Missouri man pleads guilty to killing woman, putting her in suitcase
A Missouri man pleaded guilty, in federal court on Friday, to kidnapping resulting in death in relation to the 2019 death of a Noel, Missouri, woman.
Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 43, signed a plea agreement Friday pleading guilty to the 2019 death of 25-year-old Jessica McCormack, according to a press release from Executive Assistant United States Attorney Dave Ketchmark.
Mahamed, a Somali national living legally in Missouri at the time of the incident, faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison without parole, according to the plea agreement.
McCormack’s decomposed body was found in a pink suitcase near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Missouri, and Noel, Missouri, on July 29, 2019, according to the plea agreement.
McCormack’s blood was found on various items located in a car used by herself and Mahamed, the plea agreement stated. A cashier at a Noel African store confirmed Mahamed purchased a pink suitcase from the store sometime prior to the discovery of McCormack’s body.
McCormack had last been seen on July 16, 2019, after calling 911, reporting that Mahamed had held the woman at knifepoint outside their residence, attempting to force her to have sex with him, according to the plea agreement.
During the incident, McCormack told officers Mahamed had multiple knives in the apartment, the plea agreement said.
Two women attempted to locate McCormack on July 16 and 17, according to the plea agreement. One of the women called McDonald County dispatchers on July 17, reporting she had been unable to contact the woman since the day before.
On July 28 or July 29, Mahamed’s cousin received a phone call from the man telling her he was bringing McCormack’s three children to her in Minnesota, according to the plea agreement.
When Mahamed’s cousin asked why he was bringing the children, he told her “something bad had happened and he could be in trouble,” according to the plea agreement.
On Aug. 8, 2019, the children were recovered from a residence in Des Moines, Iowa, the plea agreement said.
A woman at the residence said she discovered a note from Mahamed around 4 a.m., claiming he could not take care of the children, according to the plea agreement.
A woman who had been staying in McCormack’s residence after her disappearance allegedly informed officers Mohamed had told her McCormack left with the kids, and he did not know her whereabouts.
Mohamed told the woman she could stay in the residence, and she saw him “every day” from July 18 to July 29, 2019, according to the plea agreement.
The woman’s statement was allegedly corroborated by Facebook messages between the two. After McCormack’s body was located, the woman began to ask Mahamed where the children were.
Mahamed sent the woman a voice message through Facebook Messenger claiming that he was “trying to find them all,” according to the plea agreement. He told the woman that police didn’t know where the children were, and that they believed “the lady in the suitcase” was McCormack.
In the voice message, McCormack said he hoped the kids and his wife were “good,” and that they were safe.
“And I’m trying to, trying to find them. Please keep trying to find her,” McCormack said in the voice message.
During that time, Mahamed also messaged McCormack’s account, asking the woman to let him know she was OK, according to the plea agreement.
Soon after, Mahamed left the United States and began living in Guatemala. On July 27, 2021, the Guatemalan government expelled Mahamed from the country.
A sentencing hearing is not yet set for Mohamed’s case.
According to McCormack’s obituary, the woman had a love for horses and wildlife and enjoyed taking pictures and spending time with her family.
This story was originally published August 22, 2025 at 4:58 PM.
