The family of a woman murdered almost 40 years ago is coming together to celebrate her life.
Melissa Taylor Ellison, more commonly known as Missy, was found murdered in her Westside home back in 1987.
At the celebration were old friends of Missy, many of whom her family hasn’t seen since she passed away.
“She was a little reserved sometimes, but full of life,” said Glenda Blandford, Missy’s younger sister. “She always wanted to do things that were fun, and she was very smart. She was such a caring person. Like she saw the good in everybody.”
Missy was just 20 years old when she was beaten to death. She was found on the living room couch just feet away was her 13-month-old daughter, Casie.
Casie told Action News Jax back in July that she was in the same room when the murder happened.
“I was in the bed when it happened, and I was moved,” Casie said in July. “And so for that to be something that happened to me, to understand that my mom’s not here anymore, that’s taken a great toll on my mental health and my ability to choose life paths.”
Blandford says going through her life without Missy has been hard.
“Losing her was so bad for me as her sister,” Blandford said. “I just can’t think of how my mom felt [with Missy] being her child, or how my dad feels.”
Missy’s murder remained a cold case for nearly four decades until the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) announced the arrest of 70-year-old Gary Edward Glowacz in early July.
JSO says they made the arrest after Glowacz called the Clay County Sheriff’s Office with information about her murder.
Casie says his arrest has allowed her to begin truly healing.
“I get to give myself some grace because now I understand the pieces of the story that I didn’t have before,” Casie said. “Just [trying to] figure out what it feels like to be a human being without having to carry the grief of wondering and having to have that open wound.”
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Blandford says she likes to be in control, so it can be challenging to hand things over to God, but that’s all that’s left to do.
“I have vowed I’m going to give this one to him, and I’m not taking it back,” Blandford said. “And he’s going to fix this, and he’s going to open every door, and he’s going to work all the details out in this case, and my sister’s going to get justice.”
In addition to Project Cold Case for everything they’ve done to bring Missy’s case to light, Blandford wants to make sure the companies that made this family gathering possible are not overlooked. She says she wants to thank the following for all of their support: Vallencourt Construction Co Inc., Chapel Oaks, South Kitchen, The Link, Kilwins Jacksonville and First Watch in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Casie also dedicated the following message to Project Cold Case, Crimestoppers and local law enforcement agencies, like JSO and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, back in July:
I absolutely want to thank Project Cold Case, and I really want to make a plea to the community to make sure they stay funded and stay in the spotlight as well. For almost the last 10 years, every year, they’re worried about having to close, and I want to make sure that if anybody is out there listening, anybody out there looking to help, maybe just looking for a fantastic nonprofit to donate to, please do it for Project Cold Case. Do it in my mom’s name and my family’s name, please. Make sure that these families, who also deserve the full justice and everything that’s coming to their healing, get that opportunity because they have an advocate like Project Cold Case. I want to thank Crimestoppers for giving my family the opportunity to hold the press conference and for making sure there was no time limit. I understand how long ours was, and it was needed, and it was profound. I believe the resources we have in the community to hold people accountable and advocate for these families are what led to the arrest. This wouldn’t have happened without them. I just simply don’t believe that it would have, and I want to thank them so much. I do want to thank JSO for making sure the community knows they are taking every step they need to ensure this is exactly the way it should go and is handled with white-glove service. I love that they’ve made the announcement and the respect that they have for us as the family. Thanks so much to everybody who’s given us the kind words and all the comments. We are slowly digging out of this incredible whirlwind of a week. We’re still really quiet. There’s a lot to process, and that includes rebuilding every relationship that I’ve ever had, including the one with myself. And so, thanks for the love and support, and we really love you guys.
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