Man accused of stealing football merch from stadium while wearing gorilla mask, selling them on Facebook Marketplace

A Columbia man, Jace McKernan, has been charged with two felonies after allegedly stealing memorabilia from the University of Missouri's football stadium while wearing a gorilla mask. The 18-year-old faces first-degree and second-degree burglary charges and is currently held without bond at the Boone County Jail, with no court date set as of yet.

According to the probable cause statement, McKernan entered the Mizzou Football South End Zone Facility approximately ten times between March 2 and March 25, often accompanied by unidentified individuals. He reportedly made off with a variety of items, including boxes of athletic gear, clothing, alcohol, and artwork.

An investigation intensified when law enforcement discovered several stolen items being advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace on March 24. Among the stolen goods were Jordan football gloves, Mizzou hats, Nike Air Max 90 sneakers, and a Wilson football, all listed under a profile named "Jason Cortez."

University police consulted the director of athletic equipment operations, who confirmed that the collected items were not for public sale. Notably, the Jordan gloves were designated for specific Mizzou football players, and the Nike shoes were used by the athletic training staff shortly before the theft. The existence of a fake account selling these items, which also featured a BMW linked to McKernan's family, further implicated him in the crime.

Upon visiting McKernan's home, police allege he confessed to stealing the items, with many still located at his residence. He reportedly even admitted to painting his face black to conceal his identity during the theft and had remnants of the paint visible when questioned by officers.