A Florida resident who reached out to law enforcement to offer details about a 1987 homicide was subsequently arrested and now faces a murder charge, investigators announced Thursday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrest of 70-year-old Gary Edward Glowacz on Wednesday. He is implicated in the killing of Melissa Ellison, who was 20 at the time of her death.
Unusual Confession Leads to Arrest
Authorities stated that Glowacz contacted the sheriff's office on Wednesday, indicating his desire to provide information regarding Ellison's unsolved death. Following an interview with detectives, an arrest warrant was secured for Glowacz.
He was then taken into custody at the Duval County Jail, where he faces charges of murder and burglary with battery.
Details of the 1987 Homicide
The original incident unfolded on December 28, 1987, when police responded to a residence on Colejean Road around 4:40 a.m. after receiving a report of a deceased individual.
Investigators discovered Ellison's body in her bed, displaying injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, as reported by law enforcement.
According to detectives, Ellison's roommates found her after hearing her toddler crying alone on the living room couch, prompting them to check on her.
Law Enforcement Commends Efforts
Officials have praised the arrest, noting it occurred almost four decades after the case initially went cold.
Television shows condition us to believe that homicide cases that are not solved within the first 48 hours will not be solved. That is patently false.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters remarked during a press conference. Sheriff Waters also added, "While his arrest cannot fill the enormous void left in the hearts of Melissa Ellison's loved ones, I hope that this arrest is another step in the healing process."
The sheriff's office extended gratitude to several organizations for their contributions to the investigation: First Coast Crime Stoppers, the State Attorney's Office, Project Cold Case, and the Clay County Sheriff's Office.