Category: kmiz-local-news

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.

Darrington v Mo DMHDownload

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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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Charges have officially been filed against a man who allegedly provided law enforcement with his brother’s name instead of his own in a sexual abuse case that led to a chase with law enforcement.

Claude Irumva, of Jefferson City, was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, aggravated fleeing, first-degree harassment and misdemeanor false impersonation. A warrant was issued and no bond was set. A court date has not been scheduled. A mugshot was not immediately available.

Officers were called to the Break Time at 326 Ellis Blvd. around 2:45 a.m. Friday, where a woman claimed a man repeatedly made unwanted advances that included touching her and offering to pay her for sex, according to a probable cause statement. The man followed her to the drink station and continued to touch her inappropriately, the victim told police.

The suspect’s vehicle was soon found at another gas station. An officer began to question Irumva, who took off down Route C at speeds up to 100 miles per hour in heavy rain, court documents say. The man crashed at the intersection of Route C and Rock Ridge Road and was arrested, police say.

Police later said Irumva gave them a false identity. A new probable cause statement filed on Monday says Irumva’s brother went to the Jefferson City Police Department on Friday to say he was falsely identified.

Irumva’s brother told police that Irumva took his wallet, keys and vehicle and learned Irumva gave police his name. Irumva’s brother allegedly was informed about the incident by his employer, the statement says.

The statement says the two men have similar facial features and their birthdays are the same day and month, though the years are different.

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Ryan Shiner

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was arrested Monday after he fired a shot near the intersection of 6th and Locust streets in Boonville, according to a social media post from the Boonville Police Department.

Police wrote that they were called at 11:24 a.m. after the man fired a shot after having an argument with a woman outside of her vehicle.

The man then allegedly ran away and eventually detained him in the 700 block of 7th Street, the post says. Police wrote the man was found with a gun.

The man’s name was not immediately released by law enforcement.

Police say this was an isolated incident and there’s no threat to the public.

Check back for updates.

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Olivia Hayes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has started a statewide investigation into numerous kratom manufacturers and distributors operating in Missouri.

In a news release, Hanaway said the investigation follows reports that kratom consumers may be exposed to unapproved and unsafe opioid-like drugs that have been marketed with deceptive methods.

“We are deeply concerned that Missourians are being sold drug-like substances under the guise of harmless supplements, with no FDA approval, no safety testing, and in some cases no meaningful disclosure of what these products actually contain,” Hanaway said in the release. “Companies that mislead consumers or place them at risk will be held accountable.”

Kratom is derived from the leaves of the mitragyna speciosa plant and is often marketed as a “natural supplement.” However, kratom products vary widely in their potency and purity, with many containing levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine far exceeding what occurs naturally in the plant, officials say.

Reported side effects include death (with some cases in Missouri), dependency, seizures, heart complications, liver toxicity and other serious medical harms. 

The Attorney General’s Office has issued six civil investigative demands to companies believed to be manufacturing, distributing or selling kratom products unlawfully.

The demands are being served on MNG 2005 Inc., doing business as CBD Kratom; The Green Dragon LLC, also known as The Green Dragon CBD; Emporium Inc., doing business as Emporium Smoke Shop; and Moonlight Smoke Shop LLC. CBD American Shaman LLC and Shaman Botanicals LLC were also listed for selling high-potency 7-OH kratom products.

Federal authorities seized thousands of bottles, shots, tablets and packets containing 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, from CBD American Shaman, the Kansas City Star reported.

The civil investigative demands require each company to disclose detailed information about how its products are manufactured, labeled and marketed. They also have to list all ingredients used, any representations regarding safety, health effects, and “safe” dosage levels. Communications with consumers about adverse effects and any materials showing whether the company sold unapproved new drugs in violation of federal or state law will need to be included as well.

The attorney general is also seeking information to determine whether these businesses failed to disclose the presence of psychoactive substances such as 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Missourians who believe they were misled or harmed by kratom products are encouraged to file a complaint. The AG’s office tells ABC 17 News it expects to start receiving responses to the investigative demands around Dec. 19.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The owners of a damaged building in downtown Sedalia have filed a lawsuit to prevent its demolition.

Dana Melton and Travis Dixon, according to court filings dated Sunday, have petitioned for an appeal of the Sedalia Board of Appeals ruling from last month saying 207 and 209 West Main St. would be torn down within 60 days unless the owners filed an appeal.

The city is looking to preserve other buildings that could be damaged in if those two were to collapse. A judge ruled in July that the city had the authority to demolish a building within city limits.

A building official had determined earlier this year that the location needed to be demolished to “protect the public,” court documents in previous reporting say. The official claimed the owners had been notified in November 2024 that the roof of the building needed repairs, but failed to do anything about it, previous reporting shows.

Melton and Dixon claimed in their appeal the city and board “each failed to state sufficient facts justifying demolition.”

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Erika McGuire

PILOT GROVE, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than seven months after an EF-2 tornado hit the small town of Pilot Grove, a report obtained by ABC 17 News through a Missouri Sunshine Law request breaks down the timeline of events on April 2. 2025.

According to the agency, the morning began with dangerous conditions as the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued a rare risk level 5 of 5 for severe thunderstorms for several states, including Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. A severe line of thunderstorms developed and moved from southwest Missouri to the northwest, passing through Cooper County.

Timeline

A line of storms moved into Cooper County early that morning, and a tornado watch was issued around 2:30 a.m.

Conditions escalated quickly. Around 8:29 a.m., the NWS reported a severe thunderstorm near Pilot Grove. At roughly the same time, an EF-2 tornado touched down southwest of town and began tracking northeast.

A tornado warning was issued four minutes later, at 8:33 a.m. Sirens were activated across Cooper County, but not all areas were included in the polygon, and Pilot Grove’s siren did not sound because the tornado had already damaged power lines.

The Cooper County Emergency Management Agency set the outdoor siren off twice within minutes of each attempt, following protocol, according to agency Director Larry Oerly.

Over the next 20 minutes, multiple tornado warnings were issued for different parts of the county as the storm moved toward Boonville. Reports of damage, downed power lines and homes hit by the tornado began coming in between 8:45 and 9 a.m.

By 9:01 a.m., fire and EMS crews were dispatched to Pilot Grove as search and damage assessment operations began.

At 9:02 a.m., another tornado warning was issued for northwestern Cooper County until 9:30 a.m.

The After Action Report noted multiple hazards were encountered, such as downed power lines with broken utility poles, debris blocking roads and gas leaks from broken propane lines.

Utility companies were notified and made their way to Pilot Grove and the surrounding area. The Missouri Department of Transportation was notified and blocked off Highway 135 in the impacted area.

A command post was set up at 16851 Highway 135.

The EF-2 tornado damaged or destroyed 16 homes, 12 commercial buildings and two public buildings. Damage to vehicles, farm equipment and trees was also reported.

A total of 29 different agencies responded to the aftermath.

Watch ABC 17 News at 10 p.m. Tuesday to see what emergency managers learned and hear from tornado victims.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who killed two women while driving on Interstate 70 in Columbia in 2024 was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison.

Walter Montejo pleaded guilty to lesser charges in connection with the deadly crash in September. As part of the plea, Montejo was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of fourth-degree assault.

His attorney and the prosecution also agreed that as part of the deal, Montejo would face a maximum of four years in prison.

Judge Joshua Devine levied the sentence, with four years for each manslaughter count and one year in prison for the assault charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

The defense asked for a sentence equal to the 15 months Montejo had already spent in jail. Montejo will receive credit for the time he has served, however.

Court documents say Montejo killed Cindy Helms, 54, of Rockwood, Tennessee, and Melvina Colin, 84, of Broomfield, Colorado, in August 2024 on Interstate 70 in Columbia. His tractor-trailer crossed the median and crashed head-on into the U-Haul that Helms and Colin were in.

The prosecution pushed for the maximum sentence, showing photos of the deadly crash to the courtroom and arguing that Montejo was charged with a driving under the influence in 2021. He later plead guilty to that charge the following year.

Montejo also went to the state of California to receive a Commercial Driver’s License, which the prosecution argued allowed him to still drive trucks on Missouri’s roads, despite his Missouri license being expired.

“He was given another chance by the court in this state for a criminal conduct similar to what occurred on this (the day of the crash) day. He didn’t learn from that lesson,” Prosecuting Attorney Michael Campbell said.

Stephanie Burton, Montejo’s attorney, pushed back on that claim, stating her client traveled to the state because it offered the course in Spanish. Burton said Montejo took responsibility by pleading guilty and said the accident was something that could happen to even the best driver.

“It was catastrophic. People died and that is not lost on the defense, and if four years could bring these beautiful ladies (Colin and Helms) back to their family, he’d be the first one to go walk in and do it,” Burton said.

Two lawsuits against Montejo and his employers have been filed by relatives of Helms and Colin.

Court records also show Montejo entered a lane when it wasn’t safe to do so and over-corrected.

The court room also heard two victim impact statements on Monday from Colin’s daughters and Helms’ sisters, Ginger Gainey and Debbie Phillips. The two described to the courtroom the day of the crash and the toll its aftermath has taken on their family.

Phillips and Gainey said they believe Montejo should have never been approved to have a CDL license due to his immigration status and driving history.

“Because of people like Walter Montejo, it has become far too easy to deceive the system and drive illegally in the United States of America,” Phillips said to the judge.

Burton addressed the courtroom, stating that Montejo did not try to find a way around the system and said he was brought to the U.S. in the seventh grade. She told Judge Devine that Montejo has worked to make a better life for himself.

During Montejo’s plea hearing, a judge said he could also face deportation as a result of accepting the plea. A prosecutor said after the sentencing hearing that he could be deported when his sentence is up. Jail records show he is being held on an immigration detainer. He is originally from El Salvador.

Burton told ABC 17 News that Montejo will be deported. However, when that will happen will depend on what percentage of his sentencing has to be served that a parole board sets.

Following Monday’s sentencing, Burton told ABC 17 News she was disappointed in the outcome, but respects the judge’s decision. The prosecution declined to comment.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A second organization has announced its plan to establish a privately run and publicly funded school in Boone County.

Frontier Schools has applied to open a school starting in the fall of 2026 or 2027, according to a news release from the Missouri Charter Public School Association. Charter schools are public schools that private companies run.

Many public education advocates say the schools take away resources from established public school districts, while charter supporters say they offer families more education choices.

Frontier already operates a 1,595-student school in Kansas City. It plans to open a pre-K through fifth-grade school in Columbia, according to the release.

Frontier boasts that its students score above average on statewide assessments. The application will have to go through the state’s approval process.

The organization Job Point said last month it also plans to open a charter school in Boone County. Job Point wants to operate a high school focusing on vocational skills.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said Frontier submitted its application last week. Job Point has yet to apply.

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