sexual assault

One lawmaker said Missouri runs the risk of becoming a "sanctuary state for pedophiles" if the General Assembly doesn't pass a bill that would give victims of child sex abuse more time to press civil charges against their abusers.

The proposed amendment, if passed by the Senate and approved in a statewide election, would repeal the reproductive rights measure passed by voters in November. It would allow some exceptions in the first 12 weeks of gestation, but House Speaker Jon Patterson said that doesn't go far enough to protect assault victims.

Three weeks after an investigative report from The Midwest Newsroom, the Lincoln Police Dept. removed the captain from his leadership of its Special Victims Unit.

Lincoln has paid out millions of dollars in settlements to individuals, but the women who were abused say they still have lingering trauma and worry that city leaders are shying away from addressing the culture of mistreatment head-on.

Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson announced Tuesday that Timothy Haslett Jr. is charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Jaynie Crosdale. Haslett was previously accused of kidnapping a Black woman and holding her in his basement.

Domestic violence victims are utilizing hotlines more often — but experts say this likely reflects a growth in awareness of assistance options as well as courage.

Under current Missouri law, 16- and 17-year-olds are allowed to get married with parental permission to anyone under the age of 21. A new bill co-sponsored by Kansas City state Sen. Lauren Arthur would prohibit issuing marriage licenses to anyone under the age of 18 under any circumstances.

Ward Worley, executive director of Plaza Academy, was charged in September with a misdemeanor. Because it's a private school, the state has no oversight on personnel issues. The mother of the victim has since enrolled her child at a different school.

Missouri's abortion ban does not include any exceptions for survivors of rape. A proposed constitutional amendment would change that, but it would also require women seeking an abortion to report the assault to a crisis hotline. Some survivor advocacy groups worry it could cause further harm.

Golubski’s victims have long worried that Golubski will not have to face a federal trial on assault and other charges because of his poor health. A trial date has still not been set.

Executive Director Ward Worley was charged with one misdemeanor count of a mandated reporter failing to report child abuse.

The separate attacks allegedly occurred after Dairon Lee Riley, 23, met the women online. Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said authorities believe there are more victims.