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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">April 29, 2020</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Brittany Hilderbrand
<br />Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.817.5049
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov
<br />
<br />Jeff Pitts
<br />Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.817.5049
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Police release Community Briefing video on the continued search for missing Columbia Woman, Mengqi Ji</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In collaboration with local and state partners, the Columbia Police Department has determined that the next step in the search for Mengqi Ji is to build a levee at the Lamine River. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Once we have ensured all approvals are in place, we will attempt to locate Mengqi Ji," Chief Geoff Jones said. "This could start as early as next week."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mengqi Ji was a 28-year-old woman who was reported missing by her husband, Joseph Elledge, on Oct. 10, 2019. After an extensive five-month investigation, Mr. Elledge was indicted for first-degree murder by the Boone County grand jury on Feb. 28, 2020. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We have a professional, ethical and moral obligation to find Mengqi Ji. She can no longer speak for herself, and there is a man charged with murder, so our efforts will have a profound impact on the lives of many," Jones said. "We have to do this right. Our combined resources will give us the best chance to bring her home."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In our continuous efforts to be transparent, CPD has produced a Community Briefing video providing a brief update and overview of the details involved with constructing a levee at the Lamine River and how this plan will allow us to move forward with our investigation. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">We appreciate the assistance of law enforcement and community partners throughout this investigation.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">If anyone has any additional information, they are encouraged to contact the Columbia Police Department or call CrimeStoppers at 875-TIPS. Further information can be found in the probable cause statement, which can be obtained through the Boone County Circuit Clerk. Columbia Police will refer all future inquiries to the Boone
County Prosecutor’s Office, as there are no further details that can be released by CPD.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Case number: 2019-010707</strong></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Previous press release(s):</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6615"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia Police release Community Briefing video on the missing Columbia woman, Mengqi Ji Elledge</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6473">UPDATE: Search for missing Columbia woman, Menigqi Ji Elledge</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6455&tbiframe=1">The Columbia Police Department is asking for help from hunters and rural landowners in missing person case</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6421">UPDATE: Columbia Police begin a criminal investigation into the disappearance of Mengqi Ji Elledge</a></span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6401"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia Police asking for public's help locating Mengqi Ji Elledge</span></a></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Link to Community Briefing Video:</span></p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/bj-9iLdOi1o"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://youtu.be/bj-9iLdOi1o</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p></div>
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