Florida Man Arrested In 1987 Jacksonville Killing After Calling Police
Gary Edward Glowacz, 70, was arrested Wednesday in Jacksonville after he contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office claiming he had information about the 1987 killing of Melissa Ellison.[1]
After interviewing him, detectives obtained a warrant and arrested Glowacz on charges of murder and burglary with battery, and he was booked into the Duval County Jail.[1] Sheriff T.K. Waters publicly announced the arrest Thursday and said the case had remained unsolved for nearly 40 years.[1] Waters said Glowacz had a history of burglary.[1]
In January 2026, First Coast Crime Stoppers held an online news conference with Ellison's family and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office investigators to renew appeals for information. Ellison, then 20, was found dead in her bed at a Colejean Road home on December 28, 1987, suffering blunt force trauma.[1] Investigators said the probe went cold after initial interviews and evidence review produced no arrests until this week.[1]
The mainstream summary does not mention the broader context of unsolved homicides in the United States, where over 352,390 cases remain unresolved from 1965 to 2024, according to data analyzed by the Murder Accountability Project. This statistic highlights that Glowacz's case is part of a much larger issue of cold cases, particularly in Florida, which has an estimated 20,807 unsolved homicides and a 65% overall clearance rate. This context underscores the significance of Glowacz's arrest after nearly four decades, suggesting that advancements in investigative techniques may be crucial in addressing such long-standing cases.
Additionally, the summary overlooks the structural factors contributing to the resolution of cold cases, such as the establishment of dedicated cold case investigative units and advancements in forensic technology. The National Institute of Justice notes that improvements in DNA analysis have allowed law enforcement to revisit cases that previously lacked sufficient evidence. These factors not only explain why Glowacz's case could be resolved now but also point to a potential shift in how cold cases are handled moving forward, as agencies increasingly allocate resources to these long-neglected investigations.[2][3]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📊 Relevant Data
Over 352,390 homicide and non-negligent manslaughter cases nationwide from 1965 to 2024 remain unsolved according to FBI Uniform Crime Report data analyzed by the Murder Accountability Project.
Cold Case Homicide Stats — Project: Cold Case
Florida recorded an estimated 20,807 unsolved homicides from the period covered in FBI data through 2024, with a 65% overall clearance rate.
Cold Case Homicide Stats — Project: Cold Case
📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Gary Edward Glowacz contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office claiming to have information about the 1987 killing of Melissa Ellison.
- After interviewing him, detectives obtained a warrant and arrested Glowacz, 70, on charges of murder and burglary with battery; he was booked into Duval County Jail.
- Ellison, age 20, was found dead in her bed with blunt force trauma injuries around 4:40 a.m. on December 28, 1987, at a home on Colejean Road in Jacksonville.
- Sheriff T.K. Waters publicly announced the arrest on Thursday, July 9, 2026, noting the case had remained unsolved for nearly 40 years.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time