Change of judge granted in Elledge child abuse case
Lawyers for a Columbia man accused of child abuse and suspected in his wife’s disappearance have asked for a change of judge.
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Dive teams enter third day of search for missing Columbia woman
Divers continued their search of the Lamine River for a missing Columbia woman on Wednesday.
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Divers enter day four in search for missing Columbia mom
The search for a missing Columbia mom will continue for a fourth day Thursday on the Lamine River.
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Fire chief speaks about difficulty of dive search for missing woman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Divers with the Mid-Missouri Sheriff’s Dive Team continued their search for missing Columbia woman Mengqi Elledge Tuesday. They have been searching the Lamine River in Cooper County. They first searched the area on Nov. 26. Jack Brade is chief of the Regional West Fire Protection District. He did not assist in the
Continue Reading Columbia police ‘confident’ in search for missing woman
The Mid-Missouri Sheriff’s Dive Team and Columbia Police Department will continue their search for a missing Columbia woman Tuesday.
Continue Reading Elledge pleads not guilty in child abuse case
COLUMBIA, Mo, A Columbia man accused of child abuse pleaded not guilty to two felony charges in court on Tuesday morning. Joseph Elledge, 24, pleaded not guilty to child abuse or neglect and endangering the welfare of a child after he waived his preliminary hearing, said Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight. The case is now
Continue Reading Second child abuse count added in case tied to missing Columbia woman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Prosecutors have added a second child abuse-related count against the husband of a missing Columbia woman. The Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Monday filed an amended complaint against Joseph Elledge, who had been charged with one count of child abuse last month. The revised complaint also accuses Elledge of one count
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Columbia police ask hunters, land owners for help in finding missing woman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department asked for hunters and land owners to help them find a woman who has been missing since the beginning of October. Mengqi Ji Elledge went missing on Oct. 8, according to police. Her husband, Joseph Elledge, was later arrested and charged with child abuse, and prosecutors have named
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Missing child found in Jefferson City
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department located a missing child on Friday. The child originally went missing Friday morning and was later found safe with family in Jefferson City. The 4 or 5-year-old girl was seen running from Green Valley Drive by Broadway and Highway 63 Friday morning, said CPD spokesman Jeff Pitts. Police
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Vigil for Columbia woman held one month after she was reported missing
Friends and family of a missing Columbia woman gathered for a vigil Saturday, one month after she was reported missing by her husband, who is now the prime suspect in her disappearance. Mengqi Ji Elledge, 28, went missing Oct. 8. Her husband, Joseph Elledge reported her missing a day and a half after she allegedly
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Short-term arrangement reached in custody battle over missing woman’s child
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The attorney for the parents of a missing Columbia woman said Thursday they have reached a “very limited, short term agreement” in the custody battle over their grandchild. Mengqi Elledge’s and the family of her husband, Joseph Elledge, are each trying to get custody of the couple’s daughter. A set of hearings
Continue Reading Prosecutor: Columbia man is prime suspect in wife’s ‘murder’
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County’s lead prosecutor said in court Wednesday that the husband of a missing woman is the prime suspect in her disappearance, accusing him of killing her. Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight said at a bond reduction hearing that investigators suspect Joseph Elledge in the October disappearance of his wife, Mengqi
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Demonstrations tied to custody battle continue outside Boone County Courthouse
Several demonstrators supporting one side of a custody dispute related to a Columbia woman’s disappearance were outside the Boone County Courthouse for the second straight day Tuesday. A few people held signs in support of a bid by Mengqi Ji Elledge’s parents to get custody of Elledge’s daughter. Elledge went missing Oct. 8 and her
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Supporters gather outside Boone County Courthouse in custody battle over missing woman’s daughter
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A group supporting the family of a missing woman as they seek custody of her daughter gathered Monday outside the Boone County Courthouse while a judge heard arguments inside. Roughly 116 people also signed a letter sent to Boone County judge Stephanie Morrell telling her to award custody of Anna Elledge to
Continue Reading Grandmother files for guardianship of missing woman’s child
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A petition filed in the Circuit Court of Boone County shows a woman filed for guardianship of a child in the case of a missing Columbia woman. The court document was filed Tuesday in the probate division of the court for guardianship of Anna Elledge, who was previously in the care of
Continue ReadingHusband of missing woman charged with child abuse
The husband of a missing Columbia woman is now charged with child abuse, after investigators found evidence during their missing person’s investigation. Joseph Elledge, 23, of Columbia, was arrested Friday and taken to the Boone County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Elledge appeared for his initial arraignment via camera from the Boone County Jail. Judge
Continue Reading Husband of missing Columbia woman arrested on possible child abuse charge
UPDATE 9:15 P.M.: A spokesman for Columbia told ABC 17 News Friday night that Joseph D. Elledge, 23, of Columbia, was arrested by police on abuse or neglect of a child. He is the husband of Mengqi Elledge. ABC 17 News was told police found evidence of child abuse while officers searched for Mengqi. ABC
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Sedalia teenager reported missing
The Sedalia Police Department is asking the public for information on the whereabouts of a missing teen. Marie McDonald, 17, was last seen Thursday leaving Liberty Park with someone she knew, police said in a Facebook post. Anyone who has seen her is asked to call the Sedalia Police Department at 660-826-8100. Marie is described
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Missouri man found dead in Wyoming
Authorities have identified a body found in a culvert in southern Wyoming. The Rawlins Times reports 44-year-old Robert Wayne Kelley, of Springfield, Missouri, was found dead south of Sinclair, Wyoming on Oct. 4. Kelley was reported missing on Aug. 16, and officials said he walked from Missouri to Wyoming. The Carbon County Coroner’s Office said
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