On May 22, 2023, 72-year-old Janet L. Jago was fatally shot during a home invasion at her residence in the 5300 block of East Tayside Circle in the Highlands neighborhood of south Columbia, Missouri. Janet, a female resident of the home, was confronted by intruders during what police later described as a robbery. Officers arrived at the scene to find her suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital where she subsequently succumbed to her injuries. Her husband, Art G.
Jago, a retired professor, was at the home during the incident but survived.
Law enforcement officers from the Columbia Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the homicide. Authorities quickly identified a suspect, 32-year-old Jermaine Montez Burnett, who had a lengthy criminal history involving robbery and other felonies. Police tracked Burnett to the Forest Village Apartments near Providence Road on May 23, 2023. When officers attempted to apprehend him, a standoff ensued, lasting approximately nine hours. During the confrontation, Burnett fired shots at the police, who returned fire. The standoff concluded when officers entered the apartment and discovered Burnett deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Following the death of the first suspect, the investigation continued as detectives sought additional individuals involved in the deadly robbery. On May 25, 2023, police announced the detention of a second suspect, a juvenile male whose name was not released due to his age. The juvenile was taken into custody and faced serious charges in connection with the crime, including second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and armed criminal action. The arrest marked a significant development in the case, bringing a measure of resolution to the inquiry into the events that led to the death of Janet Jago.
