A former Florida sheriff’s deputy has been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly killing his estranged wife, who was also a lieutenant in the same force, and attempting to stage it as a suicide. Anthony Shea, 49, is facing murder charges in the death of Eloilda “Ellie” Shea, 39, a lieutenant with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Shea, who had retired from the department amid a separate investigation into an alleged affair, claimed that he found his wife dead with a gun on her chest one night, after an argument about his infidelity. He initially cooperated with deputies but later refused a search of the scene. Subsequent investigations revealed that Shea allegedly shot his wife and attempted to make her death appear as a suicide by sending text messages from her phone to create an alibi.
An audio recording accidentally activated on Ellie’s phone captured Shea’s movements in and out of the house but did not record any gunshot. Authorities claim that Shea orchestrated a series of actions to manipulate the crime scene and fabricate an alibi, including making phone calls, sending texts, and taking the children to a local grocery store.
At the time of the shooting, Shea was under investigation for an inappropriate relationship while on duty, leading to his resignation earlier in the year. Despite being scheduled for a first appearance in court, Shea did not appear and is currently held without bond in Orange County Jail.
Ellie Shea, a mother of two daughters who had been with the department since 2011, was described as a dedicated officer by Sheriff John Mina. The Sheriff expressed shock and grief at her death, which was initially disguised as a suicide. Homicide detectives worked diligently to ensure justice for Ellie amidst the tragedy.
The case has left the community reeling with the loss of a respected officer and the shocking circumstances surrounding her death. Investigations continue into the alleged murder and staging of the crime scene by the former deputy. Stay tuned for further updates as the case unfolds.