Walter Ellis

Case overview

Walter E. Ellis was a serial killer known as the Milwaukee North Side Strangler. He raped and strangled seven women in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA between 1986 and 2007.

The offence

The North Side Strangler victims were black women who ranged in age from 19 to 41. All seven victims were strangled, either by hand or with a rope or clothing tied around their necks. One was also stabbed.

The killings were described as connected by DNA testing to an unknown assailant before investigators linked the homicides to Ellis. The killings occurred in an area roughly bounded by N. King Drive, N. 27th St., W. North Ave. and W. Capitol Drive. One victim was found in the Menomonee River, but authorities believed she was killed elsewhere.

A dispute about whether one homicide fit the pattern was discussed in relation to Jessica Payne, 16. Police said the homicide did not fit the pattern of the others, although Ellis’ DNA was found on her and he was believed to have had sex with her before she was slain. Police said they believed they knew who killed her and that it was someone else.

Victims

Identified strangling homicides linked to Ellis by DNA

1. Deborah Harris, 31 — murder — October 10, 1986 (found in a local river; strangled)
2. Tanya Miller, 19 — murder — October 11, 1986 (strangled; found between a house and garage)
3. Irene Smith, 25 — intentional homicide — November 28, 1992 (strangled and stabbed; bodies found within a block of each other with Carron D. Kilpatrick)
4. Florence McCormick, 28 — intentional homicide — April 24, 1995 (strangled; found in the basement of a vacant home by workers doing repairs; home was boarded up but had a broken window)
5. Sheila Farrior, 37 — intentional homicide — June 27, 1995 (strangled; body discovered in a bedroom during inspection of remodeling work at a vacant residence)
6. Joyce Mims, 41 — intentional homicide — June 20, 1997 (strangled; building renovators found her dead on the second floor; she was last seen by family members two days earlier walking from her home)
7. Quithreaun Stokes, 28 — intentional homicide — April 27, 2007 (strangled; two citizens and city inspectors found Stokes dead after going to inspect a vacant, boarded up residence previously used as a rooming house)

Investigation

Milwaukee Police Department Homicide Detective Steven Spingola authored an e-magazine article, “The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler,” chronicling his investigation of the homicides of Sheila Farrior and Florence McCormick. Spingola provided a detailed profile of the killer, which Milwaukee talk-radio host and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Wagner described as “eerily accurate.”

Spingola retired before Detectives Gilbert Hernandez and Kathy Hein, of the Milwaukee Police Department’s cold case homicide unit, reexamined DNA evidence that linked a suspect to the homicides.

Milwaukee police released a timeline of killings linked by DNA testing to an unknown assailant. The investigation forced a complete review of how the state maintained its DNA database.

Authorities said investigators began to focus on Ellis after his name surfaced in connection with a number of unsolved homicides. “Good police work and good police science have led us to Walter Ellis,” Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn said on September 8, 2009.

A task force of local, state and federal law enforcement officials dedicated to investigating the linked homicides received 193 tips in its first three months of operation.

Investigators had run the DNA profile found on the murdered women against DNA databases nationally but did not get any hits. That meant the suspect was not in prison and had not provided law enforcement with a genetic sample in any state. Since 2000, Wisconsin required all felons to provide DNA.

Investigators were also described as retesting DNA samples from dozens of unsolved murders, which led to hits in at least 10 unrelated cases. Suspects were charged in two of those cases.

Arrest

On September 7, 2009, Walter E. Ellis, 49, was arrested on suspicion of being the notorious serial killer. He was arrested around noon Saturday at a motel in Franklin, one day after authorities linked DNA from his toothbrush with samples found on Joyce Mims’ and Ouithreaun Stokes’ bodies, according to a criminal complaint.

A search warrant was executed at Ellis’ duplex apartment in the 2800 block of W. Bobolink Ave. Police took Ellis’ toothbrush and razors. A warrant for Ellis’ arrest was issued Friday, and Milwaukee police sent out an alert notifying other police agencies of the vehicle Ellis was believed to be driving.

Franklin Police Officer Jason Fincel spotted the vehicle at the Park Motel, 7273 S. 27th St. in Franklin. A swarm of police officers descended on the motel. Ellis, who was not armed, was arrested after a struggle, Flynn said.

A woman living in the downstairs apartment at Ellis’ duplex said she learned of his arrest over the weekend but was not certain of the reason until contacted by the Journal Sentinel. She said: “He didn't seem like that type of person.” She also said: “It's so scary now. I could have been a victim. I'm shaking right now.”

Police executed a search warrant at Ellis’ duplex apartment but Ellis was not home when the warrant was executed.

Pre-arrest criminal history

Ellis had been arrested 12 times between 1981 and 1998. In 1998 he was sentenced to five years for reckless endangerment. Ellis was criminally charged 12 times between 1981 and 1998 for violent and property crimes, according to online court records.

Ellis was initially charged with two counts of first degree intentional homicide and held on $1 million bail in connection with the case.

Trial and plea

Initially, Ellis was represented by Attorney Russell Jones in defense of these claims. Ellis pleaded not guilty, and stood prepared to defend himself. Jones withdrew from the case.

On February 18, 2011, Ellis pleaded no contest to the seven murder charges and was therefore convicted despite not admitting his guilt.

Ellis was convicted of charges of first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree murder and received seven consecutive life sentences.

Sentencing

On February 24, 2011, Ellis was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences to be served without the possibility of parole. The sentencing option of parole had been available to Judge Dennis Cimpl, but he sentenced Ellis to seven consecutive life sentences for the slayings.

Judge Dennis Cimpl told Ellis: “Of any way to kill somebody, that's probably the most despicable way to do it.” The judge also said: “You look at them and you literally choke their lives away.”

Ellis declined to speak before sentencing. Defense attorney Patrick Earle also declined to speak at the hearing.

Ellis sat impassive as the sentence was handed down. A parade of victims’ relatives called for justice during the sentencing hearing.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided in the material.

Outcome

Ellis was convicted after pleading no contest to the seven murder charges and was sentenced to seven life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Ellis died in prison on December 1, 2013 criminal complaint.

Aftermath

The sentencing was described as bringing closure to decades of uncertainty.

Virgie Smith, the sister of victim Irene Smith, said: “I'm not one to judge.” She also said: “He's going to get the worst thing God can give him.”

Mansa Miller, brother of victim Tanya Miller, said: “I pray for him to do what he has to do with his life to make himself a better person,” after saying Ellis got the sentence he deserved.

Investigators also pursued other cases. District Attorney John Chisholm said he suspected Ellis in at least two other killings but had not brought charges in those cases because he wanted to focus on the strongest cases. Chisholm said: “...”

Authorities said Ellis’ case exposed flaws in the state's process for collecting DNA from convicted felons. Ellis’ DNA was missing from a state database even though he should have submitted a sample during an earlier prison stint. Authorities said Ellis persuaded a fellow inmate submit a DNA sample in his place. Police said that if a sample had been taken from Ellis at that time, they may have been able to track him down before the last slaying in 2007.

A state audit found nearly 17,700 offender samples missing from the crime lab's database.

Other charges, related cases, and named individuals

Additional murder charges and unsolved-homicide links mentioned

Police had not said publicly before a news conference that Ellis was linked to the 1992 killing of Irene Smith, 25, and the 1994 murder of Carron D. Kilpatrick, 32; authorities later stated both women were strangled and stabbed.

Police said Ellis’ DNA has been found on at least nine females killed between 1986 and 2007, with the additional homicide details including victims described as prostitutes and African-American. Police said they thought someone else killed one victim described as a white 16-year-old runaway whose throat was slashed.

Other defendants tied to related homicides

Curtis McCoy was charged in October 1994 with killing Carron D. Kilpatrick, his live-in girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, but he was later acquitted by a jury.

Chaunte Ott was convicted of killing Jessica Payne, the 16-year-old runaway. Ott served 13 years in prison before he was released in January, after DNA analysis showed semen found on the girl's body was not his.

Later cold-case charges described

David W. Lewis, 47, was charged in June with first-degree reckless homicide in connection with the 1990 strangulation of 45-year-old Vernell Jeter.

William W. Phillips, 37, was charged this month with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the 1990 death of 26-year-old Rhonda Hartwright, who was killed by a shotgun blast to her face.

Prosecutors expected to file charges in a third cold case soon.

Police identified suspects in five other homicides that occurred in Milwaukee from 1983 to 1994, and four of those suspects were already incarcerated in connection with other crimes.

Investigators had developed DNA profiles of suspects in two other unsolved killings but had not been able to match the DNA with suspects.

Notable people and roles

• Walter E. Ellis — defendant; convicted and sentenced to seven life sentences without the possibility of parole
• Steven Spingola — Milwaukee Police Department Homicide Detective; authored an e-magazine article and provided a profile
• Jeff Wagner — Milwaukee talk-radio host and former Assistant U.S. Attorney; described Spingola’s profile as “eerily accurate”
• Gilbert Hernandez — Milwaukee Police Department cold case homicide unit detective; reexamined DNA evidence
• Kathy Hein — Milwaukee Police Department cold case homicide unit detective; reexamined DNA evidence
• Dennis Cimpl — judge at sentencing
• Patrick Earle — defense attorney who declined to speak at the hearing
• Russell Jones — attorney who initially represented Ellis; withdrew from the case
• John T. Chisholm — District Attorney; discussed investigation continuation and other killings
• Edward A. Flynn — Milwaukee Police Chief; gave statements about focusing on Ellis and the investigation
• Anne E. Schwartz — police spokeswoman; stated information about certain murders being linked by Ellis’ DNA
• Jason Fincel — Franklin Police Officer who spotted Ellis’ vehicle at the Park Motel
• Purvis Mims — Joyce Mims’ son; commented about his mother’s optimism and his thoughts about Ellis
• Tara Noble — Joyce Mims’ sister; commented that Ellis’ name did not sound familiar and that she wanted to view his photo
• Mansa Miller — brother of victim Tanya Miller; commented on the sentence
• Virgie Smith — sister of victim Irene Smith; commented on the sentencing

Timeline

• October 10, 1986 — Deborah Harris, 31, was strangled and found in a local river.
• October 11, 1986 — Tanya L. Miller, 19, was strangled and found between a house and garage.
• November 28, 1992 — Irene Smith, 25, was strangled and stabbed.
• April 24, 1995 — Florence McCormick, 28, was strangled and found in the basement of a vacant home by workers doing repairs.
• June 27, 1995 — Sheila Farrior, 37, was strangled and discovered in a bedroom during inspection of remodeling work.
• June 20, 1997 — Joyce Mims, 41, was strangled and found dead on the second floor of a vacant home.
• September 7, 2009 — Walter E. Ellis, 49, was arrested on suspicion of being the serial killer.
• September 8, 2009 — Ellis faced charges connected to Joyce Mims and Ouithreaun Stokes.
• February 18, 2011 — Ellis pleaded no contest to the seven murder charges and was convicted without admitting guilt.
• February 24, 2011 — Ellis was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
• December 1, 2013 — Ellis died in prison.

Other details

The use of the name “North Side Strangler” in reference to the case was limited to one local news organization, WTMJ, Channel 4, believed to have coined the nickname, although it was picked up by some bloggers and by British media. Use of the nickname was also described as being subject to criticism in other Milwaukee media.

The materials described Ellis as having long refused to cooperate with authorities and even with his own lawyers.

Wisconsin Police said Ellis’ DNA was found on at least nine females killed between 1986 and 2007. Police officials said they thought someone else killed one victim described as a white 16-year-old runaway whose throat was slashed, while the other victims were described as prostitutes and African-American. Police said at least two victims were also stabbed.

Relatives described Joyce Mims as having lived a few blocks from Ellis and that she was dating Ellis’ uncle when she was killed. Mims’ son Purvis Mims said: “He just seemed like a regular guy.” Purvis Mims also said: “It goes to show you never know what's going on behind closed doors.”