Category: kmiz-local-news

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jessica McKinlay was a firecracker, loved the outdoors and never hesitated to state her opinion on topics she was passionate about.

She was also the mother to five children, all of who she was protective of, her family says. But her life was cut short on the night of Jan. 3, 2022, when the vehicle she and five others were in was hit head-on by a drunk driver.

“I was watching the 9:00 news for Columbia and that was my vehicle. And I seen it. And I knew it,” Jessica’s mother Brenda Freeman said. “I had given Jessica my vehicle because her vehicle was in the shop and I didn’t want her to be in that one with the kids. I knew before the Highway Patrol even came to my house.”

Brenda Freeman received the call no mother ever wants to receive. Her oldest daughter Melissa Weber said troopers told her to make sure she was at home, so they could explain to her what happened.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol told her McKinlay, along with two other passengers in her vehicle — 34-year-old Christopher McClain and 10-year-old Carmella McClain — were all killed in the wreck. Keith Sumner, 19, also died in the crash, after troopers say he traveled southbound in the northbound lanes.

“It’s hard to say that they’re gone because even though it’s been three years, it’s hard to say that. I take the urn literally everywhere. She’s in my car, she’s riding in my front seat,” Weber said. “When she was here we were inseparable so losing her is…it’s definitely been a life change. They called us the three little ducks, they would see her (Freeman,) then me and then my little sister (Jessica) just waddling everywhere.”

The crash left three children — who were also involved in the crash — without a mother and father, with traumatic brain injuries and mobility complications, and forced to re-learn basic life skills.

One child, Caitlin, was 2-years-old at the time of the crash. Freeman and Weber say she woke up from a coma roughly a month later.

A second child involved in the crash, Nicholas woke up the week after the crash.

Natalie suffered severe injuries in the crash and had to be brought back from the brink of death multiple times, according to Freeman. Freeman said when she arrived to the hospital, she was faced with the question of whether or not to let her go.

“That part I remember well because I screamed out to Melissa, she was out in the waiting room talking to the police officers…that meant I was going to lose another girl,” Freeman said.

The two decided, instead, to send Natalie to St. Louis for treatment, having only a 5% chance of living.

Two months later, she woke up.

Years later, Weber is the guardian of the children who survived, but she and Freeman say the hardest part is making sure the children always remember their mother.

“I have voicemails for my sister and I will never let them forget what their mommy sounded like,” Weber said. “I have my sister’s pictures and her urn in our house. She’s literally still involved. They’ll draw pictures at school and I’ll say make sure you give mommy and daddy one.”

Former Dash Convenience and Liquor Store on Ninth Street sold alcohol to Sumner the day of the deadly crash, a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation found. The store later lost its license to sell liquor months later, after an investigation found it had sold alcohol to Sumner several times.

Years later, the owners of the store were caught working at Spring Creek Liquor in south Columbia, despite Missouri law stating the two could not legally work at another liquor store until five years after revocation.

The store had its license revoked in August 2025, but Freeman and Weber don’t believe that’s enough.

“They should never be able to operate and sell alcohol or tobacco anymore, like ever,” Weber said. “It’s so easy for them to be able to reopen and continue doing what they’re doing without any repercussion, while the families that are at stake here…I mean it’s just devastating, there’s no words for it.”

Court records show Dashrath Patel– who formerly owner Dash Liquor– was charged with selling alcohol to a minor the day of the deadly crash. Court documents say he sold four 50 ml-sized bottles of alcohol to a “K.S.” He paid a $300 fine in January 2023.

Jay Patel, who also owned Dash, was also charged in December 2021 for supplying liquor to a minor. He was sentenced and paid a $300 fine in February 2023, though he’s seeking expungement.

Weber and Freeman say they’d like to see Missouri’s laws related to selling alcohol to a minor tightened up, calling what happened in their situation “a slap on the wrist.” They’d like to bring the matter to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s attention.

“I mean, so many people’s lives are destroyed by this,” Weber said. “When I heard he only had to pay the $300 fine, I wanted to go up there and show him these pictures of these babies on life support that no longer have parents at all.”

According to Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson, Missouri’s law related to selling alcohol to a minor is a B misdemeanor, and could land a fine, or up to six months in jail. A second offense, or an A misdemeanor can also be punishable by a fine and up to a year in jail.

There are also administrative consequences, or situations where the administrative agency needs a conviction to suspend a person’s liquor license.

Freeman said she has a hard time understanding why businesses and business owners are not held liable in these situations. She said she thinks every business should check customer’s licenses, no matter how old they look, saying it only takes one time for a situation to turn tragic.

“The employees need to be fired for that one mistake because all it takes is one time literally,” Freeman said. “But also the people that own the business, they should go over the tapes and see what’s going on in their store.”

Freeman and Weber also said they believe the ATC’s application process for obtaining a liquor license in the state isn’t thorough enough, saying the ATC should have caught that the Patels were working at the store sooner.

Communications Director Mike O’Connell told ABC 17 News via email that there are several items required by the ATC to receive a license, including a criminal record check, which must be sworn to under oath.

ABC 17 News reached out to a Patel family attorney.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Conservation is reminding hunters to inspect their tree stands and clip on their harnesses after a man died Tuesday after falling out of a tree stand in East Columbia.

“If you’re in the tree stand itself, really anybody’s at risk for getting injured, suffering from fractured bones or other injuries,” MU Health Care Dr. Christopher Sampson said.

According to the International Hunter Education Association, tree stand accidents account for 300-500 deaths and 6,000 injuries in the U.S. annually. Common injuries are broken bones, dislocations and concussions.

The Tree Stand Manufacturers Association also found that around 82% of hunters who fell out of tree stands were not wearing harnesses.

“The most common injuries are falls,” Sampson said. “We get people who either fall from the deer stand or fall getting into the deer stand.”

Adam Doerhoff, the Missouri Department of Conservation agent for Boone County, also reports many injuries happen when climbing in and out of the stand.

Before heading out, it’s recommended that hunters make a plan with someone they know to establish where they will be and how long they will be out. Fixed stands should also be checked annually for rust, rotted support straps and rotted tree trunks before settling in.

“It can be as simple as a text message, ‘Hey, I’m going to be in the stand down by the creek and I’ll be back just a little bit after dark,'” Doerhoff said. “There’s been times somebody’s fallen, and whether they’re alive or not, nobody can find them.”

Doerhoff also recommends investing in a headlamp and tow rope to lift equipment into the stand. He added hunters should be harnessed once they are in the stand.

“A lot of falls are caused by people having too much stuff in their hands, or missing a step, or tripping on something in the dark, just those two accessories right there can prevent a lot of falls,” Doerhoff said.

In general, Doerhoff suggests hunters purchase a tree stand instead of building one from scratch. When hunting with children, he advises using a tree blind instead of a stand, since doors and zipper enclosures can help prevent slips and falls. He adds that it’s also important to know one’s limits when using a stand.

“I used Hang on Tree stands for decades, I’m done with them, it’s getting harder for me at my age and then making that transition from that last step onto the platform,” Doerhoff said. “There are a lot of different kinds of tree stands and hunting blinds and I’ve decided to change what I use as well.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced in a Tuesday press release that it has awarded $2.28 million to the Howard County Public Water Supply District No. 2.

The release says the money will be used to make upgrades to the water distribution, storage and supply systems. The funding is expected to cover the entire project, which is expected to be completed by May 2026, the release says.  

The project includes “installation of a new regional connection with the Howard County Regional Water Commission, a new booster pumping station, a standby generator and additional water lines,” the release says.

The release says $390,060 of the funding comes from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grant and a $1.89 million, 20-year, low-interest loan that is subject to $1.16 million in forgiveness to the principal.

The DNR wrote it expects the funding to save the city more than $1.5 million in the principal and $315,000 in interest.

Huntsville was awarded $3.1 million from the DNR in a similar fashion on Monday.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Fulton man has been charged with three felonies and three misdemeanors after he allegedly shot at an occupied car and pointed a gun at another person on Saturday night.

Lamar Scott Jr., 19, was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of armed criminal action, misdemeanor fourth-degree assault, misdemeanor stealing and misdemeanor fourth-degree domestic assault.  

The probable cause statement alleges that Scott pointed a gun at one victim near a gas station on Chestnut Street. A second victim claimed that Scott tried to assault them in a church parking lot, the statement says. The victim allegedly then drove off with Scott’s car and Scott fired shots to get them to stop, the statement says.

Multiple victims claimed Scott said during a group phone call that someone was going to die that night, the statement says. Another victim alleged Scott tried to break into their home, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Sedalia police on Tuesday morning arrested a man in a “Scream” mask after a standoff.

Mario Wilson, of Sedalia, was charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree harassment, a misdemeanor. He was detained and is being held on a $15,000 bond. A mugshot was not immediately available. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says police were called to a residence after allegations of someone wearing a mask from the movie “Scream” had fired shots. Law enforcement arrived at the home at 12:43 a.m. and called out for residents to get out of the home, the statement says.

The victims were seen in a window of the home and officers were able to help them out of the window, the statement says. Police continued to give orders to Wilson, but he allegedly called dispatch and asked to negotiate, the statement says. Wilson eventually surrendered at 1:11 a.m., court documents say.

One of the victims allegedly told police that their RING camera had been giving them notifications throughout the day and they saw a man in a “Scream” mask, which startled her, the statement says.

The victim allegedly called a male friend to head over to the house and tell Wilson to leave, and Wilson allegedly ran to the backyard and climbed through a window to enter the house, the statement says. Prior to that, Wilson allegedly sent messages to the victim to let him in the home and she told him she would not, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A wrongful death lawsuit involving a Moniteau County crash was moved to Miller County on Tuesday.

The parents of Deborah Kay Coville filed a wrongful death lawsuit against John Kendrick and Moniteau County on Aug. 29 after Coville died from injuries she suffered in a crash on Aug. 5.

The petition alleges that Kendrick did not stop at a stop sign or yield to Coville’s Chevy Lumina as she drove eastbound on Lookout Trail. A Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report says the driver of the dump truck failed to yield to the Chevrolet.

Both drivers wore seatbelts in the crash, the report says. Coville was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries that day and later died on Aug. 12, the petition says.

Kendrick previously argued that because he is a public employee and is entitled to protection for “discretionary” acts. 

The date for the next hearing has not been announced.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A patient at the University of Missouri Psychiatric Center has been charged with a felony after he was accused of attacking a mental health technician on Saturday.

Michael Brown Jr. was charged with first-degree assault. He is not listed on the Boone County Jail’s online roster and a court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says the attack was caught on video and Brown allegedly attacked the victim while he was walking through the area with a television. After the victim was on the ground, he allegedly was kicked in the face multiple times.

The victim spoke with police at the emergency room of University Hospital, the statement says. Other patients allegedly wanted to watch a movie, the victim turned one on and Brown allegedly accused the victim of being racist and attacked him, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two 74-year-old people from Sturgeon had minor injuries after their vehicle hit a tractor-trailer near Centralia, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the crash occurred on Route CC, west of Dinwiddie School Road. The report says the pair’s vehicle – a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox – was heading eastbound when it crossed the centerline and hit the towed unit of the 2016 Kenworth T680 that was heading in the opposite direction.

The Kenworth was driven by a 55-year-old man from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, the report says. All parties in the crash wore seatbelts and the Wisconsin man had no reported injuries.

The people from Sturgeon were brought to University Hospital by ambulance, the report says. The Chevrolet was totaled, while the Kenworth had minor damage.

That portion of Route CC was closed for roughly an hour.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Tuesday is the first day potential candidates for the Columbia City Council elections can file to run and voters should expect to see some familiar names.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll announced on her social media that she filed for her reelection bid on Monday. Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman told ABC 17 News that he plans on filing for reelection, but does not plan to file on Monday.

Petitions and instructions will be available at Columbia City Hall from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays. The deadline to file is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Election Day is Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Candidates must obtain at least 50 signatures from residents who reside in the ward and are registered voters, according to a press release released by the city last week.

Potential candidates must be qualified voters and residents of the ward they wish to represent, the release says. They must also not hold “lucrative public office or any lucrative position in the City government during their terms,” the release says.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the entrance of the Boone County Courthouse in January pleaded guilty to two felonies on Tuesday.

Nicholas Walters, 39, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to arson and resisting arrest. He was originally charged with first-degree assault, first-degree arson, armed criminal action, resisting arrest and drug possession. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and will get credit for time served.

Court documents in previous reporting say Walters was seen on camera walking up to the courthouse with a glass jar that contained gasoline and paper. He threw the Molotov cocktail at the front entrance that caused “an eruption of fire” under the door, the statement says.

Another person exiting the building was almost set on fire and ran away as flames ignited, the statement says. That person stated in court documents that they smelled gasoline.

Walters allegedly admitted to making the incendiary object and asked police to tell the court he was sorry, court documents say. Police also found him with methamphetamine and a pipe.

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