Russell Ellwood

Serial Killer

Russell Ellwood: Convicted Murderer and Suspect in the New Orleans Serial-Killing Investigation

Background

Russell Ellwood was a former New Orleans-area taxi driver who became one of the principal suspects in a large investigation into the murders of women in and around New Orleans, Louisiana, during the 1990s. Ellwood has frequently been described as a serial killer, but that description requires an important qualification. He was convicted of only one murder: the killing of 30-year-old Cheryl Lewis. Authorities nevertheless investigated him in connection with numerous other deaths and at one point reportedly suspected that he could have been responsible for as many as 15 killings. The larger investigation involved approximately two dozen deaths occurring between 1991 and the mid-1990s. Many of the victims were Black women, and a number had histories involving prostitution or drug use. Bodies were discovered in canals, wetlands, wooded areas, parks and other isolated locations throughout the New Orleans region. Investigators eventually concluded that the entire group of deaths probably did not represent the work of a single offender. Ellwood's name has also become associated with one of the strangest mysteries connected to the case: the identity of a man calling himself "Clay" who telephoned The Howard Stern Show in August 1997 and claimed on live radio that he was a serial killer from the New Orleans area. In later years, researchers and true-crime writers proposed that Ellwood might have been the anonymous caller. There are intriguing similarities, but there are also serious problems with the theory, including the fact that Ellwood was incarcerated in Florida when the call occurred.

The Murder of Cheryl Lewis

Cheryl Lewis was 30 years old and lived in the Bridge City area of Louisiana. January 31, 1993, was the last day her family saw her alive. After Lewis failed to return home, her mother attempted to locate her and filed a missing-person report on February 2. Several witnesses later testified that they had seen Lewis either with Russell Ellwood or in his vicinity before she disappeared. One witness said she saw Lewis speaking with Ellwood, while another testified that Lewis indicated she and Ellwood were traveling in the direction of Boutte. That area was close to where Lewis's body would eventually be discovered. On February 21, 1993, Lewis's body was discovered in a canal off Louisiana Highway 3160 near Hahnville in St. Charles Parish. She was identified through fingerprints. An autopsy initially left questions about exactly how she had died, but subsequent examination and toxicological testing established that she had drowned. Investigators determined that Lewis was alive but unconscious when she entered the water. Cocaine was detected in her body, but it was not considered the cause of her death. Forensic anthropologist Dr. William Bass later estimated that Lewis had been dead for approximately 18 to 20 days when her body was discovered. That placed her estimated date of death between February 1 and February 3, 1993. Because the precise day could not be established, it is more accurate to use this range rather than assign Lewis a single exact date of death. ...

Confirmed Victims: (1)

Cheryl Lewis Age: (30), Date of Death: February 2, 1993

Suspected Victims:

Delores Mack Age: (42), Date of Death: February 21, 1993

Danielle Britton Age: (17), Date of Death: 1991-08-04

Tyra Tassin Age: (21), Date of Death: 1991-09-03

Charlene Price Age: (28), Date of Death: 1991-09-22

Regina Okoh Age: (37), Date of Death: 1991-11-21

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