Missouri Man Convicted in Wife’s Death Admits Child Abuse

Defendant Joseph Elledge testifies how he pushed his wife Mengqi Ji, during a shoving match before she fell and hit her head in Oct. 2019 during his murder trial in Columbia, Mo., on Nov. 10, 2021. Don Shrubshell/Columbia Daily Tribune via AP

COLUMBIA, Mo.—A Missouri man convicted of killing his wife, burying her body, and lying to authorities about her whereabouts pleaded guilty Tuesday to child abuse charges involving the couple’s young daughter.

Joseph Elledge had originally pleaded not guilty to child abuse, child endangerment and domestic assault, KMIZ-TV reported.