Two men held in homicide investigation

Two men Columbia police Capt. Brad Nelson described as “persons of interest” in the Carlos Kelly homicide investigation were still being held late Saturday afternoon, although they had not been charged in connection with the crime.

Rodney E. Cunninghman, 30, and Travis S. Midgyett, 26, were taken into custody Thursday after a brief standoff with Columbia police.

Cunningham was being held in the Boone County Jail on two felony charges of first-degree trafficking that resulted from a previous investigation, and Midgyett was jailed on a felony parole warrant, police said.

Both men were taken to the Columbia Police Department for questioning in the beating death of Kelly, Nelson said in a news release.

Nelson said police were investigating other “persons of interest” but no additional people had been taken into custody.

Kelly, 34, was found dead at his apartment Wednesday after a female acquaintance called 911 and reported he had been beaten and robbed. The autopsy report showed that Kelly died of a blow to the head, police said.