Nearly a month after a tragic double homicide shocked the Vero Beach community, local law enforcement continues an intensive manhunt. Vero Beach police are actively searching for 64-year-old Jesse Ellis in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred outside the Indian River County Main Library.
Key details regarding the ongoing Indian River County investigation include:
- Suspect: 64-year-old Jesse Ellis, currently at large.
- Charges: Two active counts of first-degree murder.
- Victims: Stacie Mason (the suspect’s wife) and Danny Ooley, both of whom were Indian River County Public Works employees.
- Incident Date: March 24.
According to investigators, the motive stems from a deeply personal dispute. Authorities revealed that the night before the fatal incident, Ellis discovered his wife and her colleague were having an affair after he hired a private investigator. Investigators also shed light on the suspect’s mental state leading up to the tragedy. Police recovered a note written in early March detailing his struggles with depression, alongside corroborating statements from friends and family indicating he harbored thoughts of self-harm.
In a startling revelation regarding the timeline of events, Ellis was actually spotted just an hour after the shooting. Indian River County Fire Rescue crews encountered him swimming approximately 900 yards offshore in the ocean. However, because crews were unaware he was a fleeing suspect in a fresh double homicide, Ellis was able to provide a false name, decline medical assistance, and evade capture as rescue personnel returned to shore.
This near-miss has prompted immediate procedural changes within the local emergency response network to ensure better communication across Indian River County agencies. Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey noted that he has since met with the fire department to enhance real-time intelligence sharing for high-profile cases.
We are putting in something county-wide into place for Fire Rescue, that they will receive some of the high priority type calls if there’s a bulletin or information.
While physical sightings have temporarily run cold and false leads have been exhausted, the police department remains highly confident in the strength of their case against Ellis. Chief Currey confirmed that the department’s investigation is fundamentally solid and that digital forensic follow-ups are actively underway to track the suspect’s movements.
Jesse Ellis remains at large. Local authorities are urging anyone within the Treasure Coast region or beyond who might have information regarding his whereabouts to immediately contact the Vero Beach Police Department.
