Missouri
Missouri girl missing for 4 months found in Colorado sex offender’s home, police say
A northern Colorado sex offender is facing multiple charges after authorities found a missing girl in his home last month.
Maximilian Bondrescu is a 44-year-old registered sexual offender with a conviction from May 2019, per online court records.
He lives in Fort Collins and has most recently been charged with felony second degree kidnapping, sexual assault on a child, second degree assault, and false imprisonment, Fort Collins Police Services said in a news release.
He is also facing misdemeanor charges including having an incomplete sex offender registry, child abuse, harboring a minor, and obstructing a peace officer, police added.
Missing Missouri girl found in Colorado man’s home, investigators say
Fort Collins police said the department has a Fort Collins Police Cyber Crimes Unit that specializes in child exploitation cases. On April 18, a Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force detective contacted the unit and said there may be a missing Missouri juvenile in the Fort Collins area.
Fort Collins Police Detectives honed in on a home in the city, then secured a search warrant for the property, the news release said. Inside the home, they spoke to Bondrescu, who said there was no girl in the house. Once authorities searched the home, they found the missing girl.
Bondrescu has been booked into the Larimer County Jail. His bond has been set at $500,000, and he has a hearing at 8:30 a.m. on May 5, per online court records.
As of May 2, Bondrescu does not have a lawyer, the Fort Collins Office of the District Attorney in the Eighth Judicial District told USA TODAY. Boone County and Fort Collins officials did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requests for comment.
Girl had gone silent online and told friends she was ‘in another state,’ reports say
The charges are in connection to a girl who was reported missing out of Boone County, part of the Columbia metropolitan area, reported KOMU-TV and KDVR.
The teenager was first reported missing on Dec. 6, 2024, reported KDVR. It was her first time running away, and students at her school told police she mentioned running off a month before she turned up missing. At the time, she mentioned going to Colorado, KDVR reported.
Citing an arrest affidavit, KDVR said the girl’s phone and social media were “completely silent” since Dec. 6. Four months later in mid April, she allegedly contacted someone and said she was “in a different state.” The person she contacted told a friend, who then passed the information along to the police.
Investigators used the girl’s Instagram account and information from Meta to pinpoint an address associated with Bondrescu.
Police: Man rented vehicle to cross state lines, pick girl up
Fort Collins Police Services said in the news release that Bondrescu allegedly rented a vehicle to drive to Missouri, where he met the girl and took her to Colorado.
Per the affidavit obtained by KDVR, when police showed up to his home to search the property, Bondrescu said there was no child at the home but there “may be an adult female.” Police found the girl hiding in a bedroom closet.
The girl told police she started talking to Bonrescu in November 2024. Bondrescu picked her up in the middle of the night, and once they got to his home, he wrapped her in a blanket and carried her into the house to hide her identity, KDVR reported.
According to the girl, two other people lived in the house, although she never met them because Bondrescu said they would get in trouble if they found out she was there, KDVR reported.
The girl said she asked to go home in January and February, but Bondrescu said he had no money to take her home, per KDVR. Police asked the girl what would have happened if she’d left, and she said it was cold and she didn’t know anyone to ask for help.
The girl told investigators there was a sound machine in Bondrescu’s room so the two roommates wouldn’t hear them talking, KDVR reported. She also said Bondrescu took her ID and other items. Per the arrest affidavit, Bondrescu said he did not have sexual contact with the girl and said “she was only at the house for a few weeks.”
Man made girl work for snow-shoveling company, police say
The girl told police Bondrescu let her out and made her work for his company, FoCo Sno GO, which offers snow clearing and de-icing services, police said in the news release.
According to the girl, Bondrescu made her wear a mask while shoveling snow to hide her identity and age, police said in the news release.
“The importance of the work done by the Fort Collins Police Cyber Crime Unit, and similar units across the nation play a vital role in helping to keep our children safe,” said Fort Collins Police Assistant Chief Kristy Volesky in the news release. “Had it not been for the diligent work of these detectives, the juvenile could have continued to be victimized.”
Police ask that customers who hired Bondrescu’s company, FoCo Sno GO, contact Detective David Guy of Fort Collins Police Services at (970) 416 2026.
They also want to hear from others who may have information on the case.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 17, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 17 drawing
22-34-45-48-55, Mega Ball: 14
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 17 drawing
Midday: 3-2-3
Midday Wild: 7
Evening: 6-5-7
Evening Wild: 3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 17 drawing
Midday: 2-5-9-9
Midday Wild: 8
Evening: 2-2-1-1
Evening Wild: 3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 17 drawing
Early Bird: 08
Morning: 06
Matinee: 06
Prime Time: 07
Night Owl: 10
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from July 17 drawing
01-06-11-19-21
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
A coalition of hemp businesses filed a federal lawsuit Thursday in an attempt to halt a statewide ban on intoxicating hemp products from going into effect in November.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District, claims the ban state lawmakers passed this spring contains “unconstitutionally vague” definitions for hemp and marijuana.
Craig Katz, government relations and compliance manager for one of the plaintiffs, St. Louis-based MNG 2005, Inc., said the problem begins with lawmakers’ lack of understanding about the cannabis industry.
“A lot of this stuff is kind of in the weeds,” Katz said. “It’s very difficult to understand. And when people are trying to legislate it, if they don’t understand it, you come up with something like HB2641, which doesn’t make a whole heck of a lot of sense.”
The coalition includes MNG, the parent company of 55 CBD Kratom stores nationwide, the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, and a Wisconsin-based hemp business, Lifted Liquids Inc.
The bill in question was among the first Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed this year and will take all intoxicating hemp products off the shelves starting Nov. 12 — including THC seltzers currently sold in bars and grocery stores.
The legislation largely aligns state law with the upcoming federal ban that Congress approved last year.
Under Missouri’s bill, if Congress reverses course and decides to allow the sale of these products, the state would only permit them in licensed marijuana dispensaries. And if Congress delays the ban for a couple of years, Missouri law would still ban all products, except for intoxicating beverages.
It also tasks Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway with enforcement.
Kehoe, Hanaway, and Sarah Wilson, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which oversees the state’s marijuana program, are the named defendants.
Hanaway’s spokeswoman said the office had not been served with the lawsuit. Kehoe’s office and DHSS declined to comment since it’s pending litigation.
Gov. Mike Kehoe signs a bill placing restrictions on intoxicating hemp products in his office on April 23 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).
Similar bills have been debated since 2023, but have failed to pass. Without regulations, intoxicating hemp products with as much as 1,000 mg of THC are currently sold in smoke shops — outside of Missouri’s licensed marijuana dispensaries.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Dave Hinman, a Republican from O’Fallon, said the legislation largely gives state law enforcement and prosecutors the authority to enforce the federal hemp ban after Nov. 12.
“ I believe this is the last-ditch effort for the hemp industry,” Hinman said. “HB2641 passed the Missouri House, Senate, and was signed by the governor. It was vetted throughout the entire process. I don’t believe this Hail Mary will get the results the Hemp Trade Association wants, and Missouri will mirror the federal government.”
The lawsuit argues that the bill defines the same products as both “hemp” and “marijuana” in different provisions, which leaves businesses, law enforcement and prosecutors confused about what is legal.
“Because unlicensed marijuana activity is a crime in Missouri, that confusion carries criminal consequences,” states the coalition’s press release announcing the lawsuit.
While the bill “promises” not to interfere with interstate hemp commerce, the coalition notes that it also restricts who may transport hemp products through the state, the press release states.
And it contains effective date provisions “so convoluted that businesses cannot determine which products are covered or when,” it said.
The coalition believes the “confusing” definitions will also take non-intoxicating CBD products off Missouri shelves.
“This isn’t consumer protection,” said Jay Patel, the association’s president. “It’s the elimination of an entire legal industry coupled with a government-mandated monopoly.”
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 16, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 16 drawing
Midday: 1-0-0
Midday Wild: 0
Evening: 4-1-7
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 16 drawing
Midday: 0-6-1-6
Midday Wild: 9
Evening: 0-5-2-8
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 16 drawing
Early Bird: 11
Morning: 13
Matinee: 07
Prime Time: 01
Night Owl: 14
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from July 16 drawing
04-05-11-15-37
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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