Every day law enforcement officials around the country patrol our streets, enforcing law and keeping order in the community. While the profession has always held a degree of danger, recent events have shone light on the overwhelming odds officers routinely face. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, one officer is killed in the line of duty every 58 hours. Given the recent brutality, I thought it fitting to share a similar story that has fallen from the spotlight of media attention, yet still remains unsolved to this day.
Jason Ellis, 33, was a seven year veteran of the Bardstown, KY police force and decorated K9 narcotics officer. In 2007 he was commended for his brave actions on duty, and in 2008 Jason was recognized as Officer of the Year in his department. While many of the tragic circumstances surrounding his death are still unknown, his death remains one of the few unsolved murders nationwide in which an officer was the victim.
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His shift began on May 24, 2013, and seemed fairly ordinary. The only noticeable difference was the absence of his trusted partner, Figo, his K9 companion officer, as their assigned patrol car was in the shop for repairs. He texted back and forth with his best friend and fellow brother in blue, Andrew Riley, to pass the time between calls. Officer Ellis responded to a domestic disturbance early in the evening, and later escorted a drunk man to the hospital before booking him at Nelson County Jail. Officer Ellis left the jail and signed off with his badge number around 2 a.m. on May 25, 2013, before starting the 15 mile drive home.
He took his usual route, using exit 34 off of the Bluegrass Parkway. While rounding the bend, the officer noticed debris on the ramp, and swiftly took action. Pulling over, he blocked off the road to prevent other cars from passing until the road was clear. He flipped on the overhead lights and exited his cruiser, unaware that nestled uphill, a vicious predator had set a fatal ambush, waiting patiently for a victim.
Jason reached down to gather the fallen limbs, and clutched them to his chest. Before he reached the side of the road, a barrage of shots exploded from a shotgun barrel, slamming into his torso and arms. The swiftness and brutality of his attack left him no time to reach for his service pistol, as he was shot over and over again.
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The discarded shells of the shotgun dropped to the ground, clamoring in the deadly silence of the night. Officer Ellis fell to the pavement, the tree limbs still in his grasp. His chest was bruised from the impact on his vest, his elbow shattered, and the flesh below his underarm bleeding profusely from the gap in his vest. The second series of shots penetrated his face and scalp. Blood trailed from his body, spider-webbing its way through the grooves and cracks of the pavement, as Officer Ellis closed his eyes, completing his final watch.
Half an hour later, a nearby worker pulled behind another car waiting at the roadblock. Chad Monroe exited his truck to see if he could help out, and found a family of three waiting in their car, unsure of the circumstances. He headed toward the cruiser, not seeing the officer in sight.
Upon reaching the other side of the car, he found the body of Officer Jason Ellis. He quickly ran to the fallen man, and checked for any signs of life; the tell-tale rise and fall of his chest, a pulse, shallow breaths, anything. He felt that the officer’s skin was cool to the touch and yelled for the family in the first car to contact 911 immediately.
Officer Andrew Riley, also of Bardstown Police Department, was one of the first to arrive on scene. He ran to his best friend’s side and removed his shirt and vest in a vain attempt to revive him. His first thought was that Jason had been hit by a car, as Chad Monroe had indicated over the radio. Upon closer inspection, he realized the small pellets beside his friend’s body were buckshot, not gravel. The realization that Jason was murdered began to set in, and the night dragged on as Officer Riley struggles to comprehend Officer Ellis’ last moments alive.
In the days following the brutal murder of Officer Ellis, a full-scale investigation was launched, involving all of the Bardstown Police force and a portion of the Kentucky State Troopers. In the small town of around 12,000, murder was not a common occurrence, and someone brutally assassinating a police officer was virtually unheard of.
A thorough investigation of the crime scene and surrounding areas moved forward, but the only evidence police reported to the media was the discarded shotgun shells. A heft reward was offered for any information regarding the case of around, yet no one came forth.
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Police Chief Rick McCubbin made a statement to the press, confirming that Jason Ellis was ambushed on the highway, by a person or persons that deliberately placed the debris on the road. It was believed that the intended target was a member of law enforcement, but they were still unsure as to whether Officer Ellis was personally the target, or if he was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Officer Ellis’ personal life was torn apart, searching for a motive behind the killings. No friends or family were named as suspects, and the investigation moved forward to his career. A local gang called the Bardstown Money Gang were examined closely. Officer Ellis had arrested at least three of its’ members, including the suspected ring leader, yet again, no suspects were named.
Within the next few weeks the Bardstown Police Department received threats that Officer Ellis was only the first victim, and more members of the town’s small police force would be targeted next. The FBI became involved, and examined the document, although they believed it was not written by Jason Ellis’ killer. The FBI increases the reward for information leading to an arrest, but to no avail.
On August 10, 2013, just two months after Jason Ellis’ death, a young man, Brant Sheckles, aged 24, is arrested for fighting at a local party. He alluded to the arresting officers that he was either involved in Officer Ellis’ murder, or knew who was responsible, stating that, “You saw what happened to one of you all when you crossed us.” Sheckles was a known member of the Bardstown Money Gang, and has been arrested on several charges previously, mostly pertaining to drugs and violence. The mayor of Bardstown, William Sheckles, is said to the Brant’s uncle.
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Despite his outburst and threats against the arresting officers, Sheckles was not declared a suspect by the Kentucky State Troopers, the lead department investigating Ellis’ murder. As time goes on, fewer leads trickled in, and less and less man power is devoted to finding Ellis’ killer.
Over a year later, on July 8, 2014, an incarcerated inmate at Louisville Corrections, Danny Earley, 33, threatened a corrections officer. He alluded to the still unsolved murder of Jason Ellis and allegedly stated, “You will be pushing up daisies like Jason Ellis, the Bardstown cop that was killed.” It is later reported by ABC’s WHAS 11 that in early November 2014 Earley was put into protective custody for public intoxication, and mumbled references to Jason Ellis and the Cornbread Mafia, another crime ring reportedly into drugs and violence.*
Months go on and the investigative efforts dwindle further. Residents of the town have different feelings about the murder; ranging from terror, to grief, and everything in between. Rumors flew, and with each passing day grew more and more complex in theory.
Some people pointed out that it looked to be an inside job. Police Chief McCubbins had made a prior statement, admitting that a degree of tactical precision was required to shoot Jason Ellis based on the bullet trajectory. Whoever killed him had to be decently versed in firearms, and possess limited sharpshooting skills.
Other residents wondered why it happened on the one night his trusted K9 partner, Figo, wasn’t on patrol with him. The dog’s absence was information only a limited number of people would’ve known, and caused further unease through the town. Some even pointed out that since he was shot along his typical route home, it was a reasonable assumption that he was the intended target.
Many members of the community dismissed these theories of scandal and corruption in favor of the lesser evils. Perhaps Jason Ellis was killed for revenge by someone he had previously arrested, or one of their associates. Maybe the Bardstown Money Gang killed him for putting a dent in their drug trade, or otherwise contracted out the hit to a third party. There was also the possibility that the killer or killers had the intention of killing whomever stopped, be it law enforcement or civilian.
Officer Ellis’ K9 partner, Figo, saying his final goodbye
Whatever the reason behind Officer Jason Ellis’ tragic death, Bardstown has not forgotten him, and continue to hope that his killer will be brought to justice. Figo, his K9 partner was retired from duty, so he could spend time with the remaining members of the Ellis family. A local businessman and retired Texas Sheriff, Buddy Gulden, printed pictures of Jason to pass out to all of the local businesses in an effort to keep his memory alive. His mother-in-law is reportedly campaigning for a more honest and open office of publically elected officials, hoping to ultimately bring her son-in-law’s killer to justice. Several benefits and community events have been held in his honor, with the proceeds benefitting his surviving wife, Amy, and their two sons, Parker and Hunter.
As of February 2014, the reward for tips leading to an arrest in Officer Ellis’ murder is now at $135,000. Please contact Kentucky State Police at 1 (800) 222-5555, or e-mail Elliscasetips@ky.gov.
My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Ellis’ family, friends, and community, and I hope that one day justice will be served.
*While I conducted extensive research on all aspects of Jason Ellis’ murder, the facts surrounding Danny Earley were vague, and no connection is ever made in the media between the two separate instances in July and November of 2014, nor is there very much media coverage.
Facebook page in memory of Officer Jason Ellis
Heroes Memorial Foundation, Owner and copyright holder of all photos used