JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — A Jefferson County mother believes foul play is involved with her daughter's disappearance.
Emily Strite was declared missing April 20th and her remains were found Sept. 28.
"It's like God has blessed me with a beautiful family, it's unfortunate that this has happened," said Charlyn McClain.
Thursday afternoon, McClain looked at old scrapbooks filled with photos. It also filled her heart.
McClain is grateful for the memories: she holds the book near and dear, after a piece of their family puzzle is now missing.
"I'm not whole anymore, I haven't felt that way since she went missing," McClain said.
McClain's 33-year-old daughter Emily Strite disappeared in the De Soto area April 12. A missing person's case was filed on April 20. At the time, Emily was living with friends in a De Soto home.
McClain said there is surveillance footage of her daughter walking back and forth in front of the home. McClain spoke with her daughter that very morning.
"She was like, 'mom I'm going to see the kids today' and that was it," she added.
Emily, the mom of four, was last seen walking. "That wasn't unusual, she would usually walk down to the gas station and someone would pick her up," McClain explained.
What was unusual was the radio silence for five months to follow. "Not hearing from her on Mother's Day, that's one thing. She never missed Mother's Day," she shared.
Emily's daughter's birthday was May 7th and Emily's own birthday was May 30th. Also nothing.
A Facebook page called 'Help Find Emily Strite' was created and search teams went out to find her.
McClain also connected with the organization Texas EquuSearch, a nonprofit group helping with search and recovery in missing person cases. McClain called them a godsend.
It wasn't until the end of September when new information came out. On Sept. 28, deputies responded to a wooded area near the 4100 block of Frissell Road in De Soto for a report of human skeletal remains found by the property owner.
"I received a call from the detective who said, 'Charlyn, can you tell me where I can obtain Emily's dental records? We have found some skeletal remains in De Soto but we can’t confirm if it’s Emily or not'. I knew it was Emily, I just knew I could feel her around," McClain shared.
Emily's skeletal remains were found about a mile way on a piece of property. Days later, a match was made.
"I'm grateful that Emily has been found. I just want to know what happened, how did she die?" she added.
McClain's gut tells her that Emily loved her kids too much. "She wouldn't do that to them and she wouldn't wander to the woods by herself. I believe it's definitely foul play, she didn't just wonder off and die," McClain shared.
Memories bring comfort to McClain as she approaches dark, daunting days before her. She believes Emily will be her light to carry her through.
"I have a calmness and I know she's here with me, I hope for awhile I just feel her," McClain told 5 On Your Side.
A fundraiser is in the works to help with the case and help Emily's four children.
All updates will be shared on the Facebook group, which has now updated its name to 'JUSTICE FOR EMILY STRITE!' with more than 8,000 users on the page.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said the cause of death is undetermined and investigators are working to learn how her body ended up where it was found.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at 636-797-5515.