THE WIFE OF MURDERED MANATEE COUNTY TEACHER KENNETH ELLIS APPEARED ON THE TODAY SHOW THURSDAY MORNING TO BRING NATIONAL AWARENESS TO HER HUSBAND’S MURDER. DEBBIE ELLIS SPOKE TO HOST MEREDITH VIEIRA IN A NEARLY NINE MINUTE SEGMENT OF THE SHOW, SOME OF WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED. ELLIS TALKED ABOUT THE NIGHT OF MARCH 29TH WHEN HER HUSBAND ANSWERED THE DOOR AT THEIR ALBREN STREET HOME IN NORTH PORT. ELLIS, WHO SPEAKS BROKEN ENGLISH, TOLD VIEIRA HE LOOKED AROUND AND CLOSED THE DOOR. THEY THEN STEPPED BACK, AND THAT’S WHEN TWO MASKED MEN DRESSED IN BLACK PUSHED THE DOOR OPEN AND SHOT KENNETH “EXECUTION-STYLE.” HE TOLD HER TO CALL 911 AS HE GASPED FOR AIR. NORTH PORT POLICE CAPTAIN BOB ESTRADA TOLD THE SHOW THEY ARE NOW WORKING 85 LEADS IN THE CASE AFTER COLLECTING RECEIPT BOOKS, EMPTY PRESCRIPTION BOTTLES, AND A LAPTOP FROM THE HOME, AND HE REITERATED THAT EVERYONE IS STILL A SUSPECT. ELLA SAID SHE TOOK A POLYGRAPH TEST AND WAS CLEARED BY POLICE. CRIME STOPPERS IS OFFERING A CASH REWARD FOR INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO THE ARREST OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ELLIS’ MURDER.
