Missouri man convicted of killing wife and hiding body pleads guilty to child abuse

COLUMBIA, Mo. (TCD) -- A 26-year-old man convicted of killing his wife and burying her body pleaded guilty this week to child abuse and other charges.

KRCG-TV reports Joseph Elledge entered the plea Tuesday, Feb. 22, of abuse of a child, first-degree endangerment of a child, and third-degree domestic assault. A Boone County judge sentenced Elledge to 10 years in prison for the charges. KMIZ-TV reports Elledge initially pleaded not guilty in March 2020. A grand jury said in the indictment Elledge caused "a child less than 18-year-old, to suffer physical injury as a result of abuse by grabbing or striking the child," according to KMIZ.

Elledge was convicted in November of killing his 28-year-old wife Mengqi Ji and was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge.

According to Columbia Police, Elledge reported his wife missing on Oct. 10, 2019. The search lasted for months until her remains were eventually found at Rock Bridge State Park. Officials had to use dental records to identify her. According to The Associated Press, prosecutors argued during Elledge’s murder trial that he hid his wife in the trunk, and then drove with his daughter to the state park where he buried her.

In their statement, Columbia Police said investigators "located evidence of child abuse" and took Elledge into custody. Elledge was indicted for murder in February 2020.

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