Remains in Missouri identified as missing Chinese woman Mengqi Ji
- Ji’s husband, Joseph Elledge, was charged in February 2020 with first-degree murder in her death
- Dental records were used to identify the remains found by a hunter; investigators are still trying to determine how Ji died
Decomposed remains found in a Missouri park have been positively identified as those of a Chinese woman who had been missing from Columbia, Missouri, since 2019, authorities said on Tuesday.
Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said forensic experts used dental records to identify Mengqi Ji’s remains, which were found by a hunter on March 25 at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park about 8km south of Columbia.
“I want to express to Mengqi Ji’s family members, and to their community of supporters, that we support you and your wish for justice,” Treece said.
Investigators are still trying to determine how Ji died, Assistant Chief Jeremiah Hunter said.
It’s also unclear how long her body had been at the site but it had been there “for some time”, Police Chief Geoff Jones said.
Current evidence does not indicate other suspects but Jones said investigators were “keeping an open mind” and would go where the evidence took them.
Ji’s husband, Joseph Elledge, was charged in February 2020 with first-degree murder in her death. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. He also pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and domestic abuse charges. The couple has a 2-year-old daughter.
