Elledge photo Boone Co.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man suspected in the disappearance of his wife has pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and child abuse.
Joseph Elledge has been behind bars on a $500,000 cash-only bond since Oct. 25.
Prosecutors have called him the prime suspect in the disappearance of his 28-year-old wife, Mengqi Ji Elledge, who has been missing since Oct. 8. He has not been charged in his wife’s disappearance.
The couple have a 1-year-old daughter.
Police say they identified the child abuse incident while they were investigating him in relation to his wife’s disappearance.