Crews continuing search for Mengqi Ji Elledge

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department confirmed Friday officers are continuing their search for Mengqi Ji Elledge, who's been missing since October.

CPD spokesman Jeff Pitts said officers will start the search for Elledge on the Lamine River in Cooper County. Pitts could not say what day the search will start again.

Pitts said water temperature, low visibility, equipment access and a buildup of debris are all factors the search team has to deal with.

"In addition to those factors, rainfall alters the depth and flow rate of the river impacting the search team’s ability to effectively and safely search the area," Pitts said. "All of these factors are taken into consideration in determining the next steps in the search."

Mid-Missouri law enforcement agencies started searching for Elledge on the Lamine on Nov. 26. Since then, crews have searched an area near the De Bourgmont access point 10 times.