In July 2019, motorists traveling along a highway between Lanagan and Noel, Missouri, made a shocking discovery: a pink suitcase abandoned on the roadside with decomposed human legs protruding. Authorities later identified the remains as belonging to 23-year-old Jessica McCormack, who had been reported missing just days earlier. Investigators quickly linked the suitcase to McCormack’s boyfriend, Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, who had purchased a similar suitcase days before her disappearance.
Kidnapping, Disappearance, and Missing Children
McCormack vanished on July 19, 2019, after telling police she feared Mahamed, alleging he had threatened her at knifepoint and attempted to sexually assault her. The following day, both McCormack and her three daughters, aged 4 years, 2 years, and 6 months, were reported missing. Days later, Mahamed allegedly called his cousin in Iowa, telling her he was bringing the children because “something bad had happened and he could be in trouble.” The children were eventually found at the cousin’s home on August 8, 2019, but their mother’s body had already been discovered weeks earlier.
International Flight and Return to the U.S.
Following McCormack’s death, Mahamed fled the country. Authorities later confirmed he traveled to Guatemala, where officials expelled him and returned him to the United States. He was subsequently indicted on multiple charges, including kidnapping resulting in death, stalking resulting in death, and kidnapping a minor.
Guilty Plea Years Later
This week, federal prosecutors announced that Mahamed has pleaded guilty to kidnapping resulting in death. While other charges remain under review, his plea carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Authorities have not clarified whether Mahamed admitted responsibility for the stalking and child-related charges also tied to the case.
A Case That Haunted a Community
Jessica McCormack’s killing left a lasting impact on her Missouri community. The chilling detail of her body left in a suitcase shocked residents, while the disappearance of her three young children intensified the case’s urgency. With Mahamed’s guilty plea, federal prosecutors say they have secured a measure of justice for McCormack, though questions still linger about the events leading to her death.
