Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman who is accused of embezzling money from nonprofits in Boonville and Columbia is back in jail.

Jennifer Waibel, 52, of Boonville, is being held at the Cooper County Jail for a Boone County warrant, according to online jail records. She was booked into the jail at 1:48 p.m. Monday and is being held on a $30,000 bond.

She is charged in Cooper County with stealing more than $25,000 and has a preliminary hearing in that case scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26. Waibel is charged in Boone County with stealing more than $750 and two counts of fraudulently using a credit card.

In the Cooper County case, she is accused of stealing $49,661.36 from Unlimited Opportunities by spending the money in several transactions from June 16-Aug. 31, 2023, which included several multi-thousand-dollar purchases at Walmart locations in Boonville, Columbia and in Madison, Georgia.

The probable cause statement in that case also claimed that employees were threatened with retaliation if they spoke out about the situation.

In the Boone County case, she’s accused of spending $13,650 on gift cards while using 10 company credit cards from Impact Support Services, located on Chapel Hill Road in Columbia.

Court documents in that case say she spent that money from March 15-31. When Waibel was interviewed about the charges, the statement says she allegedly said “Can I just pay you back?”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people were accused of stealing weed, oil and thousands of dollars from a Columbia home this past weekend, hours after police had conducted a death investigation.

David Stroup Jr., 51, and Uneeda Stroup, 48, both of Alaben, Missouri, were charged with second-degree burglary, stealing more than $750 and stealing drugs. They are both being held at the Boone County Jail on $15,000 bonds. Court dates have not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says police were called to a Mace Court residence for a death investigation at 7:48 p.m. Saturday. Court documents did not list the dead man’s name, but it stated he owned a dispensary. Police found 10-15 sealed bags of marijuana that weighed roughly a pound each, and various bundles of cash, the statement says.

Around 3 p.m. Sunday, one of the people described as a witness called police to say the home had been burglarized, court documents say.

Video footage at the home allegedly showed a man and a woman arrive around 11:40 p.m. Saturday in a Honda Ridgeline, enter the building multiple times and leaving with boxes, the statement says. The two people went back to the home around 3:51 a.m. Sunday and left with more items, court documents say. They returned one more time at 4:09 a.m.

One of the victims identified the Stroups from the footage, the statement says. One of the witnesses allegedly told police that David Stroup Jr. had asked him around 9:30 a.m. to go to the same home to pick up a game system, court documents say.

Both Stroups initially claimed to have taken the weed and oil, but denied taking the money, the statement says. They then brought a container to the Columbia Police Department that had 14 pounds of marijuana, 15 jars of cannabis oil and $6,701 in cash, the statement says.

David Stroup Jr. then admitted to taking all of the items, but claimed he did not admit it before because he thought police were another acquaintance earlier when they spoke on the phone, the statement says.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

University of Missouri System President Mun Choi says he is supporting the City of Columbia’s proposed median ordinance, but hopes to see other safety measures in place. 

“I really do enjoy working with the mayor and she has been very supportive of the police department. But, we all recognize that there’s more support that’s needed, both financial support but also moral support,” Choi told ABC 17 News. “I want to see what comes of the ordinances, whether it’s the median ordinance that’s in the books or the illegal camping ordinance, whether the rest of city council believes in the need to improve public safety in the city.” 

Public safety has been a focus of Choi’s after a downtown shooting on homecoming weekend left a Stephens College student dead. In September, he sent a letter to public officials, warning that if no action was taken, he would escalate the matter to Gov. Mike Kehoe. Two of the immediate action items he wanted taken focused on the city’s homeless population, including passing a loitering ordinance and cleaning out homeless encampments. 

The proposed median ordinance has faced pushback from residents who view it as a “panhandling ordinance.” Opponents of similar measures, including the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, argued it could become a First Amendment rights issue.

On Nov. 17, the Columbia City Council postponed a vote after roughly 30 people spoke and most voiced their opposition, arguing it infringes on free speech and fails to address safety concerns; while only a few voiced support.

On Monday, City Manager De’Carlon Seewood emphasized that the ordinance was not targeting panhandling. 

“The ordinance is not a panhandling ordinance. It is a public safety ordinance. And so it’s about making sure that people in our right-of-ways and our roadways are safe. And so that’s the goal,” Seewood told ABC 17 News. “We want to make sure that as drivers are driving around, as our residents are about, that people are safe.” 

However, some city officials are pushing back against the ordinance. Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample told ABC 17 News in an email that she will not support the “pedestrian safety ordinance” as it is currently written. 

“In my opinion, it is written as a median ordinance with some additional responsibilities and expectations for vehicle occupants. If the city is truly going to address pedestrian safety, this is not the way to do it, and I feel it is disingenuous to call it a ‘pedestrian safety ordinance,'” Sample wrote. “Additionally, I believe the city needs to work on clarifying legal definitions in currently existing ordinances, such as the current pedestrian ordinances, as they relate to blocking or obstructing the “roadway”. 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission during its Nov. 19 meeting also voted to send a letter of opposition to the proposed ordinance to the City Council.

“My personal objection was mainly to the language making it illegal to be on a major roadway unless in a vehicle, the requirement to cross at an intersection, and also the exception that allows cars to pull over in the right lane to engage with someone on the sidewalk,” Commission Chair Elke Boyd told ABC 17 News on Monday. 

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 fewer 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.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Public Service Commission unanimously approved a settlement agreement Monday that focuses on protecting Ameren Missouri customers as the state works to grow its energy industry.

According to a press release from the PSC, the agreement was signed by Ameren Missouri, staff of the PSC, Evergy Metro, Inc., Evergy, Missouri West, Inc., Google, Renew Missouri, Sierra Club and Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers.

The agreement puts new rules on “large load customers,” or large-scale operations, that use 75 megawatts or more of energy per month. This includes data centers that help train and run artificial intelligence models.

Rules under this agreement include:

Large load customers, new and existing, must sign a minimum 12-year contract with Ameren with an option to extend the contract for five more years if the company scales up operations.

Under the contract, large load customers will be required to cover full electric and infrastructure costs.

Large load customers must also provide collateral funds equal to two years of minimum monthly bills in the event of bankruptcy or closure.

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All additions ensure Ameren customers do not foot the bill for large-scale energy projects.

“Missouri is an attractive state for economic development, and all customers deserve reliable service as well as just and reasonable rates,” Michael Moehn, interim chairman and president of Ameren Missouri, said in a statement.

“The settlement approved by the Commission meets the needs of large electric users looking to grow in Missouri or locate to the state, including data centers and large manufacturers, ensuring they pay their fair share, and protects current ratepayers from bearing an unfair share of associated costs,” according to PSC’s press release.

In a press release from the Sierra Club, the environmental organization detailed several provisions they added in the agreement to promote clean energy options.

According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. has more than 4,000 data centers, 55 of which are in Missouri. The centers accounted for 4% of the country’s total electricity consumption in 2024, equal to the annual electricity demand of the entire nation of Pakistan.

Sierra Club’s additions include lowering the large load customer threshold from 100 to 75 megawatts, which increases the number of large operations that qualify. Ameren must also review financial allocations of large load customers to ensure residential customers aren’t affected by operational costs.

“This large load tariff is a step in the right direction to protect Missouri ratepayers from the negative impact of data centers on our monthly utility bills, and ensures that speculators aren’t driving the utility toward rash decisions,” Jenn DeRose, Senior Organizing Strategist with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign in Missouri, said in a statement.

Another provision created the Clean Energy Choice Rider. The addition will allow large load customers to contract with Ameren in building renewable energy operations. Companies can also contract Ameren to build new battery storage centers and clean energy sources to replace current coal and gas units.

“The PSC’s order also creates new opportunities for renewable energy generation, which should help to move the grid toward a cleaner, more sustainable future,” Sarah Rubenstein, Staff Attorney with Great Rivers Environmental Law Center said in a statement.

The agreement is also seen as a step forward on Missouri Senate Bill 4, which focuses on pushing the state toward greater energy independence. Parts of the bill included sections that reduce financing costs for new power facilities, allow natural gas companies to recover construction costs over long-term operations and extend the disconnection grace period during extreme weather from 24-72 hours to protect vulnerable customers.

“This is about powering Missouri for Missourians and not relying on other states and countries to produce our power,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a statement on the bill in April 2025.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A case where police allegedly found 17 pounds of methamphetamine in a diaper bag in a Cyber Truck has moved to federal court.

Asia Schafer, 24, were charged in federal court last week with conspiracy to distribute and three counts of possession with the intent to distribute; while Kenneth Williams, 41, was charged with two counts of possession with the intent to distribute and one count of illegal gun possession.

Schafer was booked into the Cole County Jail on Friday, while Williams is not listed on a jail roster.

Court document in previous reporting say a Columbia police officer was monitoring traffic around 1:30 p.m. June 26 when a Tesla Cybertruck with dark windows was seen heading eastbound on Interstate 70 near the Stadium Boulevard exit. The statement says the tint in the windows was too dark and tested at 11% light transmittance, with state law requiring 35%.

The officer pulled over the vehicle at Broadway and Keene Street, the statement says. Schafer allegedly told police that she was coming from the park for lunch, but the officer wrote that he “had prior knowledge that the vehicle was coming from Kansas City and Schafer was lying.” She eventually stated she came from Kansas City, the statement says.

Law enforcement found about 17 pounds of methamphetamine in a diaper bag.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Pettis County deputy who shot and killed a 25-year-old Sedalia woman in June 2020 is facing two charges related to child pornography.

Jordan Schutte, of Sedalia, was charged on Friday with child porn possession and first-degree promoting child porn. Court documents say Schutte appeared for a hearing by video from the Pettis County Jail. He is being held on a $75,000 bond. A counsel status hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The probable cause statement says law enforcement received a CyberTip on Aug. 12 about child porn being uploaded to a SnapChat account. The account’s phone number matched Schutte’s and the phone number was verified for the account by SnapChat in 2022, the statement says.

The statement also says there is only one device associated with Schutte’s account.

The statement says Schutte allegedly posted child porn to his “private” SnapChat story, which is a feature that allows users to share images and video to a selected audience.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man accused of shooting and killing a Sturgeon man earlier this year is facing more felony charges.

Dalton Perkins, 32, of Sturgeon, is now charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of first-degree domestic assault and a count of unlawful use of a weapon after a superseding indictment was filed on Friday in Boone County.  An arraignment was held Monday morning. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond.

He was previously charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and first-degree domestic assault.

Deputies were called to the 18900 block of Route NN in northern Boone County at about 8 p.m. May 3 after Perkins shot the 56-year-old victim in a fight, according to the probable cause statement. The man had at least one gunshot wound to the torso and died at the scene despite being given life-saving aid, court documents in previous reporting say.

The witness who reported the shooting said Perkins shot at them, grabbed their hair and threw them from the porch, documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Monday after she pleaded guilty last month to two felonies.

Whitney Nevels-McKee, 37, of Columbia, pleaded guilty in October to six felonies, including armed criminal action and carjacking. She is being held at the Boone County Jail.

She was accused of shooting at another woman last year in the parking lot of the Conley Road Walmart in Columbia.

McKee allegedly pointed a gun at a woman and shot it near the woman’s head. Multiple witnesses told police that they saw Nevels-McKee fire the gun, court documents in previous reporting say.

Another witness had stated that she was approached by Nevels-McKee in the parking lot while driving a car, and Nevels-McKee acted like she was going to pull out a gun, court documents say.

A reporter saw gunshot damage to a car in the parking lot. No injuries were reported.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 33-year-old Columbia woman was charged with two felonies after she was accused of repeatedly using a phone charger to hurt a youth.

Breashia Grant was charged on Monday in Boone County with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree domestic assault. She is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was held on Monday.

The probable cause statement says deputies were called to North Rocky Fork Drive after multiple neighbors called to say a youth appeared to be hiding when cars passed by.

The child was found by deputies and allegedly said they ran away because they were being abused at home, the statement says. The child told law enforcement Grant had hit them with a phone charger, the statement says.

The youth had injuries that appeared to be “fresh and scarred” that were “accumulated over time and not just one incident,” the statement says.

The child told deputies that Grant had assaulted them days before by hitting them with the cord, pushing them to the ground and kicking and punching them, the statement says. The victim was brought to University Hospital and had pain in their rib cage and head, the statement says.

The victim also claimed Grant withheld food for punishment and that they went as long as five days without food at one point, court documents say.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group of private citizens has sued the state, asking a federal court to compel the Missouri Department of Mental Health to reduce criminal defendants’ wait times for mental health exams that determine their competency to stand trial.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in the Western District of Missouri, names the department along with several officials working for the state and seeks class action status. The plaintiffs are friends and family of several people who are waiting in jails for a competency evaluation.

The lawsuit claims the state is violating the due process and civil rights of people in jails waiting for mental evaluation and treatment. The plaintiffs want a preliminary injunction to force action by the state.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to force the state to reform its program to reduce wait times for exams and time spent waiting for a mental health bed after a defendant is deemed incompetent. The exams are done to see if defendants are mentally competent to stand trial.

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The lawsuit claims that those defendants who are found incompetent for trial then wait an average of 14 months in jail before they’re sent to a treatment facility. State law, the petition states, requires them to be transferred immediately.

Local examples show how long it can take to get an exam. A Jefferson City murder suspect charged in 2018 was not deemed incompetent until five years later.

The lawsuit includes another local case as an example of a person who died while waiting for a mental examination. Brooke Bailey died in the Cooper County Jail in 2023 of diabetes complications. Two jail staffers were charged in her death.

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