The remains of Emily Strite, a 34-year-old mother from Missouri, were found in a remote forest area, half a year after her mysterious disappearance. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office verified her identity using medical and dental records after a local resident discovered the remains on Frissell Road on September 28. The circumstances surrounding Strite’s death are still unclear, and the investigation into her disappearance and death continues, leaving her loved ones in a state of limbo.
Amanda Bauman, a lifelong friend of Strite, voiced her desire for justice and closure. Bauman described Strite as a lively individual who had the ability to brighten any room she entered. She said, “We pray now that we get answers and whoever hurt her is brought to justice.”
Strite, a mother to four children, was reportedly in a turbulent relationship with the father of her youngest child. She was last seen on April 12, departing a friend’s house on foot in the De Soto area, where she was temporarily living. Her mother reported her missing eight days after her last sighting.
Charlyn McCalin, Strite’s mother, last communicated with her daughter on the morning of April 12. Strite had intended to visit her three children in Illinois, where they reside with their father. However, a week later, the children’s father reached out to McCalin, expressing worry over not hearing from Strite and being uninformed about her plans to visit their children. This unusual communication led McCalin to file a missing person’s report the next day.
Despite the enigmatic circumstances of Strite’s disappearance and death, the police have not found any evidence of criminal activity. Consequently, there are no suspects or persons of interest in the case at this time. Bauman expressed her shock 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 encouraging anyone with information to step forward and contact them at 636-797-5515.