Vero Beach Double Homicide Suspect Still at Large

Police search continues for 64-year-old Jesse Ellis, accused of killing two county employees near the downtown library

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:03am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single .223-caliber rifle cartridge casing against a pitch-black background, conveying the stark, gritty nature of the crime scene investigation.The stark evidence of a deadly shooting underscores the urgency to apprehend the suspected killer in the Vero Beach double homicide.Vero Beach Today

It's been one week since two Indian River County employees were fatally shot near the downtown Vero Beach library, and their accused killer, 64-year-old Jesse Ellis, still hasn't been found. Vero Beach police have been searching every day and night, but no new sightings have been reported since Ellis was last seen on March 24, possibly walking on the beach just hours after the shooting.

Why it matters

The double homicide has shaken the Vero Beach community, raising concerns about public safety and the ability of law enforcement to apprehend a suspected killer who has evaded capture for over a week. The case also highlights the complex personal dynamics that can lead to tragic acts of violence.

The details

Around 7 a.m. on March 24, Stacie Mason, 49, and Danny Ooley, 56, who were coworkers in the county's Public Works Department, were shot multiple times in Ooley's truck parked outside the Indian River County Main Library. Surveillance video showed Ellis, who had been married to Mason, walking up to the truck and opening fire with a .223-caliber AR-type rifle. Detectives recovered about 21 cartridge casings at the scene. Police say Ellis had hired a private investigator, apparently to find out who his estranged wife was seeing.

  • On March 24, the shooting occurred around 7 a.m. near the downtown Vero Beach library.
  • Later that day, around 12:45 p.m., police found Ellis' truck at South Beach Park on the barrier island.
  • Around 8:30 a.m. on March 24, fire rescue crews responded to a 911 call about a man who went into the ocean fully clothed, but deemed him safe and not in distress.
  • Around 11 a.m. on March 24, people helped the swimmer, believed to be Ellis, back to shore.

The players

Jesse Ellis

A 64-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife, Stacie Mason, and her coworker, Danny Ooley, near the downtown Vero Beach library. Ellis had hired a private investigator, apparently to find out who his wife was seeing.

Stacie Mason

A 49-year-old Indian River County employee who was fatally shot in her coworker's truck near the downtown Vero Beach library. She was estranged from her husband, Jesse Ellis.

Danny Ooley

A 56-year-old Indian River County employee who was fatally shot in his truck near the downtown Vero Beach library. Police say he and Stacie Mason had been flirting and spending time together.

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What they’re saying

“He apparently knew she was seeing somebody else. It seems like he wanted to find out who the person was definitively, and that's why he hired the PI.”

— David Currey, Vero Beach Police Chief

“(Ellis) executed them without question. It was targeted.”

— David Currey, Vero Beach Police Chief

What’s next

Police officials have issued an arrest warrant for Jesse Ellis for two counts of murder, and the search for him continues.

The takeaway

This tragic double homicide has shaken the Vero Beach community and raised concerns about public safety, the ability of law enforcement to apprehend a suspected killer, and the complex personal dynamics that can lead to acts of violence. The case underscores the importance of addressing domestic issues before they escalate to such devastating consequences.