Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane

Columbia physician charged with rape to go on trial in early December

November 17, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A December jury trial has been set for a Columbia doctor charged with raping a woman he met last fall at the Black and Gold tavern on the Business Loop.

Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane has scheduled a December 6 jury trial for 38-year-old Dr. Travis Birkhead, who’s charged with rape or attempted rape and misdemeanor assault.

939 the Eagle News has been at the Boone County Courthouse for several hearings in this case. Defense attorney Kevin O’Brien told Judge Crane in open court in January that the woman wouldn’t leave Birkhead’s house that night, saying she “went crazy.” O’Brien has told the court there was no sexual assault and that Birkhead was the one who called Columbia Police to ask the woman to leave his home. Boone County prosecutors disagree: they’ve told Judge Crane in open court that Dr. Birkhead is a danger to the community and that he has a history of threatening people. They’ve also said that Birkhead’s ex-wife, a different woman, is terrified of him.

Birkhead was released from the Boone County jail in May, after posting a $50,000 surety bond. He is hooked up to GPS monitoring, under Judge Crane’s order.

High-profile Columbia rape case has been delayed

October 17, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The trial of a Columbia physician charged with raping a woman he met at a bar on the Business Loop last October has been continued.

38-year-old Dr. Travis Birkhead is charged with rape or attempted rape and misdemeanor assault for the alleged October 2022 incident involving a woman he met at the Black and Gold tavern. The trial was scheduled to begin this morning, but online court records show Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane has approved Dr. Birkhead’s motion for a continuance.

939 the Eagle News has been in the courtroom for several of Dr. Birkhead’s hearings. His defense attorney, Kevin O’Brien, has told the court that the surveillance video referenced by Columbia Police in television news reports simply showed Birkhead’s vehicle at the bar and nothing else. Counselor O’Brien has said in open court that the woman wouldn’t leave Birkhead’s house that night, saying she “acted crazy.” O’Brien has said there was no sexual assault and that it was Birkhead who had to call CPD to ask the woman to leave his home.

Boone County prosecutors see if differently: they’ve told Judge Crane in open court that Dr. Birkhead is a danger to the community, adding he has a history of threatening people. They’ve also said that Birkhead’s ex-wife, a different woman, is terrified of him.

Dr. Birkhead was released from the Boone County jail in May, after posting a $50,000 surety bond. He is hooked up to GPS monitoring.

UPDATE: Columbia doctor charged with rape posts bond; placed on GPS monitoring

May 30, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A Columbia physician who’s been jailed since October for allegedly raping a woman he met at a bar on the Business Loop has posted a $50,000 surety bond.

37-year-old Dr. Travis Birkhead has been released from the Boone County jail, and he’s hooked up to GPS monitoring, according to online court records. Birkhead posted bond on Friday.

Dr. Birkhead is charged with rape and misdemeanor assault for an alleged incident involving a woman he met at the Black and Gold tavern in October. Defense attorney Kevin O’Brien told the court this month that the surveillance video referenced by CPD simply showed vehicles at the bar and nothing else.

Counselor O’Brien told the court in January that the woman wouldn’t leave Birkhead’s house that night, saying she “went crazy.” O’Brien has told the court there was no sexual assault and that Birkhead was the one who called Columbia Police to ask the woman to leave his home.

Prosecutors describe Dr. Birkhead as a danger to the community, saying he has a history of threatening people. They’ve also said that Birkhead’s ex-wife, a different woman, is terrified of him. He’s facing separate harassment charges in that case. Counselor O’Brien told the Judge Kevin Crane earlier this month that there will be no contact between Birkhead and the alleged victim, saying Birkhead would be living in eastern Missouri’s Lincoln County.

Birkhead’s next appearance in Boone County Circuit Court is set for June 20.

UPDATE: Boone County prosecutors file murder charges against Kimo Spivey

May 9, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A convicted felon from Columbia has now been charged with second degree murder and three other felonies for Sunday morning’s deadly shooting on the Business Loop.

Boone County prosecutors this (Tuesday) morning charged 33-year-old Kimo Spivey with second degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane has ordered that Spivey be jailed without bond.

Spivey, who’s served multiple stints in Missouri prisons, is expected to appear for his initial arraignment this afternoon, via video.

Columbia Police say Spivey killed 26-year-old Melvin Hooker III early Sunday morning on the Business Loop. Mr. Hooker was shot to death. CPD investigators say four others, including Spivey, suffered gunshot wounds. Columbia Police say their investigation is ongoing, and they encourage anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at (573) 875-TIPS.

Columbia murder suspect captured after high-speed pursuit

May 1, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Boone County prosecutors have charged 20-year-old Maurice Banks with second degree murder and two other felonies (2022 file photo courtesy of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department website)

Columbia Police have captured a juvenile murder suspect who was allegedly involved in the November 2020 killing of 19-year-old Jermaine Spain at Cosmo recreation area park.

Columbia Police and other law enforcement agencies arrested the juvenile suspect on Friday morning after a high-speed pursuit on Keene, which is near Highway 63 and Broadway. The juvenile’s name hasn’t been released because he’s not charged as an adult.

This is the second arrest in this case. The U-S Marshals captured 20-year-old Maurice Banks in May 2022 in Las Vegas. Banks’ murder trial is scheduled to begin on June 21 in Boone County Circuit Court.

Judge Kevin Crane will preside during the trial.