# Arrest in 1987 Melissa Ellison murder case

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/arrest-in-1987-melissa-ellison-murder-case
> Updated: 2026-08-15T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

Gary Glowacz, 70, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and armed burglary in connection with the 1987 killing of 20-year-old Melissa Ellison in Jacksonville, Florida.

The case, which remained unsolved for nearly 40 years, progressed after Glowacz contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office on July 8, 2026, stating he wanted to ‘set things straight’. Glowacz allegedly admitted to entering the residence to find money for drugs and striking Ellison with a wooden log.

Investigators noted that during his confession, Glowacz provided specific crime-scene details that had never been made public, such as the victim’s positioning and the presence of soot or ash on the bed. Ellison was originally found dead in December 1987 after her roommates discovered her 13-month-old child alone in the living room.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-15: Florida man charged in 1987 cold case murder confession

A 70-year-old man, Gary Edward Glowacz, allegedly confessed to the 1987 murder of Melissa Ellison in Jacksonville, Florida, providing previously undisclosed crime-scene details.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/florida-man-charged-in-1987-cold-case-murder-confession

### 2026-08-11: Gary Glowacz arrested for 1987 murder of Melissa Ellison

Gary Glowacz, 70, was arrested for the 1987 murder of Melissa Ellison in Jacksonville, Florida, after confessing to police nearly 40 years after the crime.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gary-glowacz-arrested-for-1987-murder-of-melissa-ellison

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Cite as: Arrest in 1987 Melissa Ellison murder case. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/arrest-in-1987-melissa-ellison-murder-case