Manhunt continues for husband wanted for questions in Vero double slaying

Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey gives an update on the double homicide case. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

VERO BEACH — Law enforcement agents continue to search for the man suspected of fatally shooting his wife and her co-worker in a library parking lot after police said the pair – both Indian River County employees – were having an affair.

Police also identified the husband as the prime suspect. Officials said the husband fled in a truck to South Beach Park and was spotted by a witness entering the Atlantic Ocean a short time after the slayings on Tuesday.

“This was a targeted, marital issue that went terribly, terribly wrong,” said police Chief David Currey during a Wednesday news conference at the Vero Beach Police Department.

The husband – identified by police as 64-year-old Jesse Scott Ellis – has not yet been found. Ellis, who police described as a local electrician, was last seen by fire rescue crews a day before police released his name and photo during the news conference.

Danny Ooley PHOTO PROVIDED BY VERO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Vero Beach police and county officials identified the victims as 56-year-old Danny Ooley, assistant director of public works, and 49-year-old Stacie Ellis Mason, a traffic analyst technician.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were still scanning the waters and shorelines for any sign of Ellis on Wednesday, according to Currey. Ellis lived with Mason – his wife of 13 years – in southern Indian River County, while Ooley lived in Sebastian.

Police said Ellis and Mason were in the process of separating. The police chief said Mason and Ooley were seeing each other for a period of time, though it was unclear exactly how long.

Ooley was also married, according to the police chief. Currey said Ellis was upset and committed a “crime of passion.”

What happened

The Tuesday shooting occurred about 7 a.m. in the north parking lot of the Indian River County Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach. The fatal shootings, which happened not far from the downtown area, left many residents stunned.

“The library was a location where they had met before,” Currey said. “They met again there yesterday morning, and Ellis was aware of that.”

Police obtained the library’s surveillance footage. The footage, which has not yet been released to the media, showed Ooley drive a black Ford Ranger pickup truck into the library’s parking lot.

A short time later, Mason arrived in a black Volkswagen Atlas sport utility vehicle, Currey said.

Stacie Ellis Mason PHOTO PROVIDED BY VERO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Mason got out of her SUV, walked around to the passenger seat of Ooley’s truck and got inside.

Ellis, who police said parked his truck on a nearby street, approached the front driver’s side of the truck and fired multiple gunshots from an assault rifle-style weapon into the vehicle, striking Ooley. Ellis then walked to the passenger’s side and shot Mason.

Both Ooley and Mason were struck several times, police said. When Mason fell out of the vehicle, Ellis shot her again, Currey said.

Ellis left the gun behind at the library parking lot. Currey said Ellis then fled from the scene in his dark grey 2022 Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Search at South Beach Park

Police later learned that Ellis drove to South Beach Park. A witness saw Ellis go into the ocean in the area between South Beach Park and the Riomar Country Club, said Deputy Chief Matt Monaco.

The woman, who was walking by the beach area, dialed 911 at 7:58 a.m., according to Currey.

“She described a tall, older male that went into the ocean,” Currey said.

Indian River County Fire Rescue crews were dispatched about 8:30 a.m. to a welfare check on a man who entered the water wearing all of his clothes, police said. The man, who officials later identified as Ellis, swam about a quarter to a half-mile offshore, said Assistant Fire Chief Steve Greer.

“They weren’t sent there to look for a shooter,” Currey said. “It was a call for service. They had no knowledge of a connection to the suspect at that time.”

Currey said Ellis was wearing a pair of long shorts and a dark blue shirt when he went into the ocean.

Fire crews took a boat out to the man. Greer said the man, who gave fire crews a fake name, didn’t appear to be in distress and refused help.

“He said he was okay and that he does this often,” Greer said. “He became agitated. Fire rescue crews went back to shore.”

That was the last time fire rescue saw the man.

Jesse Scott Ellis PHOTO PROVIDED BY VERO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Meanwhile, Vero Beach police blocked off the library parking lot and combed the area for evidence. Officers said they found the firearm used in the shooting, along with several shell casings, at the scene.

The shooting happened directly across from First Baptist Church Preschool, which was closed at the time.

No sign of Ellis

Police found Ellis’ pickup about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday at South Beach Park. Officers used a drone to look inside and determined the truck was unoccupied.

Law enforcement used K-9 dogs, along with drones, to search for Ellis in the South Beach Park area, according to Currey.

Ellis’ truck was taken to the Vero Beach Police Department and placed into evidence.

“We have his vehicle and all the contents within it,” Currey said, while adding that police could not yet disclose what was found.

Fire rescue crews – learning of the truck’s connection to the homicide investigation – then notified police about the encounter earlier with the man who swam out in the ocean on Tuesday morning.  Officials determined the man was Ellis, according to Currey.

“After police searched the truck is when fire rescue notified us that the suspect may be the same person they searched for earlier,” Currey said.

Several law enforcement agencies, including the Vero Beach Police Department, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Indian River County Fire Rescue, Indian River Shores Public Safety Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, combed the waters and beaches to find Ellis.

Police searched Ellis’ home, where they found multiple firearms, along with other items of evidence including cell phones which were undergoing forensic analysis, Currey said. Currey said Ellis was an avid hunter.

Police also obtained search warrants for Ooley’s and Mason’s vehicles, along with Ellis’ truck.

The police chief said there was a significant amount of evidence still being processed. Currey said police were working to obtain surveillance footage near South Beach Park that could’ve shown Ellis enter the water.

It was unclear how long the search of the ocean and shorelines was expected to last.

Ooley was employed at the county’s public works department for nearly 25 years, officials said. Mason had worked for Indian River County since 2014, most recently serving as a traffic analyst technician.

Photos provided by Indian River County