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Joseph Elledge murdered his estranged wife, Mengqi Ji, in 2019.
She was a talented young woman who moved from China to the U.S. to pursue her dreams.
Elledge admitted to burying Ji's body in a park.
However, he claims that her death was an accident that happened during a heated argument that got out of control.
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| Mengqi Ji |
From Love to Turmoil
Mengqi Ji was born in China.
She relocated to the United States to study engineering at the University of Missouri.
In 2015, she met Joseph Elledge while working at a dental products company.
At the time, Ji was Elledge's supervisor.
Their relationship blossomed, and by 2017, they were married.
However, over time, their once beautiful relationship began to deteriorate.
After the birth of their daughter, Anna, in October 2018, Ji's parents moved in with them.
This reportedly caused more conflict, because Joseph Elledge said he felt isolated.
He claimed he was "being pushed out of [his] own home" because of his in-laws' interference.
The couple's relationship found some stability after Ji's parents moved out.
After a while, major issues came up again as money problems and cultural differences started to affect them.
By the summer of 2019, Elledge's frustration grew, and he began contemplating divorce, even researching the topic online.
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| The couple |
A Fateful Night
The night of October 8, 2019, would change everything.
Joseph Elledge's wife Mengqi Ji communicated with another man in China.
On that night, the couple had a heated argument about the man in China.
Elledge claimed that both he and Ji pushed each other during the argument, leading her to fall and hit her head.
After the confrontation, he said that Ji moved to the couch, and he went for a walk to cool off.
Upon returning, he found Ji unresponsive in their bed.
Confused and panicked, he checked for a pulse but felt her skin was cold.
In a series of alarming choices, Elledge placed Ji's body in the trunk of her car.
He then drove around various locations, contemplating where to bury her.
Eventually, he returned home without a plan.
On October 10, 2018, with their daughter in the car, he made the fateful decision to drive to Rock Bridge State Park, about five miles from their home.
There, he spent half an hour digging a grave, before burying Ji in a secluded area.
This was just half a mile from where he had once proposed to her.
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| The couple |
The Investigation: Uncovering the Truth
After burying his wife, Elledge returned home and reported her missing.
He told everyone that she had left the apartment during an argument that night.
For months, he maintained this story, while investigators searched for Mengqi Ji.
As the investigation continued, detectives began to grow suspicious.
They uncovered text messages, audio tapes, and Elledge's own 51-page journal filled with complaints about Ji.
This painted a troubling picture of their relationship.
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| Joseph Elledge |
Justice: The Verdict and Sentencing
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that highlighted the couple’s communication issues, and the increasing tension in their marriage.
The prosecution argued that Joseph Elledge's actions indicated a lack of remorse and suggested premeditation.
His defense team on the other hand claimed that his decisions after Ji’s death stemmed from panic rather than intention.
As the prosecution rested its case, the jury was tasked with determining the truth behind Mengqi Ji's death.
In November 2021, Joseph Elledge was convicted of second-degree murder.
He was given a 28-year prison sentence.
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| Joseph Elledge in court |
Prosecutor Dan Knight characterized Elledge as a "stone-cold killer" who had shown no remorse for his actions.
Elledge's defense attorney argued that his client was awkward and made "unbelievably dumb" decisions after Ji's death.
He however asserted that Joseph never intended to kill her.
During the sentencing phase, Ji's family expressed their gratitude for the justice system.
They noted that Elledge received one year for every year of Ji's life.
The court's decision could not bring Ji back, but it served as a measure of justice for a family devastated by the loss.
Elledge's second-degree murder conviction requires him to serve at least 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
In a separate incident, a mother created a chaotic scene as officers attempted to arrest her son at gunpoint.
Click here to learn more about the case, including the full video of the intense confrontation.
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