Skeletal remains of missing mother found

JEFFERSON COUNTY, MO – The discovery of skeletal remains in a remote woodland area has brought a chilling conclusion to the six-month search for Emily Strite, a 34-year-old mother from Missouri. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed her identity through medical and dental records after a local resident stumbled upon the remains on September 28. Despite this grim development, the cause of Strite’s death remains a mystery, and the investigation into her disappearance continues, leaving her loved ones in a state of distress.

Emily Strite vanished under perplexing circumstances, leaving her family and friends desperate for answers. Her childhood friend, Amanda Bauman, voiced her hope for justice, expressing a deep longing for closure. Bauman remembers Strite as a lively individual, saying she had a unique ability to “light up a room.”

Strite was a mother of four and reportedly in a tumultuous relationship with the father of her youngest child. She was last seen on April 12, leaving a friend’s house on foot in the De Soto area, where she had been staying temporarily. Her mother, Charlyn McCalin, reported her missing eight days later, after a week of silence from her daughter.

McCalin last communicated with Strite on the morning of April 12, when her daughter shared plans to visit her three children in Illinois, who live with their father. Concern arose a week later when the children’s father contacted McCalin, worried about not hearing from Strite and unaware of any plans she had to visit. This prompted McCalin to file a missing person’s report the following day.

The circumstances of Strite’s disappearance and subsequent death are shrouded in mystery. Law enforcement has found no evidence of foul play, leaving the case without suspects or persons of interest. Bauman expressed disbelief at the situation, lamenting the senselessness of Strite’s disappearance.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau continues to seek information from the public. They urge anyone with knowledge of Strite’s movements or circumstances around her disappearance to reach out at 636-797-5515.

As the investigation progresses, Strite’s family and friends remain hopeful for answers that might bring them peace. The void left by her absence is a stark reminder of the uncertainty that still surrounds her case.

The community, meanwhile, is left grappling with the tragic loss and the questions that remain unanswered. Strite’s story is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring quest for justice.