Police give update in search for missing mother at Lamine River
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Police Department gave an update in the search for a missing mother on Wednesday night.
In a press release, police said they have "completed the process of using a levee to excavate an area of the Lamine River in the search for Mengqi Ji."
Police had focused their search on a spot under Highway 41 where possible human remains have been detected.
Last month, the police department started working with the City of Columbia Utilities, Boone County and The Missing Person’s Support Center to build a levee.
Police said the levee allowed the search crews to better access the spot in the river where potential remains were detected by trained canines.
"The human remains detection canine is still positively indicating that remains are in the area of the river we are searching in," said Assistant Chief Jeremiah Hunter. "We are still exploring additional options that could potentially help us move forward."
Throughout this process, divers have been using sonar technology to search the water.
Police did not immediately respond to an email Wednesday night asking if divers will continue to search the area or how the levee would be used in the future.
Mengqi Ji's husband Joseph Elledge reported her missing on Oct. 10. A grand jury indicted Elledge for first-degree murder in February. According to online court records, a hearing is scheduled for June 26.
