Author: KMIZ

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man has been charged after he is accused of hitting a person with his truck and leaving the scene early Sunday morning.

Jesus Ornelas-Rios, 20, is charged with driving while intoxicated, causing the death of another, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and a misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle carelessly.

Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash happened at Route AB about a half mile east of Highway 63 around 5 a.m. Sunday.

Court documents state Troopers were called to the scene on Sunday and saw a silver 2020 Toyota Camry on the scene, along with a pedestrian who was hit and killed.

Troopers said Boone County Deputies found the suspect vehicle and identified Ornelas-Rios at an apartment about 15 minutes from the crash site. His preliminary breath test was reported as positive with .118% blood alcohol content, according to documents.

Investigators said Troopers learned from multiple witnesses inside the truck that hit the victim that Ornelas-Rios was allegedly driving westbound on Route AB in a red 2021 Ram 1500 when he hit the victim and the car.

Court documents state that the victim was standing outside the Toyota in the eastbound lanes facing south when Ornelas-Rios allegedly crossed the center line and hit the victim. While he did get out of his truck, he did leave the scene without calling 911, according to officials. Troopers said the truck at the apartment had damage to the passenger side consistent with the crash.

Ornelas-Rios allegedly admitted to investigators during an interview that his truck was hit by another truck, pushing him into the victim, according to documents. Troopers said the suspect said he knew someone was hurt and that he saw the victim’s shoe in the road.

Court documents state that Ornelas-Rios told Troopers he had six or seven beers before the crash when asked. At the time of his arrest at 8:54 a.m., investigators said his chemical breath test came back as positive with a blood alcohol content of .06%.

Ornelas-Rios is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. Court documents state he could be a flight risk because he was born in Mexico and could leave the country.

Online jail records show he is also being held on an immigration detainer request by the federal government.

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Matthew Sanders

Israel announced a daily “tactical pause” in fighting in Gaza over the weekend amid accusations that its policies are exacerbating the growing hunger experienced there.

Israel has drawn sharp criticism from EU countries such as France as conditions for civilians have worsened in Gaza. Observers say Palestinians run the risk of being shot by Israeli forces as they approach the few aid spots run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

In addition, they say the aid distributed at those few spots is nowhere near what is needed.

Israel, meanwhile, blames the acute hunger Palestinians experience on Hamas, saying the terrorist organization that runs Gaza has been diverting food and selling it at high markups to fund its war.

Who do you think is more responsible? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Euphenie Andre

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A small memorial of flowers and a teddy bear now rests at the edge of a county road where a 9-year-old boy lost his life after being struck by a pickup truck. The child was hit by a 21-year-old woman while crossing a section of the Katy Trail on Thursday.

Cyclists who frequently ride the trail say they’re heartbroken, but not surprised.

“When i saw the news it was kind of shocking, but I wasn’t surprised, sadly,” Tyler Renn said.

The stretch of road near the Katy Trail crossing is surrounded by thick brush, making it difficult to see approaching traffic or trail users. Cyclists said visibility is a major issue and the lack of signage warning drivers only makes it worse.

“That spot’s kind of sketchy,” Renn who has been cycling for five years said. “When you’re on the Katy Trail, you can’t really see the road until you’re basically on it. And there are no signs warning drivers that cyclists or pedestrians could be crossing.”

Renn believes more maintenance could help solve the problem.

” Maintenance with that brush around that area. Maybe people that are driving should be aware in those areas that people are cycling. And I mean Jeff City’s implemented all of these little bike lanes and I feel like most people are conscious of that. But I mean, there’s still some people who are just ignorant to that fact and don’t really care or think they control the road,” Renn said.

Callaway County’s Road and Bridge Department said it is exploring several options to improve safety along the roadway.

An ABC 17 News reporter found no signage posted to warn vehicles approaching the crossing. However, the Katy Trail itself includes signs advising trail users to slow down, yield at crossing, and wear helmets.

Nothing on the road alerts drivers to trail traffic.

“I was always taught that like pedestrians, people on foot or bicyles have the right of way and you need to be aware of them and the the other vehicle,” Renn said.

Local residents also expressed frustration to ABC 17 News stating, tragedy could have been prevented with better traffic controls.

Casey Seam also frequently bikes near the katy trail in Hunstdale.

“I think there’s also a lot of responsibility on drivers,” Seam said. “Especially if you’re coming up on a crossing like this (the intersection down Burr Oak Roa), you should be very cautious and looking out for all directions for there could be someone coming up.

At the Katy Trail in Huntsdale, an ABC 17 News reporter observed a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour, unlike the crossing on County Road 391. However, the sign did not include any warning about pedestrians or cyclists crossing.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was killed after being hit by a truck in Boone County Sunday morning.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the crash occurred on Route AB, east of U.S. 63 around 5 a.m. A 20-year-old Columbia man was driving a 2021 Ram 1500, when the vehicle crossed the center of the road and hit a 2020 Toyota camry.

The Camry was parked partially in the eastbound lane in the ditch, the report says.

The Ram then crashed into a 23-year-old Columbia man who was standing near the Camry.

He was pronounced dead on scene.

The driver of the Ram suffered moderate injuries. The age and injuries of the driver of the second vehicle are not listed in the report.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou football is opening fall camp ahead of the 2025 season.

Watch coach Eli Drinkwitz take questions from reporters.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people were injured in central Columbia Saturday night after a reported stabbing, according to a Sunday morning press release from the Columbia Police Department.

Officers were called to the 300 block of Park Avenue around 10 p.m., according to CPD Lt. Anthony Bowne. One person left the scene with minor injuries, and the other was found with injuries from a weapon and taken to a hospital.

The suspect fled the scene and was found later with stab wounds and taken to a hospital, the release says. The victim was found with injuries to their hands.

Police identified the suspect as Glenn Bennett, 36, of Columbia. He’s since been released and transported to the Boone County jail pending formal charges. He was arrested for armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

Investigators have confirmed that Bennett was intoxicated at the time of the incident, the release states.

At the scene, Bowne said police were unsure what type of weapon was used. It also is not clear if the first victim was injured with the same weapon.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw several Columbia Police Department vehicles and crime scene tape in the area around 10 p.m.

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Nia Hinson

AUDRAIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Centralia man was injured Saturday when his dirt bike crashed into a horse and buggy in Audrain County.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the man, 21, was riding a 2025 Honda CR125X on the wrong side of Audrain Road 124. The man then braked, causing the dirt bike to slide under a horse and buggy.

The man was then hit by the horse and buggy, the crash report says.

He was taken by ambulance to University Hospital with serious injuries.

The other person involved in the crash– a 32-year-old man from Sturgeon was not injured.

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Euphenie Andre

Columbia, MO. (KMIZ)

A group of Columbia residents gathered Saturday afternoon to share personal stories and frustrations about the challenges of renting in a city that’s growing faster than many can afford to keep up with.

Organized by the Columbia Tenants Union, the meeting gave renters a platform to voice their concerns and propose solutions. Among them was Pamela Hildebrand, a senior resident who says the cost of living is making it harder for working families to stay afloat.

“Most of us live month to month,” Hildebrand said. “We don’t have the money to invest in another place, so we’re kind of stuck.”

Hildebrand said the rising cost of rent is becoming impossible to manage.

“When I first moved in, rent was $593. Now it’s $908, and next year it’s going up to $971,” Hildebrand said. “What’s going on? Why are all these properties increasing like this? It doesn’t make any sense. A lot of us are at the brink of homelessness because we just can’t afford it anymore.”

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2023, 51.5% of Columbia residents were renters, while 48.5% owned their homes. That means rental issues impact the majority of the city’s population, and many of them are feeling the pressure.

Columbia First Ward Councilwoman Valerie Carroll attended the meeting and said the concerns raised are ones she’s heard many times before.

“I’ve heard a hundred stories like this, and I know it’s an issue.” Caroll said. “It makes me feel like the time is right to empower renters, and to make sure we have city ordinances that protect them.”

Across Columbia, new housing developments are rising rapidly, something residents said can be positive, but only if tenants are treated fairly and not priced out of their own neighborhoods.

On Thursday, realtors and developers appeared before the Columbia City Council, requesting zoning changes to allow them to build more housing or divide properties into smaller lots for sale. The goal? To meet the growing demand.

Younger renters, particularly students, say one of the most stressful challenges they face is the gap between leases.

“I’m subleasing an apartment downtown, and my lease ends July 31st,” said college student Benji Shafiro. “But the semester starts around August 16th, so I’m really on my own trying to find somewhere to live in the meantime.”

The pressure on Columbia’s housing market has only intensified in recent years. Between 2018 and 2020, an estimated 9,000 people moved to the city. Since 2021, that number has jumped to over 24,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

As Columbia continues to grow, renters say they want to grow with it, not be left behind.

“We have a ton of new development going on and I think that’s extremely positive,” Carroll said. “But I also think we need legislation that connects units to affordability. We need more legislation supporting affordable housing and connecting that to creation of affordable dwelling units that are reserved below median incomes so that some can afford it on 30% of their salary.”

The Columbia Tenants Union plans to continue meeting with city officials, pushing for rent control measures, shorter lease gaps, and stronger legal protections for tenants.

“I am just so thrilled to be able to get this feedback from the community and be able to organize just our thoughts first and for everyone to be heard,” said Leader Organizer, Jack Dobbs, “We’re dealing with a lot of tough problems and we have a lot of issues that make us really frustrated as a group.”

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Olivia Hayes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Animal Shelter says it’s at capacity for dogs after taking in several following an animal abuse investigation.

Casey Logsdon, Jessica Morgan, Ashley Ousley and Henry Ousley Jr. were charged on Thursday with 19 counts of accessory to animal abuse.

Logsdon, 33, and Morgan, 41, were booked into the Cole County Jail on Friday morning and are being held on $10,000 bonds. Neither of the Ousleys were listed on the jail roster on Friday evening, though court records for both say a warrant was served and $10,000 bonds were set.  

The probable cause statement says deputies were called to a mobile home for a welfare check when they were told about the animals. Court documents in previous reporting say kennels were found throughout the home that contained animals and were covered with urine and feces.

No fresh water or food was made available and all of the animals appeared to be malnourished, the probable cause statement says.

“There were multiple issues—infestation, animals not being provided with food or water, unbathed, completely malnourished,” Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson said. “It’s questionable whether some of these animals will survive.”

The court documents explained that Casey Logsdon owned some of the animals in the home of Henry Ousley, Jr.. Logsdon allegedly had regular access to Ousley’s home, knew the living and health conditions of the animals in Ousley’s care but failed to intervene, provide basic food and water or remove the animals from him.

“I think this case, with the condition those animals were in, more or less led us to say: This is more than just neglect. This is so egregious that it has to be considered abuse,” Thompson said.

Court documents say Henry Ousley Jr. was previously cited for similar reasons in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

ln 2019, Henry Ousley relinquished four Chihuahua or Chihuahua mix dogs to the animal shelter after an inspection, the statement says. Ousley had 19 dogs on the property at that time. ln 2021, Cole County Deputy Stockman responded to the same address to check on animals after a utility company called and reported two dead dogs in the yard, the statement says.

A number of animals saw signs of improvement after they were given proper nutrition for two days at an animal shelter, while at least five had to be euthanized for either aggressive behavior or poor health, the statement says.  

The Jefferson City Animal Shelter wrote in a Friday evening social media post that adoption fees will be waived from July 28-Aug. 1 on all animals. The Brenna Siebert Fund is sponsoring the payment of the adoption fees and does so “a couple of times a year,” the post says.

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