“Plants have DNA just like people?” 48 hours asked Edwards.
“Absolutely,” she answered, “Every living organism in the planet has DNA.”
Linan, climbed several juniper trees surrounding Meng Ji’s grave. He meticulously numbered each tree and took samples. “This involved a ladder and a 10, 15-foot-long pole pruner so that we could make sure that the needles that we were getting came from the exact tree.”
Edwards compared the juniper needles to those found on the muddy boots. And it was a match.
The tree DNA proved that the woman was buried by her husband while he wore the boots.
Trial notes
When confronted with the unique DNA evidence Elledge confessed to burying his wife and misleading authorities about her disappearance. And claimed that it was an accident. She had both right and left broken ribs and a fatal head injury.
In December 2022 a jury found Elledge guilty of second-degree murder. And he was acquitted of murder in the first-degree murder charge which carried the death penalty.
