Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey said from the start, police investigators believed double homicide suspect Jesse Ellis died by suicide.
But there was the possibility he was still at large.
“You’ve got to work both ends of that,” Currey told TCPalm June 4. “You’ve got to make sure you stay on top of things in that regard.”
Ellis, 64, was accused of fatally shooting his wife, Stacie Mason, 49, and Danny Ooley, 56, both veteran Indian River County employees, on the morning of March 24 as both were in Ooley’s pickup in a parking lot near the Indian River County Main Library. Ooley also was married.
Currey said since Ellis went missing March 24 until his body was found May 27, there was a significant amount of law enforcement activity and presence looking for him or his body.
The case remained prominent on the agency’s Facebook page, and investigators thoroughly examined all evidence.
“Without Mr. Ellis himself, again, you still have to be open to him possibly being at large,” Currey said.
Investigators recovered a .223-caliber, AR-15 type rifle believed to have been used and about 21 cartridge casings in the library parking lot.
Currey has said officers found Ellis’ pickup about 12:45 p.m. March 24 at South Beach Park on the barrier island, several hours after the shooting.
A number of documents turned up “that were indicative of his intention to harm himself or end his life,” he said.
And, he said, information from family and friends indicated Ellis would take his own life.
“We felt that and agreed with family members and close friends that that was probably what took place,” Currey said. “But at the time, again, we did not have Mr. Ellis.”
After Ellis’ truck was found, Currey said, an officer spoke to rescue personnel and learned Ellis may have been the man rescue crews encountered hours earlier about ¼ to ½ mile in the ocean.
That person told rescue officials he was a deep-water swimmer and didn’t want assistance. Officials believe the man may have returned to shore with the help of some people and walked south.
Ultimately, a decomposed body found May 27 on a vegetated lot off Cove Drive in the Riomar Bay neighborhood on Orchid Island was determined to be Ellis. Evidence “consistent with an apparent hanging” was found.
“Based on the circumstances and evidence observed at the scene, investigators believe Ellis died by suicide shortly after the March 24 homicide incident,” Currey has said.
The last actual sighting of Ellis was about 11:10 a.m. March 24 in the Riomar area as he walked south, Currey said.
He said during their two-month search, investigators had obtained murder warrants for Ellis, which were entered in state and national databases.
“We heard absolutely nothing,” Currey said. “It was more quiet than you would expect if somebody was at large.”
Law enforcement searched areas all around South Beach Park; all evidence thoroughly was examined.
Still, some online comments criticized police efforts.
Currey said he wasn’t interested in countering those.
“People generally make comments when they’re misinformed and aren’t educated in what’s going on, and they have the right to do that,” Currey said. “But we certainly don’t pay attention to that. I know I don’t.”
He said given the circumstances, police did all they could, which he said is appropriate.
“We should do all we can and again, assistance from other agencies, whatever the resources are, whatever we can do, that’s what we do,” Currey said. “It just took some time to locate him.”
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida chief said police did all they could to find slaying suspect
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
