OMAHA, Neb.—A Douglas County jury has found Roy Ellis Jr. eligible for a death sentence in the murder of a 12-year-old Omaha girl.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours Monday before finding two aggravating circumstances in Amber Harris’ death: Ellis’ lengthy criminal history and the heinous nature of the crime. They rejected Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine’s claim that the 54-year-old Ellis killed Harris to conceal another crime or his identity.
As a result, a three-judge panel will be able to impose the death penalty when sentencing Ellis for first-degree murder. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
Ellis was found guilty on Friday morning, as the trial neared the end of its second week.
Amber Harris’ remains were found in May 2006 in Hummel Park in far northeast Omaha. She had been missing since Nov. 29, 2005, when she was last seen getting off a school bus on her way home from school.
An autopsy indicated Amber died of blunt force trauma.
Ellis was arrested in February 2007 after a 14-month investigation. Omaha police were assisted by the FBI and the Polly Klass Foundation, which helps find missing children. Fox TV’s “America’s Most Wanted,” twice featured the Omaha girl’s case.
Police have said the discovery of Harris’ book bag near Ellis’ residence provided a “key piece of evidence.” Prosecutors said DNA evidence from the book bag connects Ellis to the crime.
Ellis is a Level 3 sex offender, meaning he was among those considered most likely to reoffend, and has a criminal record dating to the 1970s. On it are nine felonies, including two sexual assaults of children.
Ellis was released from jail Nov. 3, 2005—26 days before Amber Harris’ disappearance—after serving time for violating a protection order.
Ellis was back in jail Dec. 19, 2005, for violating another protection order.
He pleaded no contest on Jan. 26, 2006, to witness tampering. He was accused of writing a letter to his former girlfriend urging her to change her testimony or not show up for his trial.
The former girlfriend had said that Ellis drove her to Hummel Park and threatened to stuff her into a trunk.
A judge ruled that Ellis be sentenced as a habitual criminal, so Ellis has been serving a 60-year sentence.
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Information from: KPTM-TV,
