HOW DNA FROM A JUNIPER TREE LED POLICE TO A KILLER

"48 Hours" Investigates in "The Tree That Helped Solve a Murder"

Juniper tree needles; Mengji Ji; Peter Van Sant

On Oct. 10, 2019, Joseph Elledge, then 23, reported his wife, Mengqi Ji, missing. Elledge told Columbia, Mo., police that he believed his wife may have left him and their 1-year-old daughter for another man with whom he said she had an online relationship. But when police searched the couple's apartment, they found a muddy pair of Elledge's boots - evidence that would become important months later, after Ji's remains were found buried under a juniper tree. Elledge's boots were found to have several juniper tree needles stuck to the soles. 48 HOURS correspondent Peter Van Sant reports on how DNA from those needles was linked to the tree directly above Ji's shallow grave, providing prosecutors with the evidence they needed to help convict Elledge of her murder. "The Tree That Helped Solve a Murder" will be broadcast Saturday, Dec. 10 (10:01-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.

"I've never heard of anything like this before in my entire career at 48 HOURS," says Van Sant.

48 HOURS: "The Tree That Helped Solve a Murder" is produced by Judy Rybak and Emily Wichick. Ryan N. Smith is the development producer. Shaheen Tokhi is the associate producer. Michael Loftus is the broadcast associate. Michael McHugh is producer/editor. Doreen Schechter, Michelle Harris and Phil Tangel are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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