Vero Beach Double Homicide Suspect Evades Manhunt After Ocean Swim, Fire Rescue Encounter

VERO BEACH — A 64-year-old man wanted for the execution-style killing of two Indian River County employees outside a public library remained at large Friday after a brazen escape that included an ocean swim of nearly 900 yards, an unwitting encounter with county fire rescue crews, and a disappearance that has left law enforcement with few leads and the public on edge.

Jesse Scott Ellis faces two warrants for first-degree murder in the deaths of Danny Ooley and Stacie Ellis Mason, both employees of Indian River County Public Works. Police say Ellis shot the pair inside a Ford Ranger pickup truck in the parking lot of a Vero Beach library at approximately 7 a.m. Tuesday, firing an AR-15 and leaving 21 shell casings at the scene. The weapon was recovered at the location.

"He executed those two individuals," Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey said at a Friday news conference.

Investigators describe the killings as a crime of passion. Ellis and Mason had been married 13 years and were planning to separate or divorce. Ooley and Mason had been in a relationship for a short period of time, police said.

After the shooting, Ellis drove to nearby South Beach Park, entered the ocean before 8 a.m. and swam roughly 900 yards offshore. What happened next is among the most troubling details of the case.

Indian River County Fire Rescue crews, responding to a distress call in the Riomar Country Club area, deployed a boat and made contact with Ellis in the water around 8:30 a.m. — not knowing who he was. Ellis told rescuers he was a deep-water swimmer who had a cramp but was fine and wanted to be left alone. Crews did not bring him ashore.

Surveillance footage released Friday shows a man matching Ellis's description walking south on the beach at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday. Currey said friends and family confirmed the identification. Ellis's truck, recovered from South Beach Park at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, contained wet and sandy clothing, a journal describing his emotional anguish over the separation — including that he "couldn't sleep, couldn't eat" and "wanted to crawl up in a hole" — and his phone, left with the PIN number on a Post-it note.

Ellis left behind his driver's license, passport, wallet, and credit cards. His gun locker at home was found open. Currey said Ellis "has no resources" and has been flagged with Homeland Security at all airports.

Despite those apparent disadvantages, Ellis has not been located. Police believe people on the beach may have unwittingly assisted him ashore after he complained of a cramp.

Released 911 calls from Tuesday captured callers reporting the sounds of gunfire near the library According to available information,.

Currey urged the public Friday to "remain vigilant."

"We're following up on any lead, even as small as it may be," he said.

WHAT TO DO: Anyone with information on Jesse Scott Ellis's whereabouts should call the Vero Beach Police Department immediately at 772-978-4600. To remain anonymous and potentially earn a cash reward, contact Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-8477. Do not approach Ellis — police consider him armed and dangerous. Indian River County Emergency Management can be reached at 772-226-4000. Residents in coastal areas near Vero Beach and along the barrier island should report any suspicious activity to 911.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.