Former Deputy Accused of Killing Cop Wife, Then Trying to Stage It as Suicide: 'Organized and Premeditated'

Mar. 15, 2025

Lt. Eloilda “Ellie” Shea.Photo:Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Florida

Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Florida

On Oct. 18, Anthony Shea, 49, was arrested on charge of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 39-year-old Eloilda “Ellie” Shea, a lieutenant with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the agency said in astatementshared to Facebook.

Anthony was being held in the Orange County Jail on no bond, the sheriff’s office said. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

According to the affidavit, Anthony joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in 2006 and retired as a sergeant from the agency in August of this year.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in its statement that Anthony resigned “while under investigation for allegations that would have resulted in his termination.” The office did not provide further details.

But per the affidavit, Anthony told authorities that he and Eloilda had been arguing the day before she died because he was having an “on duty” affair, which prompted his resignation.

The next morning, authorities said Eloilda had “called in sick” for work. According to the affidavit, Anthony claimed she wanted space and had asked Anthony to take their two children out so she could rest. Anthony said he left to get groceries and when he got home, he said he found his wife on the bed in a pool of blood with a gun on her chest, per the affidavit.

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In aseparate statement, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office called Eloilda’s death a “devastating loss.”

“She lit up every room she entered with her infectiously bubbly personality, beautiful spirit and kind smile,” the sheriff’s office said of Eloilda, who joined the agency in 2011.

“Ellie was a mentor, teacher, advocate, protector, cheerleader and an inspiration to women aspiring to be leaders," the statement added.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com