Tragic Incident Outside Florida Library
A distressed husband is alleged to have killed his wife and her suspected lover in the parking lot of a Florida library, subsequently vanishing into the ocean, which led to a multi-day search for him.
Jesse Scott Ellis, age 64, is accused of shooting his wife, Stacey Ellis Mason, and her colleague, Danny Woolley, 56, in Vero Beach on Tuesday. The couple had been married for 13 years.
Vero Beach police state that Mason and Woolley appear to have been involved in an extramarital affair.
Police reviewed security footage showing Mason and Woolley arriving separately at the library. After Mason left her vehicle, she was seen heading to Woolley’s residence.
Shortly after, Ellis arrived in the parking lot, armed with an AR-15-style rifle, and began firing at Woolley’s car, according to Police Chief David Currie.
Currie stressed that authorities believe the shooting was linked to personal issues and stated that Ellis was not a danger to the public.
“This was clearly a crime of passion,” he remarked, noting the long-standing affair and the anger of one husband towards another.
After the incident, it seems Ellis fled the scene and was spotted walking into the ocean at South Beach Park.
Onlookers who saw him enter the water became worried and called the police. Rescuers responded but left without further assistance after Ellis, who was later identified using a false name, voluntarily approached them.
Authorities suspect that Ellis may have drowned, and they continue their search for him by boat.
Reports indicate that Ellis and Mason’s marital relationship had been deteriorating prior to the tragic event, with plans for potential separation or divorce and selling their home.
One of Ellis’s daughters, Christy, expressed her devastation, stating tearfully that her family is no longer intact.
Contrarily, Woolley’s mother claimed that Woolley was not involved with Mason, stating they were merely at the library for work-related matters.
Police revealed that Ellis had received some sort of professional assistance, though details were not specified.
Authorities have charged Ellis with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, a serious allegation that could result in the death penalty if he is found alive. A press conference has been scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m.
