Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man described as a “cult-like” Amish leader who is accused of manslaughter and sex abuse was denied bond again.

Sam Shetler, 43, 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. Shetler’s attorney filed a motion on May 26 to move the case. It was filed in Montgomrey County on Aug. 11.

The judge denied him bond again on Wednesday, Sept. 9. A case review is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16.

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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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two members of last year’s University of Missouri women’s golf team have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Boone County for another year of eligibility.

Addie Dobson and Melanie Walker are asking a Boone County judge to grant them another year of eligibility after the NCAA passed its “five seasons in five years” rule this summer. Lawyers for the pair filed the lawsuit on Monday.

Several athletes, most notably in football and basketball, have made headlines asking for an extra year after the rule went into effect. Defensive lineman Sterling Webb is listed on the school’s football roster after filing a lawsuit in August for the same reason.

This week’s lawsuit describes Dobson as a graduate student and Walker as an undergraduate student who are both enrolled at the university. Both started competing for MU as freshmen in 2022.

The lawsuit claims the two are still practicing with the women’s golf team and are seeking to be eligible to compete by their next tournament on Sept. 21.

A summons was issued for the NCAA on Tuesday.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly man was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor on Friday after he allegedly admitted to shooting and killing a pit bull in December.

Joshua Kendall was charged with driving while revoked and misdemeanor animal abuse. A criminal summons was issued on Monday and an arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19.  

The probable cause statement says a Randolph County deputy was called on Dec 4 to the 1100 block of County Road 1220 for a report of a dog being shot. The owner of the dog was seen in the area and was upset, so the deputy brought Kendall to his patrol vehicle.

The deputy found the dog with an “obvious gunshot wound in the front of its head, but was still alive enough that it was suffering,” the statement says. The deputy then shot it once.

Kendall alleged told the officer that he was driving in his SUV when the dog allegedly tried to jump in an open window and began barking and snarling at his wife, the statement says. Kendall then decided to get out of his vehicle and shoot the dog because he thought I was going to attack his wife and child, the statement says.

The deputy wrote that he did not see “clear dog prints or markings in the dirt on the vehicle that were consistent with a dog jumping onto the SUV.”

“After listening to Kendall’s account, it appears he placed himself into a position where he was liable to be attacked by the dog. Kendall and his family were safe from the dog while they were inside the vehicle he was driving,” the deputy wrote in the probable cause statement. “Although Kendall said he was concerned about the dog chasing their vehicle up the roadway, it appears he should have stayed inside the vehicle, instead of trying to chase it back to where it’s owner was.

“When Kendall purposely exited his vehicle, he placed himself into a position to be bitten by a dog instead of staying safely in his vehicle, which resulted in him using deadly force to protect himself.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department has confirmed the name of the person who was found dead earlier this month at Stephens Lake Park.

Police confirmed on Tuesday the body of Lomas Johnson was found on Sept. 3. Additional details surrounding his death were not given to media.

Previous reporting shows officers responded to a call of someone being found dead at the northeast portion of the lake.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw several law enforcement officers on the scene and noticed the Columbia Fire Department had a boat on scene before they started to leave at 6:44 p.m.

Johnson’s obituary says he was 33 years old. A visitation for Johnson will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday and Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri, with a funeral service to follow.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri is investigating allegations of staff violating federal and state laws against diversity, equity and inclusion practices after a video reportedly showing a professor expressing support for DEI surfaced Monday.

The video, filmed by Accuracy in Media with what appears to be a hidden camera, shows University of Missouri professor and chair of the Department of Sociology Wayne Brekhus speaking with an AIM investigator about DEI on campus. The interview was also allegedly filmed in December of 2025, according to a timestamp in the video. AIM later clarified with ABC 17 News that the date on the video was inaccurate and the interview was conducted in January 2026.

“I think we have a lot of awesome courses. And lots of us do, you know, DEI type of research,” Brekhus says in the video. “Lots of us do DEI types of research and things like that. I do things with identities and inequalities and used to do a lot of LGBTQ research and things like that.”

The conversation then moved to DEI centers on college campuses.

“Usually what places did is, like, they changed the name, or they put them under a different umbrella to make it less visible that it was DEI or things like that,” Brekhus says.

It is unclear when Brekhus was talking about institutions if the University of Missouri was included in making DEI programs less visible.

AIM said the video shows a public employee breaking the law.

“What we see consistently is that these administrators are breaking laws, deceiving laws, ignoring executive orders to push their radically divisive politics no matter what they’re told to do otherwise, and every taxpayer should be outraged,” AIM President Adam Guillette said.

University student group, Mizzou College Democrats said the interaction was overblown.

“Sociology is the study of social behavior and inequality,” Mizzou College Democrats President Thomas Bruns said. “It misunderstands what the point of the sociology department is. Their job is to research those things. So I didn’t see a problem with it.”

Several X users saw the video and pressured MU to take action. In response, the University of Missouri thanked several users for informing them of the video and reported that an investigation was to take place.

“Professor Brekhus’ conduct will be investigated and appropriate actions will be taken. Mizzou voluntarily eliminated all DEI programs and DEI requirements in the curriculum. Mizzou has complied with all federal directives to end DEI research projects,” a post on MU’s X account stated.

The university later shared a statement from Brekhus: “I apologize for my mistake. The video was taken last year as Mizzou was eliminating its DEI programs. I am fully aware that Mizzou no longer has DEI programs and does not conduct DEI research.”

MU posted that “appropriate actions will be taken” after an investigation.

“Mizzou voluntarily eliminated all DEI programs and DEI requirements in the curriculum. Mizzou has complied with all federal directives to end DEI research projects,” MU posted.

State Sen. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) called the response “pathetic.”

“‘Thanking’ someone who secretly recorded one of your long time employees for the express purpose of humiliating them and hurting your institution is one of the most pathetic examples of leadership I’ve ever seen in my life. Absolutely embarrassing @Mizzou,” Webber wrote.

The Mizzou College Democrats additionally criticized the University for replying to more inflammatory tweets. Including one that said, “They’re going to destroy everything white men have built and in the end beg white men to save them.”

Mizzou College Democrats President Thomas Bruns said he understands the University may have difficulty navigating pressure from the Federal government, but they can also respond in a more responsible manner.

“They need to be more careful about what they’re responding to, because this is ultimately how the university’s perceived and that’s how we as students are perceived,” Bruns said. “Being so much against DEI that you’re going to put off prospective students and you’re going to face a lot of issues.

Also on X, Republican Lt. Gov. Dave Wasinger praised the school for their investigation.

“Glad to see @mizzou is immediately addressing this. Missouri taxpayers expect our public universities to educate, not indoctrinate with DEI programs,” Wasinger wrote.

The University of Missouri faced pressure from Republican lawmakers on DEI practices in 2024 and later cut funding for identity-based organizations.

“There is a track record of very bad PR moves here that is making our university look bad,” Bruns said. “People misunderstand what this is, it benefits women, it benefits rural people, it benefits veterans, we have a veterans center here at the law school that could be classified as DEI.”

AIM has conducted similar investigations at other universities, including the University of Missouri-Kansas City, resulting in the suspension of Kim Johnson, the senior program manager of student support.

“These individuals definitely think that we share their radical ideology and as a result, they consistently feel comfortable bragging to us about how they’re using deception to continue pushing DEI, oftentimes, in violation of state laws,” Guillette said.

Guillette was previously vice president of development for Project Veritas, an American right-wing activist group. AIM says it wants to hold public policy actors accountable through its hidden camera investigative journalism.

The University added in a statement to ABC 17 News that information on the investigation can be found in their statements on X, and they cannot go into detail on the personnel investigation.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Board of Education approved a new A-F school and district grading framework Tuesday, with one board member voting against it.

The vote approves the formula the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will use to calculate letter grades for public schools, charter schools and districts.

In January, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed executive order 26-01, instructing DESE to create A-F school grade cards. The order calls for each public school, charter school and district to receive an overall A, B, C, D or F rating based on a 100-point scale.

A — 89% and higher B — 76% to 88% C — 63% to 75% D — 50% to 62% F — Below 50%

The cards are meant to give educators and families an easier way to understand school performance.

“It’s not always the most user-friendly,” DESE Deputy Commissioner of Learning Services Lisa Sireno said. “So this look is designed to be more easy — easy to understand, more clear, a direct representation of student performance. And we’re considering our primary audience as parents.”

Elementary and middle school grades will include academic achievement, value-added growth and growth toward proficiency in English language arts, literacy, mathematics and science.

The executive order defines growth toward proficiency as whether a student with two consecutive years of Missouri Assessment Program results is on track to reach grade-level proficiency within three years.

High school grades will include academic achievement, value-added growth, Success-Ready Graduate measures and the four-year graduation rate.

A school or district that tests fewer than 95% of its students on required state assessments will have its rating lowered by one letter grade. Private schools can choose to participate by opting into state assessments.

Sireno said the letter grades will not affect school accreditation or funding. She said DESE will use the information to help schools identify challenges and connect them with resources available through the department.

DESE will now work with vendors and other partners to create draft grades and determine whether the calculations are functioning as intended. Sireno said the department will review the data with the State Board before providing it to schools and districts.

Sireno said Tuesday that DESE is not certain when districts will receive their first look at the grades, calculated using data from the 2024-25 school year. She said schools and educators will see the grades and provide feedback before they are released publicly.

The executive order also urges the State Board to increase the thresholds for earning each letter grade by five points the following year if 65% of schools receive an A or B.

Several education organizations have opposed assigning individual letter grades to schools and districts.

Missouri National Education Association Vice President Andy Slaughter attended Tuesday’s meeting and criticized the approved framework.

“I think the framework itself is flawed,” Slaughter said. “I think the idea that we can label kids and schools based on where these kids live, it’s all going to be about ZIP code. Grading a kid an F or an A is always going to be about how much money their parents have in their bank account.”

The Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals and the Missouri State Teachers Association have also opposed assigning individual letter grades to schools and districts.

Last week, DESE led a public feedback session on the proposed grading card system. Several people who attended the session spoke against the proposal and questioned whether a single grade would give parents an accurate understanding of a school.

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Matthew Sanders

Diesel prices are on a continuous climb as the market feels pressure from multiple directions.

From the war in Iran and its chokehold on Middle Eastern oil supplies to Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries, factors have combined to push the price of a gallon of diesel fuel to a level not seen before, for at least the second time in the past week.

The price of a gallon had reached $6.50 at some Mid-Missouri stations by Sunday.

Diesel is a major cost in farming and in shipping nearly all consumer goods, meaning high diesel prices are sure to push up prices on store shelves.

Are you worried about the effects of high diesel prices on consumers already struggling with inflation? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Encompass Property Group has just under one month to fix mold and plumbing issues in a south Columbia rental home after multiple code violations were found in a city inspection.

Inspectors with City of Columbia Housing and Neighborhood Services were sent to 3507 Longfords Mill Dr. after then-tenant Terry Pippenger filed a complaint. Pippenger said the complaint came after months of unanswered requests for maintenance to the property group. Code violations were found in the plumbing system. Specifically, an active leak was found coming from the dishwasher because of an issue with the connection line between the dishwasher and food disposal.

A leak was also found coming from the sewer stack in the ceiling directly above the master bathroom. This lead to another code violation due to the leak breaking down the drywall and causing a mold infiltration.

Pippenger said he moved into the rental at the end of April on a tight turnaround, but claims Encompass ensured the necessary repairs would be made.

On May 3, roughly a week after moving in, Pippenger provided a detailed report of the unresolved damage to property management. Along with the moldy leak and plumbing issues, the report detailed no turnover process between him and the previous tenants, stains on the floor, poor paint work and multiple instances of deferred maintenance.

3507 Longford’s Mill 2Download

“It was supposed to have a professional cleaning done, all the carpet was supposed to be removed, the walls were supposed to be painted,” Pippenger said.

Pippenger said Encompass also agreed to fix the moldy leak above the bath and the plumbing issues in the kitchen, found by inspectors in September, before he first moved in.

“We never once were able to use the dishwasher the entire time and anytime that we opened it up the the stench of it was just so foul that we basically just kind of gave up on ever trying to use it,” Pippenger said.

On July 6, Pippenger reached out to management and asked again for them to come and assess the damage he reported. On July 12, he raised his concerns again and even offered to make the repairs himself.

“If they’re willing to make me deal with something like this when I’m willing to pay in $2,100, I’d be curious to know what their other properties look like and how many other people they are doing it to,” Pippenger said. 

On Sept. 1, Pippenger said he tried to bring his concerns in person to the Encompass office.

Longford’s Mill Dr. 3507 – Notice of ViolationDownload

“Instead of just agreeing to come out and do an inspection, he instead chased me and my girlfriend out of his office screaming at me saying that he would evict me,” Pippenger said.

The most-recent inspection was Sept. 8 and Pippenger moved out of the home that same day after a city inspector’s findings supported his months-long pleas.

Encompass has until Oct. 13 to make needed repairs. The city has requested the property group to repair all leaks or defects found in the dishwasher system and replace and water damaged material.

The September report says the sewer stack pipe also has to be repaired or replaced to stop the ongoing leak. All impacted drywall in the bathroom ceiling needs to be removed and restored, per the city’s request.

If the corrective actions are not taken by the deadline, Housing and Neighborhood services say the property management and the owner could face municipal prosecution, per the city’s response.

ABC 17 News reached out to Encompass, but has not heard back.

Dish washer leak 3507 LMDownload

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Kehoe announced $10 million in grants to cities and counties that participate in the state’s Blue Shield program.

The Blue Shield Program was created by Gov. Mike Kehoe on his first day in office and is aimed at increasing public safety. It requires “participating jurisdictions to create comprehensive, sustainable programs to fight crime and promote safer communities,” the press release from Monday says.

Jurisdictions could receive $29,070 to go toward equipment.

Many Mid-Missouri communities — including Columbia, Ashland, Fulton and a lot more – partake in the program.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Vice President JD Vance was in Kansas City on Monday to announce an operation that is allegedly targeting fraud that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vance spoke at the Kansas City FBI headquarters as officials announced “Operation No Doze,” which is starting in Missouri and Kansas.

A press release from the Department of Justice says the Western District Court of Missouri filed “has filed charges, secured pleas and sentences, and obtained civil judgments against 15 defendants, involving more than $60 million in actual or intended losses.”

That release says from June 12-Sept. 1, prosecutors in the fraud division were able to get felony charges against nearly 80 defendants “defendants responsible for approximately $100 million dollars in intended loss to the United States.”

“We are proud to stand with our federal and state partners in rooting out criminal activity of all kinds, especially defrauding the public,” Gov. Mike Kehoe was quoted in the release. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from hardworking taxpayers or from someone who depends on the programs those dollars are meant to support. In Missouri, we will continue working at every level to hold fraudsters accountable and protect those they seek to exploit.”

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