Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was accused of killing a Fulton State Hospital patient while he was a patient in 2025 was indicted by a Callaway County grand jury on Thursday.

Jabril Kanatzar is charged with first-degree murder and misdemeanor fourth-degree assault in the death of Christos Karagiannis.

An arraignment for the indictment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday in Callaway County.

According to court documents in previous reporting, Kanatzar attacked Karagiannis, 53, on Jan. 6, 2025. Karagiannis died from his injuries days later.

Court documents in previous reporting claim Kanatzar followed Karagiannis around in the day room of the facility and attacked him once Karagiannis turned his back. Kanatzar continued the attack as Karagiannis was unconscious, court documents say.

Court filings show Kanatzar contested a mental health evaluation on May 1 that determined he is competent to proceed in court.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins issued a response on Thursday to a letter from the Boone County Clerk that claimed she could not redraw congressional district lines within the county in accordance with the ‘Missouri First’ map.

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon wrote in a letter on Tuesday that she couldn’t update voter rolls until the Secretary of State’s Office made a move on a referendum petition from December. The petition seeks to put the new congressional map, approved by the Missouri General Assembly last year, to a vote of the people.

The highly debated “Missouri First Map” will be in effect going into the August primary, Hoskins’ news release states.

A press release from the SOS’s office says it has now “issued formal guidance to local election authorities statewide, instructing them to continue election preparation activities — including candidate filing, ballot programming, and precinct assignments — based on the congressional districts established under House Bill 1’s Missouri First Map.”

The Missouri Supreme Court handed down multiple rulings on Tuesday over the mid-decade redrawn House district maps. Its rulings led to upholding the map, claiming petitioners did not prove the map “clearly and undoubtedly” violates Article 3 of the Missouri Constitution.

Lennon rebutted Hoskins’ release in a text message to ABC 17 News.

“The Secretary of State’s Office still has not made the necessary updates to the statewide voter registration system to let any clerk update their precincts to reflect the new maps, so there isn’t any action that can be taken at this time.””

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The ruling also claims that submitting a referendum petition did not automatically suspend the bill that created the new map. Lennon claimed “no actionable legal information as to what congressional district map is in effect” because the SOS’s office did not issue its own decision.

Debate over Lennon’s letter occurred on the Missouri Senate floor on Thursday, with Sen. Rick Brattin (R-Cass County) filing a remonstrance, which is a form of protest or grievance a lawmaker can file. Brattin also introduced a non-binding motion calling on Lennon to carry out her election duties by the end of Thurday or potentially face removal efforts.

Sen. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) showed support for Lennon during the floor discussion.

Gov. Mike Kehoe said during a press conference he respects the SOS’s deadline for Lennon. However, he said he also supports the public voting on the new map.

“Secretary of State Hoskins has a lot of responsibility. I respect the timing that he determines is appropriate for that,” he said.

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The new map would split Boone County between the Fifth District, which stretches to the Kansas border, and the Third District, which stretches to the Illinois border. The Republican-dominated legislature redrew the Fifth District, which now serves Kansas City, to eliminate the safe Democratic seat held by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A fourth person has been charged in Randolph County court in the disappearance of a Moberly teen who was found dead Thursday.

Julian L. Mason, 26, was charged Thursday with felony evidence tampering in the disappearance of Kayla Huff, who was reported missing May 6. Three others — Alayna Mason, Hunter Ames and Christopher Hull — were charged Wednesday. All three were charged with evidence tampering, but Alayna Mason was charged only with kidnapping.

Julian Mason helped to pour motor oil into the gas tank of Huff’s car and helped dispose of a telescoping baton reportedly used in the crime near the Chariton/Carroll County line.

Dozens of volunteers have been searching the 3,500-acre Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area southeast of Higbee on foot and horseback for the past several days, leading up to officials saying Huff’s body had been found.

Sheriff Andy Boggs said Friday morning that Huff’s body had been found by a Randolph County resident in a wooded area of the conservation area about 8 p.m. the previous night.

A probable cause statement says Mason told investigators that she, with help from the co-conspirators, had taken Huff to the conservation area in the trunk of a vehicle with an unnamed person, where they beat and shot her.

Ames allegedly told investigators that the group killed Huff. Authorities allege the suspects then covered up evidence.

All four suspects were arraigned Thursday and had bond hearings scheduled for next Monday. The suspects requested public defenders.

Randolph County Prosecuting Stephanie Lunsford said before the hearings that new charges are being considered.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Fulton man who is accused of killing his Russellville classmate in 1991 will have his case tried by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

William “Chris” Niemet’s first-degree murder case was refiled Wednesday in Cole County with Miranda Loesch, of the AG’s office, and Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson listed as the prosecuting attorneys.

An entry of appearance was filed on Wednesday and Niemet once again pleaded not guilty.  

Niemet, of Fulton, is accused of killing his classmate, Greg Jones, in April 1991 in Russellville. Jones was 14. Niemet also would have been 14 at the time. Niemet was charged in 2020 with first-degree murder.

The trial has been delayed multiple times.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to a source error, an incorrect vehicle model year has been corrected.

An 86-year-old man from Kansas City was killed in a Wednesday crash at Sportsman Drive in Camden County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the man backed a 2023 Ford Edge over a sea wall and into the water. His body was released to Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home.

The vehicle was totaled.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The mayor of a Cooper County town resigned from his position on Tuesday.

The City of Bunceton shared on its social media on Wednesday that Mayor Justin Hein resigned after 15 years as mayor. The city did not share why Hein decided to step down.

Information from the Cooper County Clerk’s website shows that Hein won reelection on April 7 with nine write-in votes.

The city wrote on its social media that anyone looking to become the next mayor should either call city hall or speak to a current council member. Its next City Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A right-wing think tank is claiming a revenue guarantee the City of Columbia made for flights at Columbia Regional Airport violates the Missouri Constitution.

The Goldwater Institute – named after longtime former Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater — wrote a letter to city government on Tuesday, claiming its $1.5 million guarantee for American Airlines violates the state’s gift clause.

The guarantee was made as part of the move for American Airlines to create flights to and from Charlotte. Flights to Charlotte begin Thursday, May 21.

Previous reporting says funds for the revenue guarantee would come from $750,000 of private contributions and $750,000 from the Transportation Sales Tax.

Tony Napolitano, a lawyer who represents the Goldwater Institute, alleged it would be find if the money was given by private donors.

“But, when the city wants to reach into everyone’s pocket, and whether you like it or not, take that money, to then guarantee that revenue of an airline or frankly any other business, that’s an abuse,” Napolitano said.

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ABC 17 News reached out to the city on Wednesday.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Public damage assessments began Tuesday in several Missouri counties, according to a spokesperson from the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency.

SEMA spokesperson Caty Luebbert told ABC 17 News in a message that assessments were approved Tuesday for Carroll, Green, Holt and Saline counties and will continue through this week. Assessments in Randolph and Howard counties begin Thursday and Monroe County’s assessment will be done virtually.

Several tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-2 were reported in several counties on April 27, including, Saline, Howard, Randolph and Monroe counties.

Damage assessments are one of the first steps for counties to be able to receive funding from FEMA.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two men from Mid-Missouri were charged on Wednesday in separate federal cases involving child sex abuse material.

In the first case, Lance Larkin, 35, of Boonville, was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography. The Missouri State Highway Patrol determined an illicit file was shared from the IP address of Larkin’s computer, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Authorities served a search warrant, which led to the discovery of thousands of child sex abuse images and videos, the release says.

In a second case, Nathan Kent, 33, of Jefferson City, was charged with three counts of producing child pornography, two counts of distributing child porn and a count of child porn possession.

A press release from the DOJ says Kent used the social media application SnapChat to entice children to send him images and videos. Kent allegedly possessed more than 1,000 files of child sex abuse materials and had allegedly sent files to other people, the release says.  

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mexico, Missouri, man is facing several charges after he allegedly fired shots at someone who was sitting in a vehicle on Tuesday morning.

Darius Hoffman, 38, is charged with illegal gun possession, shooting at a vehicle, armed criminal action, misdemeanor illegally discharging a gun and misdemeanor second-degree property damage. He is being held at the Audrain County Jail without bond. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.

Law enforcement wrote in the probable cause statement that Hoffman was seen on video in a Dodge Challenger in the 900 block of Harwood Street. He was allegedly seen pulling up to a Mercedes on Breckenridge Street and fired a pair of shots, the statement says. The driver of the Mercedes drove off and the Dodge followed, the statement says.

The victim claimed Hofffman shot at him multiple times and three bullet holes were seen on the Mercedes, police wrote.  The victim did not know why Hoffman fired at him, the statement says.

Hoffman allegedly denied firing shots when being interviewed by police, but did claim he was harassed by the victim, court documents say.

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