A Jacksonville family remains on a relentless quest for justice nearly four decades after the tragic loss of their beloved Melissa Ellison. Known to many as Missy Taylor, Melissa was just 20 years old when her life was abruptly taken on December 28, 1987.
The shocking incident unfolded in the early morning hours inside her home located at the Taylor trailer park on Coljean Ct., along Normandy Blvd. During a recent press conference, Chase Robinson, Executive Director of First Coast Crime Stoppers, recounted the grim details of that fateful night, emphasizing the need for community assistance in solving this long-standing mystery.
Ellison was found brutally beaten to death, the weapon being a charred log from her own fireplace. The scene was made even more haunting by the presence of her 13-month-old daughter, who was discovered unharmed on the couch.
In a poignant detail, it was revealed that Ellison had reached out to her mother in a phone call at 11:30 p.m. that night, expressing fear but hesitating to disclose the reason. Hours later, her life was cut short in the very place she called home.
Robinson stressed the importance of revisiting the past, urging those familiar with the area to recall their memories from 1987 and the subsequent years. “It’s crucial to remember that the places you frequent today might have been quite different back then. We want people to reminisce about their whereabouts during that time, as the Taylor trailer park remained until the early 2000s,” he explained.
In a bid to finally bring closure to this heart-wrenching case, law enforcement has offered a reward for any information leading to an arrest. The hope is that someone, somewhere, holds the key to unlocking the truth behind Melissa Ellison’s untimely death, and can help bring peace to a family that has waited far too long for answers.
Cold Case Detective Travis Oliver Sr. said they have been trying to solve the case as if it happened now with the most up-to-date technology. He believes someone knows something about Ellison’s death.
“We had people present when this happened, and we have witnesses that we know have information and that information that they’re withholding from us is hindering us giving justice for the family in this case. We know that there are things now, people go through lifestyle changes, they go through changes in their life and they’re in a different position now than they were in 1987,” Oliver said.
Ellison’s family have not given up. Her sister Glenda Blandford said this case continues to take a toll on their family.
“The thoughts and the images of someone coming into her home to deliberately hurt her has been unimaginable for my family. It has eaten us alive. My message today is not just for her killers, but all those involved in covering it up, all those involved in not speaking up,” Ellison said.
Ellison’s daughter, Casey, made an emotional plea to anyone who might know something about her mother’s death.
“Someone has lived with this knowledge for nearly four decades. And someone listening to this right now knows that this is about them. We are not asking for judgment. We are not asking for speculation. We are not asking for stories. We are asking for information. The smallest detail can matter. A name, a car, a place, a conversation. A rumor you may have dismissed. A memory you might have thought was irrelevant. This case does not need belief. It needs evidence,” Casey said.
If anyone has any information, contact Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. People can also submit a tip online or through the Crime Stoppers app. It is completely anonymous. A $5,000 reward is also being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest.
