Maya Leah Nicole Nicki Wootton, 33, was killed after offering shelter during a period of dangerously cold weather. A Hickman High School graduate with a career certification in peer support counseling, Wootton was known for helping people and animals and for reaching out to strangers in need.

On February 15, 2021, officers found Wootton with a gunshot wound and she died three days later at a hospital. Investigators say she had let two people into her home for warmth; police allege that after the shooting one of the guests searched through her belongings and stole items including a rare coin collection. Authorities arrested Elizabeth Emily Dye and Lucas Gordon Harper in connection with the case. Dye was identified as the person who shot Wootton, and Harper was accused of attempting to conceal the crime; Harper later told investigators he witnessed the shooting and the theft.

This was a loss echoed across the Columbia community, where Wootton’s generosity and compassion were well known. Does anyone have information about Wootton, her work in peer support, or the events of February 15 that could help clarify what happened?