Woman's 'Decomposed' Legs Were Found Sticking Out of Pink Suitcase on Highway — Her Ex Just Admitted to Kidnapping Her By Samira Asma-Sadeque

A Missouri man has pleaded guilty to kidnapping his girlfriend, resulting in her death, years after he allegedly disappeared with her three children and her decomposing body was found on a highway.

Jessica McCormack’s body was found with her legs sticking out of a pink suitcase on a highway between Lanagan, Mo., and Noel, Mo., in July 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri said at the time.

Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, who was identified by a local store owner as the person who bought a pink suitcase days prior, has now pleaded guilty to kidnapping resulting in death, the Attorney’s Office said in a statement this week.

Mahamed also allegedly disappeared with McCormack’s three daughters — aged 4 years old, 2 years old, and 6 months old — before the children were rescued from his cousin’s home in Iowa days later, authorities said at the time.

McCormack was last seen on July 19, 2019, when she told officers responding to a 911 call that Mahamed had held her at knife point and attempted to forcefully engage in sexual activity with her, per the Attorney’s Office.

She repeatedly expressed fear to the operator that Mahamed would harm her, officials said.

McCormack, along with her three children, were reported missing the following day.

Days later, around July 28 or 29, officials allege, Mahamed called his cousin to tell her he was bringing McCormack’s daughters to her because “something bad had happened and he could be in trouble.”

The missing children’s mother was found, her body “severely decomposed,” on July 29.

The children were rescued days later on Aug. 8, 2019, after Mahamed left his cousin’s home and fled the country, per authorities.

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Mahamed, a permanent U.S. resident from Somalia, returned to the U.S. after being expelled from Guatemala, and was indicted last year.

In addition to being charged with kidnapping resulting in death, Mahamed was also indicted at the time on charges of stalking resulting in death and kidnapping a minor, per the Attorney’s Office.

It wasn’t immediately clear if he is still facing those accusations or what pleas were entered regarding those charges.

He faces life in prison without parole.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.