A former Orange County Sheriff’s Office sergeant who resigned earlier this year while under internal investigation has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of his wife, who was a lieutenant.
According to OCSO, at around 2:10 p.m. on Monday, October 14, a man called 911 and reported that a woman had been shot inside a home located in the 8800 block of El Prado Avenue in Orlando.
Within minutes, deputies arrived on scene and observed the female victim who was identified as OCSO Lieutenant Eloilda “Ellie” Shea.
Paramedics quickly arrived at the home, and Eloilda was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
The report stated that the 911 caller – identified in the arrest report as former OCSO Sergeant Anthony Shea – spoke with deputies and advised that he had been “fighting” with his estranged wife, Eloilda, for the past few days due to his recent infidelity.
During an investigation, detectives learned that Eloilda was in her bedroom when she sustained a single gunshot wound to her head. A detective noted in the report that blood was observed on the headboard, mattress, sheets, pillow, and floor at the base of the bed.
A 9mm firearm was also found on top of the bed, along with several cellphones.
While speaking with deputies, Anthony advised that an affair had been uncovered, which became the subject of an OCSO internal investigation. As a result, he stated that he resigned from the sheriff’s office.
Anthony stated that on the day of the shooting, Eloilda had “called in sick” to work, and he claimed that she asked him for “space” so she could get some rest. At around 1:30 p.m., Anthony stated that he left the residence and went to Publix, returning to the home approximately 30 minutes later, according to the report.
After being inside the residence for around 10 minutes, Anthony told deputies that he entered the bedroom and saw Eloilda “in a pool of blood.” The report stated that Anthony initiated CPR and called 911 from his cellphone. He was performing CPR on Eloilda when paramedics arrived at the residence, according to the report.
The sheriff’s office obtained search warrants for several electronic devices that were found inside the residence. In the report, a detective noted that a homicide investigation, which included searches of those devices, helped investigators establish the following timeline of events:
- October 14, 2024:
- 7:29 a.m.: Eloilda sent a text message to her supervisor stating that she is not coming into work.
- 1:06 p.m.: Eloilda sent a text message to an unspecified individual stating that she “maybe [has] food poisoning.” The report stated that this is believed to be Eloilda’s “last actual communication.”
- 1:20 p.m.: Anthony walked up one flight of stairs in the home.
- 1:30 p.m.: Investigators believe that Anthony sent a message from Eloilda’s cellphone to his own cellphone.
- 1:31 p.m.: Anthony allegedly “inadvertently activated” an audio recorder on Eloilda’s cellphone, which recorded audio for the next 54 minutes and 17 seconds.
- 1:32 p.m.: Anthony left the residence to go to Publix.
- 1:38 p.m.: Anthony sent a text message to Eloilda stating that the OCSO investigation into his affair and “all the (expletive) I’ve caused has us both depressed.”
- 1:44 p.m.: Anthony arrived at Publix.
- 1:52 p.m.: Anthony left the Publix parking lot after purchasing a few items from the store.
- 2:00 p.m.: Anthony returned home.
- 2:09 p.m.: Anthony sent a text message to Eloilda advising that he was downstairs.
- 2:11 p.m.: Anthony walked up the stairs and then turned on his cellphone flashlight.
- 2:12 p.m.: Anthony called 911.
- 2:18 p.m.: OCSO deputies arrived on scene.
- 2:21 p.m.: Paramedics arrived on scene and took over CPR.
- 2:25 p.m.: The audio recording message on Eloilda’s cellphone stopped.
According to the report, the audio recorded message captured Anthony returning to the bedroom and remaining in the room for approximately 50 seconds prior to calling 911. Detectives determined that Anthony “(did) not immediately provide medical aid,” and he “(did) not become emotional or react to the condition of (Eloilda)” until the 911 call was answered by the dispatcher.
During an interview with detectives, Anthony claimed that Eloilda was “depressed and overwhelmed” due to his infidelity and the active OCSO investigation that led to his resignation.
“Based on the totality of circumstances, the investigation determined Eloilda Shea did not commit suicide,” noted a detective in the report. The detective further stated in the report that Anthony allegedly “prepared to kill (Eloilda) by arming himself with a firearm and firing one time at (her), within close proximity, striking her on the right side of the head.”
Anthony was arrested and transported to Orange County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with first-degree murder.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office stated that Anthony joined the agency in October of 2006, where he remained until his resignation earlier this year while “under investigation for allegations that would have resulted in his termination.”
Following Anthony’s arrest, Orange County Sheriff John Mina released the following statement about Eloilda “Ellie” Shea:
“Ellie cared deeply about this agency and the work we do, and I considered her a rising star. We have all struggled this week with feelings of shock, grief and guilt while we tried to make sense of Ellie’s death, which was meant to appear as a suicide. I want to thank our homicide detectives, who had the extraordinarily difficult job of investigating a colleague’s murder, for their diligence in ensuring justice for Ellie.”
Sheriff Mina added, “It’s devastating to know we will never again be on the receiving end of Ellie’s kindness or warm smile. We pray for her two girls, the rest of her family, and all of those who love her.”