Florida man arrested in 1987 cold case after contacting police about the case

A Florida man who contacted authorities claiming he had information about a 1987 killing was arrested on murder and burglary charges, police said Thursday.

Gary Glowacz, 70, was taken into custody Wednesday by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in connection with the death of 20-year-old Melissa Ellison. Authorities said Glowacz contacted the sheriff’s office that day, expressing a desire to provide information about her death.

After speaking with Glowacz, detectives obtained an arrest warrant and booked him into the Duval County Jail. Officials confirmed he faces charges of murder and burglary with battery. The arrest comes nearly 36 years after the case went cold.

Ellison’s body was discovered on Dec. 28, 1987, at her home on Colejean Road. She was found in her bed with injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. Police responded to the scene after her roommates reported hearing her toddler crying in the living room.

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters expressed hope that the arrest would bring closure to Ellison’s loved ones. He also emphasized that cold cases can be solved long after the initial investigation, citing the case as an example of perseverance. The sheriff’s office credited First Coast Crime Stoppers, the State Attorney’s Office, Project Cold Case, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case.

Source: Original Article