Chinese woman Mengqi Ji Elledge’s ‘jealous psychopath’ husband is ‘prime suspect’ in her disappearance, US prosecutor says
- ‘I know you want me to hit you,’ Joseph Elledge can be heard saying in recordings played in court
- Husband is in custody over child abuse charge involving their one-year-old daughter, and is not allowed any contact with the girl
A prosecutor said a University of Missouri student is the “prime suspect” in the disappearance of his Chinese wife, and he played audio in court of the young husband saying he wanted a divorce “the sooner the better”.
Joseph Elledge is a “jealous, controlling, manipulative psychopath,” Boone County Chief Prosecutor Dan Knight said during a hearing on Wednesday in which he argued that Elledge should remain in jail on his current US$500,000 bond on a child abuse charge, the Columbia Missourian reported. The judge did not rule on the bond matter at the hearing.
Elledge has not been charged in the disappearance of his 28-year-old wife of two years, Mengqi Ji Elledge, who was reported missing four weeks ago and with whom he shares a one-year-old daughter.
But Knight described him as the prime suspect in her disappearance and he played four audio recordings of the couple arguing.
In the recordings, Joseph Elledge can be heard saying “I don’t like being with you,” ‘’I’m eager to end it” and “I will bury the earth under you”.
Mengqi Ji Elledge can also be heard arguing with her husband, who raised his voice several times. At one point, he told her, “I know you want me to hit you,” and, “This, it’s not abusive.”