State says recordings, lies enough to prove murder in Elledge case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

Attorneys said Joseph Elledge's recorded arguments with his wife and his lies about her disappearance were enough to prove he intentionally killed her.

The attorney general's office filed its response to Elledge's appeal on Monday. Assistant attorney general Zeb Charlton said hours of recorded arguments between Elledge and his wife Mengqi Ji and the lies he told police, family and reporters about Ji's death were good enough to present a murder case, even if medical examiners could not determine a cause or manner of death.

Elledge appealed his 28-year prison sentence in September. His attorney, Jonathan Laurans, argued the state could not prove Elledge intentionally killed Ji because of how badly decomposed Ji's body was when authorities found it. Elledge said at trial that he pushed Ji during a fight at their apartment in October 2019 which caused her to hit her head on the ground. When he discovered Ji dead the next morning, he said he buried her body at Rock Bridge State Park. Authorities found Ji's body in March 2021 when a hiker discovered the remains.

Charlton referenced several similar cases argued in Missouri over the same issue, including one from the 19th century. Those judges said statements made by the accused were enough to present as evidence that the person had some criminal part in the victim's death. In Elledge's case, Charlton said the recordings proved his displeasure with their relationship.

"From this evidence, the jury could reasonably infer that [Elledge] decided it would be easier to kill [Ji] instead of divorcing her, and therefore intentionally killed her," Charlton said.

Former Boone County prosecutor Dan Knight argued that Elledge strangled Ji to death, possibly breaking her ribs in the process. The jury found Elledge guilty of second-degree murder following the two-week-long trial in 2021.

Laurans will have a chance to respond to the appeal.