In the early morning hours of December 28, 1987, twenty-year-old Melissa “Missy” Ellison was murdered in her Jacksonville, Florida, home. No arrests have been made in the brutal slaying.
Missy’s daughter, Casie, only thirteen-months-old at the time, was probably in the room when her mom’s life was taken and likely saw her killer, but at such a young age, she could be of no help.
Missy’s mother died in 2019 without knowing who killed her daughter. Casie, now a mom herself, never had the chance to know her mom, but hopes she will one day know who killed her and why.
Missy Ellison With Baby Casie
After divorcing her husband Mark, Missy moved into a mobile home in Jacksonville. Money was tight and she was happy to have a friend and her boyfriend move in with her to lessen the bills.
Missy’s parents, Glenn and Kathy Taylor, owned the mobile home and lived in an adjacent unit. Kathy spoke to her daughter by phone at approximately 11:30 p.m. on the evening of December 27. Missy seemed worried about something but did not convey what was troubling her.
A Recent Divorcee
Between 2:30-3:30 a.m. on the morning of December 28, neighbors heard what sounded like several people arguing outside. Shortly before 4:00 a.m. Missy’s roommates frantically called 911 saying Missy was dead.
When police arrived at the home, they a found lifeless Missy in her bedroom. She had been beaten to death with an unusual instrument, found near the front door: a charred log from the fireplace.
Tire tracks found outside Missy’s trailer could not be matched to any vehicle.
Missy Found Murdered
Missy’s roommates told police they had awakened earlier that morning after hearing baby Casie crying; she was strangely on the living room couch. They fed her and when Casie fell asleep on the couch, they returned to bed.
The roommates say they were awakened approximately ten to fifteen minutes later by what sounded like a slamming door. When they investigated, they discovered Missy beaten to death in her bedroom.
The Roommates’ Claims
While searching Missy’s apartment, her sisters remembered two pictures of her that had been sitting on a table. Both of the pictures were of Missy at the beach and both were gone. If Missy were killed by an admirer who sought a relationship with her, such pictures would seem to be a likely trophy to be taken.
An ABC First Coast News article says newspaper articles shortly after the murder suggested the pictures may have been confiscated by crime scene investigators. For what purpose those specific photos would have been taken is unknown.
A Duplicate Of One Of The Missing Photos
Shortly after Missy’s murder, a man claiming to have killed her called a local newspaper, saying simply, “I’m sorry. . . . I had to do it.” He never called again and his identity was not determined.
Was The Caller Missy’s Killer?
Investigators believe Missy Ellison was murdered in a crime of passion by someone she knew. Mark Ellison was considered the prime suspect in his ex-wife’s murder. After being investigated, however, he was never charged in connection with the crime.
Mark Ellison With Baby Casie and Missy
Casie was raised by her dad and does not believe he murdered her mom. She is skeptical of her mom’s roommates’ account of the events.
Casie Today
Missy Ellison was murdered on December 28, 1987, in Jacksonville, Florida, when she was twenty-years-old. If you have any information about her murder, please call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. Glenn Warkentien is the Detective with the Sheriff’s Office in charge of the investigation into her murder.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to the identity of Missy’s killer. All information may be submitted anonymously.
Who Murdered Missy?
SOURCES:
- ABC First Coast News Jacksonville, FL. Katie Jeffries report
- Project Cold Case
- The Murder in My Family Podcast
Wow, this time of year must be so hard on Casie! Lifting her in prayer this Christmas, and always!