Skeletal Remains of Missing Missouri Mother Found

The skeletal remains of Emily Strite, a 34-year-old mother from Missouri, were discovered in a secluded woodland area, six months after her unexplained disappearance. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed her identity through medical and dental records after a homeowner on Frissell Road found the remains on September 28. The cause of Strite’s death remains undetermined, and the investigation into her disappearance and death is still ongoing, leaving her family and friends in a state of uncertainty.

Strite’s childhood friend, Amanda Bauman, expressed her hope for justice and closure. “We pray now that we get answers and whoever hurt her is brought to justice,” Bauman said. She remembered Strite as a vibrant personality who “literally lit up a room every chance that she got.”

Strite, a mother of four, was reportedly in an unstable 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 was temporarily residing. Her mother reported her missing eight days later.

Strite’s mother, Charlyn McCalin, last spoke to her daughter on the morning of April 12. Strite had plans to visit her three children in Illinois, where they live with their father. However, a week later, the children’s father contacted McCalin, expressing concern over not hearing from Strite and being unaware of her plans to visit their children. This unusual call prompted McCalin to file a missing person’s report the following day.

Despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding Strite’s disappearance and death, the police have found no evidence of foul play or a crime. As a result, there are currently no suspects or persons of interest in the case. Bauman expressed her disbelief at the situation, stating, “It shouldn’t have happened. She never deserved to just disappear in thin air.”

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau is urging anyone with information to come forward and contact them at 636-797-5515.