Missing wife’s remains found in park, confirmed by dental records; husband charged with murder

COLUMBIA, Mo. (TCD) --

Human remains found at Rock Bridge State Park in Missouri on March 25 have been positively identified as Mengqi Ji, who was reported missing by her husband in 2019.

Her husband was charged with her murder in 2020.

Joseph Elledge reported Mengqi Ji missing at about 5:45 p.m. on October 10, 2019. Columbia Police said Ellege reported he last saw his wife on October 8 at about 11:30 p.m. He said when he woke up on Oct. 9 at about 5 a.m., she was gone.

While investigating, Columbia Police detectives found evidence of child abuse of the couple’s child. Elledge was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.

“Detectives learned Elledge had visited several conservation areas surrounding Boone County prior to reporting her to CPD as a missing person,” Columbia Police said.

Aerial and ground searches were conducted near Ashland Lake and the Pine Ridge Recreation Campground, police said.

Detectives tracked Elledge’s movements from his cellphone “and learned there was one specific location where he spent more time than at any of the other locations,” identified as the De Bourgmont Access of the Lamine River at Hwy 41. He spent about 45 minutes at that location.

On February 28, 2020, Joseph Elledge was indicted for first-degree murder by a Boone County grand jury.

Columbia Police said about 1 p.m. on March 25, 2021, Missouri State Park Rangers were notified by a hiker who located possible human remains while in Rock Bridge State Park. Investigators at the scene located several items and found items belonging to Mengqi Ji.

The hiker in the park came across skeletal remains, clothing, a driver's license, and a credit card with the name Mengqi Ji Elledge, the Associated Press reports.

The Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Mengqi Ji by her dental records.

Elledge remains in custody at the Boone County Jail.

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