MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — New details were revealed one week after a St. Charles woman disappeared.
In a press conference, Maryland Heights Police Chief Bill Carson said Jacquelyn "Jacque" Elizabeth Mitchell was found dead inside an apartment Monday night. A suspect, Joseph John Dejoie, was charged with murder and multiple other crimes on Tuesday.
Carson said the Maryland Heights Police Department started working with the St. Charles Police Department on the case after Mitchell’s car was found at an apartment complex in Maryland Heights on Sunday.
Just 24 hours prior of the press conference, Mitchell's loved ones spoke to 5 On Your Side, begging for more answers and clues.
Her family said Mitchell lived with her mom in St. Charles and also at times with her dad in Bridgeton. Her sister Stephanie Babcock knew something was wrong.
"She would never not come home, this is not her character," she said.
The family said last Tuesday, Mitchell left work in Sunset Hills and went to the nearby Maggie O'Brien's.
"We have confirmation that she left Maggie O's at 11:25 p.m. Past midnight, we don't know where she went when her phone turned off because the next day her mom called her and it went to voicemail," Babcock added.
Babcock said surveillance showed Mitchell leaving alone and entering her car.
During the investigation, Carson said investigators were provided video of a man driving Mitchell’s car. After identifying him and obtaining a search warrant for his apartment, investigators found Mitchell’s body inside Monday night.
Carson said investigators believe Mitchell had been dead for six days when she was found.
During the press conference, an investigator with the St. Charles Police Department said Mitchell and the suspect knew each other socially and they "hung out in the same areas." Carson said Mitchell went to the suspect's apartment after leaving Maggie O'Brien’s on March 14.
Charging documents show phone records tracked the two texting on March 14.
It also explained those texts showed Mitchell arrived to the suspect’s home around midnight.
According to charging documents, police asked Dejoie if he was responsible for her death, he said he was. He told police he wiped down Mitchell's body and car after she died in an attempt to conceal evidence.
An autopsy was performed on Mitchell's body, and Carson said they are still waiting for toxicology results.
Dejoie was charged with second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and abandonment of a corpse. He is being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center on a $1 million, cash-only bond.
Babcock told 5 On Your Side that Mitchell called her mom at 11 PM on March 14, but her mom missed the call.
Babcock believes Mitchell was calling to tell her mom she was getting ready to leave.
Mitchell talks to her parents every single day, which was a red flag when their parents didn't hear from her, Babcock told 5 On Your Side.
She also said Mitchell never came home and missed work.
"She is constantly on her phone, and she would never miss work, she loves that job," Babcock shared.
A flock camera picked up her license plate in Overland Wednesday night at 7:40 p.m. Mitchell's phone was last pinged at Route 364 and Bennington.
Over the weekend, her loved ones searched the area and found her car at Whisper Hollow Apartments in Maryland Heights on Sunday, which is right nearby where Dejoie lives.
“The Jacque I knew was very sweet and outgoing. She liked to have fun and she liked to make people happy,” said Sarah Mullins.
Mullins says she and Jacquelyn “Jacque” Mitchell were friends 13 years ago.
“I remember our days out on Main Street together. We had lots of fun,” said Mullins.
“I’m just thinking about her right now and thinking about all the people who cared for her,” Mullins said.
Loved ones are hoping to help the family with the unexpected funeral expenses.
Babcock confirms to 5 On Your Side there is no GoFundMe right now, but they are accepting donations through CashApp and Venmo.
Here are the handles below:
- CashApp - $stephkay316
- Venmo - @steph_kay3