KSHB 41 In-Depth reporter Alyssa Jackson covers Kansas City, Missouri. She's been following the murder investigation of Elayjah Murray. Share your story idea with Alyssa.
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Police are still searching for a person of interest in the murder investigation of a Missouri State University freshman.
Eric Phillips II was identified as a person of interest by the Independence Police Department for the murder of 18-year-old Elayjah Murray.
Murray was visiting home from college over the Thanksgiving break.
She went out with friends Thanksgiving night and never returned home.
Police confirmed Murray was shot and killed. They found her remains in South Kansas City on Nov. 29.
KSHB 41 In-Depth reporter Alyssa Jackson confirmed through an open records request that Phillips was an assistant wrestling coach at Raytown South High School.
He was hired in November 2023 and resigned from the position on April 17, 2025.
For nearly two weeks, police have been trying to locate Phillips for questioning.
KSHB 41 requested additional information from IPD regarding Phillips' status as a person of interest and efforts from law enforcement in the investigation.
We are waiting for a response.
'She’s watching over us': Elayjah Murray's former volleyball teammate
Elayjah Murray's friends, current classmates and former classmates have been celebrating her life.
Missouri State students held a balloon release on campus last weekend.
Her alma mater, William Chrisman High School, is planning a balloon release on Wednesday.
KSHB 41's Alyssa Jackson has been asking around about the MO State freshman since her passing. Everyone mentioned her TikTok videos and impromptu dances.
If they didn't have the words to describe her in the moment, they all had a video.
Ava Atagi played on the volleyball team with Lay and they spent a lot of time together outside of practice.
"Someone like Lay, you're never going to meet again in life," Atagi said. "You get a good kill, she’s carrying our celebrations — there pushing you, cheering you on."
Lay's energy and personality motivated her friend to be better.
"On the court, I’d try to match that energy. I wanna be like Lay and uplift people when they do something good. I want to be looked at in that way — being happy all the time."
Bailey Foster was another one of Lay's volleyball teammates. They were close friends.
"Seeing Lay always in a good mood and happy — it just kinda made me realize when we're playing there's nothing else to worry about," Foster said.
Lay was able to spend far more time with her William Chrisman classmates than she was able to spend with her classmates at Missouri State.
She didn't get to finish one full semester at Missouri State before she was killed.
"When I saw it, my heart froze," Foster said. "It took a piece out of me that someone would do that — I ran to my mom and said, 'Please don’t be real, please don’t be real.'"
People will tell you that Lay brought life to every room.
She always had a smile and an infectious laugh.
KSHB 41 Reporter Alyssa Jackson asked her teammates what Lay would say if she saw them sad about her death.
Atagi said she would respond in her "grandma voice:" "Baby, sweetheart, what are you doing? Cheer up...in that voice, just like that."
Murray's funeral services are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 19, at The Historic St. Paul AME Church. Visitation starts at 2 p.m. The funeral service begins at 3 p.m.
The family created a fundraiser to help with expenses.
If you have any information that would help the investigation or know the whereabouts of Eric Phillips II, contact Independence Police Detective Winans at 816-325-7347 or WWinans@indepmo.org.
If you want to remain anonymous, send a tip to the Greater KC Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477 (TIPS).
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