Florida Man Fatally Shoots Estranged Wife and Alleged Lover in Library Parking Lot, Then Disappears Into Ocean ‘Fully Clothed’

A Florida man has been accused of killing his estranged wife and her co-worker at a library parking lot before fleeing into the ocean, where he was last seen fully clothed, authorities said.

A 64-year-old Florida man is accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife and her co-worker in a library parking lot and then fleeing the scene by entering the ocean, where he remains missing, authorities said. Police described the incident as a “targeted marital issue” stemming from a possible affair.

The suspect, identified as Jesse Scott Ellis, allegedly fatally shot his wife, 49-year-old Stacie Ellis Mason, and her co-worker 56-year-old Danny Ooley, on March 24 at the Indian River County Main Library in Vero Beach.

Ooley was an assistant director of public works for Indian River County, Mason used to work with him.

According to Police Chief David Currey, the victims had arrived separately at the parking lot, which investigators said they had used as a meeting place before. Ooley pulled into the parking lot in his Ford Ranger, and Mason later arrived in an SUV, before getting into the passenger seat of his truck.

Surveillance footage showed Ellis arriving shortly after and approaching the vehicle while armed with a rifle-style firearm. Investigators said Ellis opened fire, striking both victims multiple times at close range.

“This was a targeted marital issue that went terribly wrong,” Currey said during a press conference.

Authorities believe the victims were in a romantic relationship, which police described as “essentially an affair.” Police said the relationship was central to the motive. Currey characterized the killings as “a crime of passion”, explaining the victims had been seeing each other for some time and Ellis was upset about it.

Ellis had been married to Mason for 13 years and was in the process of separating and potentially divorcing her. Investigators said the couple had plans to sell their home. Ooley was also married, further complicating what police described as an emotionally charged situation that escalated into violence.

After the shooting occurred, Ellis allegedly drove a grey Ford F-150 to nearby South Beach Park. Witnesses later reported seeing a man matching his description enter the ocean fully clothed and swim several hundred yards offshore.