Columbia Police Department’s probable cause statement

Columbia claw hammer murder suspect pleads not guilty

January 27, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

37-year-old Adam Conner of Columbia is charged with second degree murder
(October 11, 2022 file mug shot courtesy of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department website)

A Columbia man accused of killing a woman with a claw hammer last fall has pleaded not guilty.

37-year-old Adam Alfred Conner is charged with second degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. He waived formal arraignment this week.

Columbia Police say 59-year-old Patricia Kelly was beaten to death with the claw hammer in October at a home on High Quest drive, north of Smiley lane. It took CPD several days to make a positive identification, due to the severity of the victim’s injuries. Kelly’s body was hidden inside the home’s utility closet, according to the Columbia Police Department’s probable cause statement.

Conner’s next court appearance is March 13.

High-profile Columbia murder trial to begin February 27

January 20, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

41-year-old Keith Comfort’s jury trial is set to begin on February 27, 2023 (undated file photo courtesy of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department website)

A Boone County judge says 75 to 80 potential jurors will be called to the Boone County Courthouse for late February’s jury selection in a high-profile Columbia murder trial.

41-year-old Keith Comfort is charged with second degree murder for the 2006 death of his wife. Prosecutors say Comfort strangled his wife before putting her body in a garbage bag and throwing it into an apartment dumpster on Amelia street.

939 the Eagle News was in the courtroom for Thursday’s hearing. Judge Jeff Harris told Boone County assistant prosecutor Susan Boresi and defense attorney Kevin O’Brien that Comfort’s five-day jury trial is set to begin on February 27.

Prosecutor Boresi told Judge Harris in open court that she’s recovering from surgery, but should be ready to go for Keith Comfort’s February 27 trial. Ms. Boresi tells Judge Harris she may need a device to assist her with walking during February’s jury trial.

Megan Shultz’s body was located in Columbia’s city landfill years later, after a lengthy search by Columbia Police.

The Columbia Police Department’s probable cause statement quotes Comfort as telling police that his wife was frantic and “swinging” her arms at him, after she allegedly did a drug transaction. Comfort is quoted as telling detectives that he strangled his wife before placing her body in a garbage bag, then throwing it into his Amelia street apartment dumpster. That’s near Old Highway 63 and the Columbia Country Club.

UPDATE: Columbia Police identify MU student whose body was found in fire pit

January 17, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

20-year-old Emma Rose Adams remains jailed without bond in Boone County (January 2023 mug shot courtesy of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department website)

A Columbia woman charged with killing an autistic Mizzou student before dragging his body through a yard and setting it on fire remains jailed without bond.

939 the Eagle News was in Boone County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon for 20-year-old Emma Adams’ hearing. She wore a jail jumpsuit, did not speak and displayed no emotion. She and defense attorney Jeffery Hilbrenner waived the bond hearing.

Columbia Police have identified the victim as 21-year-old Samuel Michael Clemons, formerly of Jefferson City. Numerous members of Clemons’ family were in the courtroom for Tuesday’s hearing.

Court documents quote Adams as telling MUPD officers that she killed the victim in self-defense after being beaten.

The Columbia Police Department’s probable cause statement says Adams never called 911, and that Adams “attempted to destroy physical evidence by burning the victim’s body.

Court documents indicate a child was inside vehicle, when Columbia woman was killed

November 17, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

The Columbia Police Department’s four-page probable cause statement against 31-year-old Montez Williams is heavily-redacted (November 17, 2022 photo from 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth)

Columbia’s assistant police chief tells 939 the Eagle that Sunday night’s murder of a woman on Blue Ridge road is domestic-related. That word from assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter.

Meantime, the suspect in the case has made his initial arraignment, via video. 31-year-old Montez Lee Williams is charged with first degree murder for the death of April Joann Brooks of Cuba, Missouri. She was found shot to death in a running vehicle.

939 the Eagle News has obtained the heavily-redacted probable cause statement in the case, which indicates Brooks was shot to death late Sunday night and that her vehicle ran all night with the lights until about 6:45 am, when a concerned citizen called 911.

Security video obtained from a home in the Blue Ridge area shows a muzzle flash before two people are seen exiting the vehicle, according to the probable cause statement. One of them is carrying a small child, court documents say.

CPD’s probable cause statement quotes Williams as admitting he shot the victim to death. Williams is also quoted as telling detectives that he threw the silver handgun he used to kill April Joann Brooks out the window, as CPD officers were pursuing his vehicle down Clark lane.

Williams has multiple criminal convictions and legally could not possess a firearm. Williams appeared in court for his initial arraignment on Wednesday afternoon.

Court documents indicate a child was inside vehicle, when Columbia woman was killed

November 17, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia’s assistant police chief tells 939 the Eagle that Sunday night’s murder of a woman on Blue Ridge road is domestic-related. That word from assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter.

Williams has multiple criminal convictions and legally could not possess a firearm. Williams appeared in court for his initial arraignment on Wednesday afternoon.