As a young girl growing up in Missouri, Megan Jolly loved to read, dance and dress up. For her 20th birthday, she and her mother wore formal gowns to dinner on a cruise ship to Cozumel, Mexico.

She pursued an advanced degree in political science. Family said she became a cybersecurity expert and settled into a meticulously decorated home in Lake St. Louis.

This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project - St. Louis , a nonprofit news team covering Missouri’s criminal justice systems. Subscribe to their email list , and follow The Marshall Project on Instagram , Reddit and YouTube .

“She had great aspirations,” her mother, Sharyn Jolly, told The Marshall Project - St. Louis. “I don’t know what happened.”

Megan Jolly started racking up mental health wellness

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