Police in Missouri are searching for a young mother who vanished without a trace last week.
KRCG reports that Mungqi Ji Elledge, 28, was last seen at her home in Columbia on October 8, when she went to bed at around 11:30 p.m. According to a Columbia Police news release, Mungqi’s husband Joe Elledge told police that his wife was gone the next morning when he woke up at about 5 a.m. He reported her missing later that evening.
From the news release:
“Mengqi is a Chinese female with brown eyes and black shoulder-length hair that she typically wears in a bun. She is approximately 5’1″- 5’3″ and weighs approximately 105 pounds. She has both ears pierced but typically does not wear earrings.”
According to the Kansas City Star, Mungqi, who is from China, left her passport, phone, and iPad behind and did not appear to take any clothes. Her purse was not left behind.
Mungqi reportedly has relatives in the Kansas City area, and KRCG reports that her parents have traveled to Columbia following their daughter’s disappearance.
The missing woman is reportedly the mother of an infant daughter named Anna. According to KRCG, her husband said he did not immediately report his wife missing because he believed she may have been out running errands. Joe Elledge also said that he and Mungqi had grown apart in the last few months.
“I know she was talking to someone else on the side,” he said, adding that his wife has been a consistently devoted mother.
“She’s been a great mom like the best mom ever,” the husband told the news station. “Sometimes when I take care of Anna by myself it’s hard, it’s really kind of stressful and exhausting. Anna needs her mom.”
Joe Elledge said he does not have any idea where his wife has gone.
“I don’t know where she’s been I hope she’s safe,” he said.
“I can try and be a better husband. I don’t know if I didn’t talk enough to her and give her enough hugs or what but I’ll give her 10 times as much as I did before.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Columbia Police Department at 573-874-7652 or call 911.
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