The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

CALIFORNIA, MO -- Update: April 14 at 11:35 a.m.:

Jon Shikles appeared in Moniteau County court on Wednesday.

He was arraigned on charges of 2nd degree murder. He pleaded not guilty.

Update: April 11 at 1:15 p.m.:

Authorities in Moniteau County have charged Jon Shikles with 2nd degree murder.

Shikles will appear in Moniteau County Court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday for arraignment.

Update: Saturday, April 9 at 9:35 a.m.:

At approximately 7:00 p.m. Friday night, the Missouri State Highway Patrol took into custody Jon T. Shikles, 26, of California, MO for his alleged involvement in the death of Travis D. Higgins. 

Higgins body was found the morning of April 7, 2011, in California, MO.   

Shikles is being held at the Moniteau County Jail in California, MO, pending the filing of a 2nd degree murder charge.

Update: April 8 at 2 p.m.:

Police released the name of a man whose body was found on Thursday.

Police said the man was Travis Dean Higgins, 31, of California, Mo.

 Update: April 8 at 11:40 a.m.:

The Missouri Highway Patrol said authorities are not releasing the name of the man whose body was found in California, Mo. on Thursday.

Friday morning, the Highway Patrol and the Moniteau County Prosecutor met to discuss the investigation into the body.

Authorities said the autopsy is completed and the results were sent to California.

Update: April 7 at 4:20 p.m.:

Authorities have taken the body of a man found dead Thursday morning in an alley in California, Mo. to Columbia for an autopsy. The autopsy will determine a cause of death for the man.

The Moniteau County Sheriff's Department confirms no one has been booked in the jail in relation to the crime. The Highway Patrol has been called to the area to help investigate the crime.

Original Story:

The Missouri Highway Patrol has joined California City Police in investigating the discovery of a body Thursday morning in Moniteau County.

Authorities said contractors found the body of a man in an alley off east Stella Street in California.

The city's police chief said the victim appears to be a man in his mid-20's to early 30's and may have been the victim of a beating.

Authorities are looking into the cause of death, and so far have not determined if it was a homicide.