LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR CHRISTOPHER ELLIS

October 21, 2009
Contact: [email protected]

(Anderson, SC). An Anderson County jury found Christopher Ellis guilty today of the murder of 25-year-old Erica Olson and also guilty for the death of the child Ms. Olson was carrying at the time of her death. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Ellis to life without parole 

On October 23, 2006, Anderson Police Department officers arrived at Fairview Gardens in reference to a desperate 911 call for help that ended in a hangup. When they arrived, the victim’s daughter, age 7 at the time, opened the door and told them that Christopher Ellis had stabbed her mother and then stabbed himself. The officers removed the little girl from the scene and entered the apartment to find Erica Olson lying on the floor with numerous stab wounds. The defendant, Christopher Ellis, also had stab wounds to his stomach and throat that were believed to be self-inflicted. The murder weapon, a kitchen butcher knife, was found lying near the defendant covered in his blood with his fingerprints on it. There was a history of domestic violence in this case. Several people testified that the victim was scared of the defendant and that she was planning to leave him. 

“This was a horrific crime, committed in front of a 7 year old child by someone with a previous history of domestic abuse against the victim, a fact I hope will not be lost on those in our community who today find themselves in abusive relationships. We are grateful to the jury and pleased that this defendant will be locked away for the rest of his life.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.