Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia dog breeder who was charged with 29 felony counts of animal abuse has asked a judge to reduce her bond and to change the venue of her case.

Melissa Sanders, 26, has been held at the Phelps County Jail though she is listed on Boone County’s online jail roster. She is being held without bond.

Sanders’ attorney on Monday filed a motion to reduce her bond, claiming she is not a flight risk though her parents live in the Kansas City area. At a previous hearing before her current set of charges were filed, a judge said they would consider a bond reduction following detention study. A lawyer for the state had argued at the time that Sanders is a flight risk because she is involved in a relationship with someone from Texas.

Andrew Russek, Sanders’ attorney, also filed a motion on Monday asking to change the venue of the case. The prosecution responded on Wednesday with a motion asking the judge to deny the change of venue, claiming it was not done in a timely manner.

Sanders ran Magnum Opus German Shepherds and a number of dead dogs, including a dozen dog skulls, were found at the property of the business when law enforcement served a search warrant, according to court documents in previous reporting. Several malnourished dogs were also found at the property.

Court documents say at least two living dogs that were found were on the brink of death.

The living dogs were turned over to the Central Missouri Humane Society after Sanders was arrested. Owners of the dogs were contacted and reunited with the animals.

The next hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Boone County Courthouse.

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Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: The road name has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The ramps leading to and from Interstate 70 near the bridge on Providence Road were closed on Wednesday afternoon as first responders investigated the area.

An ABC 17 News reporter say at least 10 officials and several vehicles at the scene, which included a coroner van.

The van was parked on the access points to I-70 at the scene. Several Columbia police cruisers and two firetrucks were seen.

The online six-hour dispatch log shows police were called to the area at 2:27 p.m. for a death investigation.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman was charged on Wednesday in Callaway County with a pair of child sex crimes.

Christina Barham, 57, of Fulton, was charged with sex abuse of a child younger than 14 years old and first-degree child molestation. She is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. A mugshot was not available. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says Barham made children ages 3 and 4 “practice” oral sex and made the two engage in sex acts multiple times. One of the people described as a witness said they did not remember the sexual abuse when they were 4 years old, but were able to detail the abuse that occurred when they were slightly older, the statement says.

The statement says that lasted several years and that one of the victims was made to engage in a sex act with a man when they were 11 or 12 years old.

The statement says Barham was also aware of a sexual “relationship” the victim had with a 28-year-old man when the victim was 15 years old in 2005. The man in question allegedly told law enforcement he was getting “parental permission,” the statement says. Barham allegedly denied knowing about it before admitting to knowing sexual acts occurred.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

East-to-west traffic on West Route K reopened on Wednesday, according to a press release from the City of Columbia.

The most-recent portion of construction in the area was part of Phase 3 of building a roundabout at Route K and Old Plank Road, the release says.

“Phase three included construction on the southeast portion of the roundabout, as well as associated pavement work needed to reconnect Route K,” the release says. “Some remaining items associated with this phase will be completed in the coming days, including limited sidewalk work and a remaining drive approach. As this work is finalized, drivers may encounter occasional minor lane restrictions.”

Phase 4 begins on Monday, which includes building the northern exit of the roundabout to West Old Plank Road, which includes working on road and driveway stormwater connections, the release says.

“When phase four begins, the roundabout will be closed at its north exit to West Old Plank Road. Drivers traveling south on Old Plank Road and intending to head west on West Route K can detour north using Forum Boulevard, West Southampton Drive and South Sinclair Road. Alternatively, drivers may detour east from Old Plank Road toward South Providence Road and Route K,” the release says.

That phase is expected to last through Feb. 2.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri is one of 11 states awarded money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to strengthen security around drones at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Kansas City.

Missouri Department of Public Safety said in a release that Missouri was awarded $14.24 million in federal funding from FEMA.

This follows President Donald Trump’s executive order on June 6 to protect the public from possible drone attacks at large events.

FEMA awarded $250 million to 10 states, along with the District of Columbia, for the Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program. This program was created to provide funding for states holding FIFA World Cup 2026 matches or America 250 national events. This is the first half of funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The grants will be used to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to detect, identify and track drones.

Public Safety Director Mark James stated that the department is already collaborating with local law enforcement to prepare for any potential threat.

“This includes being prepared for potential threats from hostile actors who utilize technology, including unmanned aircraft systems,” James said in a statement. “The 2026 World Cup is a global event, and we will be fully prepared to detect and respond accordingly.”   

Kansas City is scheduled to host six matches from June 16 – July 11. This includes the Group Stage, Round of 32 and a Quarterfinal match.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Deadly crashes are down 5% this year, with a preliminary total of 898 as of Monday, compared to 955 reported in 2024.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is waiting on final numbers, but preliminary data shows the state is down from last year in deadly crashes, according to MSHP Lieutenant Eric Brown.

Missouri saw 90,357 crashes in 2025, although Brown said that number will grow as more data is processed. 134,418 crashes were reported in 2024.

Brown said 56% of people who died in a crash across the state weren’t wearing a seatbelt.

“That is one of the most important things you can do every time you get into vehicles is put your seatbelt on,” Brown said. “It can help save your life, reduce the severity of your injuries that you sustain in a crash, possibly walk away from one that you would not have at all, had you had that seatbelt on.”

MSHP also starts its holiday period on New Year’s Eve, at 6 p.m., and it will run through Sunday at midnight.

Last year, there was one deadly accident and 118 people were injured in 264 crashes across the state, according to an MSHP press release.

“We are going to be out in full force this evening and throughout the weekend as well, and targeting hazardous driving maneuvers,” Brown said. “Think ahead, plan ahead, make good decisions, safe choices, and you can ring in the new year on a great note as opposed to a bad one.”

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 24-year-old woman was killed on Tuesday night in a head-on crash in Boone County.

The crash happened at 8:25 p.m. on Route E near Akeman Bridge Road on Tuesday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report states a 23-year-old man from Harrisburg was driving a 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 when he crossed the center line.

Troopers said the truck hit a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze head-on.

The driver of the Cruze, a 24-year-old woman, also from Harrisburg, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report.

The man was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.

The report states the woman was not wearing a seatbelt. It is unknown if the man was wearing a safety device.

This is the 50th deadly crash in the Troop F boundary for 2025.

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Keriana Gamboa

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Facing a 5 p.m. deadline, UnitedHealthcare and SSM Health reached a last-minute agreement Wednesday to extend their current insurance contract by 30 days.

SSM Health had warned that failure to reach an agreement could disrupt care for more than 140,000 patients and lead to higher costs starting Jan, 1. The 30-day extension keeps UnitedHealthcare patients in-network at SSM Health hospitals, clinics, and doctors for at least another month.

This includes SSM Health Medical Group, SLU-Care Physician Group, and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. SSM Mary’s is Jefferson City’s largest hospital.

SSM Health said in a release on Wednesday that it will continue to negotiate a multi-year agreement with UnitedHealthcare to secure patients’ access to the care they need.  

“We’re proud that our resolution with UnitedHealthcare supports our Mission—through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God—by keeping care accessible and focused on healing,” Justin Morley, interim president at SSM Health in Mid-Missouri, said in the release. “We thank our patients and communities for their patience and for entrusting SSM Health with their health care needs.”

UnitedHealthcare told ABC 17 News in a statement: 

“People enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree, were not impacted by our negotiation and also continue to have network access to SSM Health on and after Jan. 1, 2026. Likewise, people enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan also continue to have access to SSM Health.” 

Prior to the agreement, UnitedHealthcare said in an online release that it is negotiating to keep care affordable and uninterrupted, citing rising hospital costs as a factor driving higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.

However, SSM Health argued instead of working with them on an agreement, “UnitedHealthcare is prioritizing its own profits over what its members truly deserve: high-quality, accessible care.” SMM Health also added that UnitedHealthcare “hasn’t demonstrated a willingness to collaborate on a new, fair agreement, and the expiration date of our current contract is quickly approaching on December 31, 2025.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 77-year-old woman was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in a crash on Highway 17 in Miller County, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The crash report says the Eldon woman drove her 2020 Ford EcoSport northbound when it went off the side of the report and hit a culvert. The Ford then became airborne and overturned after it hit the ground, the report says.

The woman was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and she was brought to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance, the report says. The vehicle was totaled.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person is dead after two vehicles collided on Route E in northern Boone County on Tuesday night.

Boone County Joint Communications sent a notification at 8:31 p.m. stating a crash occurred on Route E near Akeman Bridge Road.

The road was then shut down as first responders worked. The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop F – which covers much of Mid-Missouri – made a social media post saying one person was pronounced dead at the scene after two vehicles collided.

Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp says the person who died had to be pulled to the vehicle after they were trapped after the crash.

BCFPD Battalion Chief Clint Walker said at the scene that the driver of the other vehicle was brought to University Hospital with serious injuries. Neither vehicle had additional passengers.

🚨Head-On Crash Closes Route E🚨

Troopers are investigating a two vehicle crash blocking Route E, at W Akeman Bridge Road, in Boone county.

Unfortunately, one person has been pronounced deceased at the scene.

Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. pic.twitter.com/9vx5UyQvyy

— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) December 31, 2025

Several first responder vehicles, including an ambulance, were on the scene.

A tow truck arrived at 9:14 p.m. The road remained closed at 10:30 p.m.

Check back for updates.

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