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Florida Man Arrested for 1987 Cold Case Murder After Contacting Police with Unreleased Details
Just the facts
Gary Edward Glowacz was charged with second-degree murder and armed burglary with assault or battery in connection with the December 28, 1987, death of Melissa Ellison. Glowacz contacted Clay County authorities in July 2026 stating he wanted to confess to entering Ellison's home during a burglary and striking her with a wooden log. Detectives stated that Glowacz disclosed undisclosed details of the crime scene, including the residence layout, the placement of Ellison's 13-month-old child on a couch, and how he moved the body while searching for money. Law enforcement records confirmed that Glowacz lived approximately half a mile from Ellison's home in 1987 and was arrested for an unrelated burglary in the area on the same day her body was discovered.
Why this is news
Florida law enforcement officers arrested 70-year-old Gary Edward Glowacz after he contacted authorities to confess to the 1987 killing of 20-year-old Melissa Ellison in Jacksonville.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.