Missouri mom found dead 5 months after going missing

DE SOTO, Mo. (TCN) -- A 33-year-old missing woman's remains were found in a wooded area almost exactly five months after she disappeared.

Emily Strite's mother reported her missing to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on April 20 after she had not been seen or heard from since April 12. The sheriff's office said Strite last left a location in De Soto on foot and was "believed to have been leaving the area of her own free will."

NBC News reports Jefferson County Public Information Officer Grant Bissell said investigators viewed surveillance video that showed Strite at a Waffle House and she reportedly did "not appear to be in distress." Other videos, however, reportedly indicated a second person in a video with Strite, who "is more ambiguous and remains a part of the investigation."

On Sept. 28, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies received a call from a homeowner in De Soto who said they found apparent human remains on their property. The medical examiner's office used dental records to positively identify the victim as Strite. The sheriff's office said her "cause of death is undetermined, and investigators are working to learn how her body ended up where it was found."

According to KSDK-TV, Strite was the mother of four children who ranged in age from 4 to 17 years old.

Strite's sister, Jessica Strite, told KSDK, "She was bright, funny, and larger than life. She was loud, funny, huge bright smile, big mouth, and a volume to match."

She added, "We're not going to stop looking for answers. We're not going to stop looking for the truth and pursuing justice for my sister."