County in a post on X Saturday night.

🚨Fatal Crash in Gasconade County🚨

Troopers are on scene of a one vehicle motorcycle crash on U.S. 50, near Cave Hill Road.

The roadway is open, but please be careful when traveling through the area as first responders are still on scene completing their investigation. pic.twitter.com/MXDpo4zOMH

— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) November 16, 2025

Troopers were still on scene around 10 p.m on Saturday, the post says.

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Nia Hinson

RANDOLPH COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A seven-year-old boy from Moberly was seriously injured in a crash in Randolph County Friday night.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the crash occurred on U.S. 63 in Moberly around 5:15 p.m. A 16-year-old Moberly girl was driving a 2000 Ford Ranger when the truck traveled off the road.

The girl overcorrected and the truck flipped over, the report says. The vehicle then hit a guardrail and the passenger in the truck– a seven-year-old boy from Moberly– was ejected.

The boy was taken to University Hospital with serious injuries. The girl suffered moderate injuries.

According to the report, neither person was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

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Nia Hinson

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A person was rescued and hospitalized after a fire broke out at a home in Moberly on Saturday, according to a social media post from the Moberly Fire Department.

According to the post, crews were called to the 500 block of Shumate Avenue around 4:30 p.m. for a structure fire with at least one person who was possibly trapped. The post says firefighters found heavy fire coming from the home.

Crews found and rescued a person inside of the home and brought the fire under control within 15 minutes, the post says. The person was taken to the hospital and was stable.

The home sustained heavy fire and smoke damage. The cause is under investigation.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Utilities Department uses a mini truck that has a camera on it to regularly check storm drain pipes, but that tool came in handy Thursday when a child got stuck in the pipes and needed assistance getting out.

“We use that camera to run through the system, once we had an idea of where the individual was at, to try to get a good location on exactly where they were underground,” said Derek Ault, a sewer and storm water maintenance supervisor for Columbia.

A 12-year-old boy is believed to have crawled into a culvert box that is at the end of a stream near West Parkway Drive off of West Broadway, Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Lester Shewmake said.

Shewmake said some reports noted the child could have run off or was hiding.

CFD searched above and below ground, and also tried to track the child’s phone, but since the phone was underground, the signal was thrown off, Shewmake said.

The underground pipes vary in size, with some as big as 6 feet, and others 6 inches, Ault said.

The manhole cover that the child was extracted from is about 22 inches wide, according to measurements ABC 17 News took. The actual pipe he was in was about 18 inches, Ault said.

Utilities crews sent in the mini truck, and as it moved through the pipes, the camera feed was sent back to a monitor in a bigger box truck, and that’s how they found the child.

Shewmake said fire crews and the family of the boy are happy it ended the way it did.

“The parents were extremely excited to be able to get their son out of the area, and our crews especially were extremely excited, too,” Shewmake said. “It was a long search effort.”

“Everybody performed their jobs seamlessly, did a really good job at being there in a timely manner and facilitating the whole thing together,” Ault said.

The child was taken to the hospital for observation after getting out. Shewmake couldn’t give ABC 17 News an update on his condition.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Conservation is holding a mandatory sampling this weekend for Chronic Wasting Disease as the November firearms portion of deer season opens.

The department will use the findings from this weekend during the annual targeted deer removal between January and mid-March. The procedure has the MDC working with local hunters and landowners to hunt deer in CWD-heavy areas.

“Surveillance is a really important part of our overall approach because it tells us where the disease is,” MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said. “It tells us the location of the disease and it also tells us what the distribution of the disease is, it also helps us to understand where the disease is spreading.”

At the sampling station for no cost, hunters will be asked to show their permit or Telecheck ID with their deer. The deer will be sampled for their lymph nodes, which are taken and sent to the University of Missouri for testing. The MDC will give hunters a tracking card for each sample, which will be updated later with the results of the test. The department will also ask hunters to point out on a map where the deer was found.

Hunters with a CWD-positive sample will be notified. While there have been no cases of a human contracting CWD, the CDC and the department do not advise people to eat deer meat that is positive with CWD.

Samples can also be taken from deer with its cape removed or just the head and neck of the animal. Hunters looking to mount their deer can still stop at a station for a tracking card to give to their taxidermist for later sampling.

Isabelle adds that the number of positive CWD cases in Missouri has been on the rise, but has stayed relatively low. He reports that around 1% of samples last year tested positive for CWD; however, states with a 5% positive test rate tend to be at risk for outbreaks.

“If we were to hit about 5% of the herd having the disease, that’s really that tipping point or inflection point, where once you hit 5%, it’s just a matter of a few years where you’re at 10%, 15%, 20%,” Isabelle said.

Sampling and testing will occur in select counties on Saturday and Sunday, including:

Audrain County – Mexico High School and Van-Far High School

Boone County – Ashland Optimist Club, MDC Central Regional Office

and Conservation Research Center and Hallsville Primary School

Callaway County – North Callaway High School, Mokane Lions Club Park and Whetstone Creek Conservation Area

Chariton County — Bossville Wholesalers, Keytesville MODOT Facility and Gabbi Jo’s Stop and Go

Cole County — Cole County Public Works Shop in Brazito and Conservation Commission Headquarters

Howard County – Fayette High School

Maries County — Vichy Community Park

Miler County – Eldon, Iberia and Osage high schools

Moniteau County — Moniteau County Fairgrounds and Co-Mo Connect Electric Co-op

Morgan County – Stover High School and Ozark Christian School

Osage County — Chamois Access, MDC Rich Fountain Shop, Linn Fairgrounds and Park

Randolph County – Rothwell Park

2025 FDT_508Download

The MDC also has voluntary CWD testing throughout deer season, which Isabelle recommends for any hunters living in CWD-positive areas.

Hunters in CWD-heavy areas are also recommended to follow proper CWD management rules from the MDC. This includes not using feed or salt to lure deer to a location and properly disposing of the deer either in a landfill or where the deer was found. Hunters are also encouraged to harvest an additional deer when in CWD-heavy areas.

“white tails are an extremely important resource ecologically in our state, but also to the citizens of the state,” Isabelle said. “We have almost half a million people that deer hunt, deer hunting generates over a billion and a half a year into our economy and supports over 13,000 jobs based on the latest figures, so it’s a really cherished resource.”

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ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Week 12 of the Missouri high school football season is tonight.

Scores from Mid-Missouri teams will be posted below.

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