‘Walls Covered In Blood’: Inmate Kills Cellmate Hours After Arrest, Sarasota Sheriff Says

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Hours after he was arrested on a domestic battery charge, an inmate at Sarasota County Jail was charged with murder for killing his cellmate, authorities said.

Zachary Ellis, 21, was arrested Sunday around 1 a.m. in Sarasota after deputies responded to reports of a battery. He seemed intoxicated at the time and told deputies that he drank about 12 Miller Lite beers, according to a probable cause affidavit from Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim told deputies that Ellis pushed her down onto the couch, injuring her, records show. Deputies noted a scrape on her right arm. He was booked into Sarasota County Jail.

Around 3:40 a.m., a corrections deputy making cellblock rounds at the jail found Ellis hovering over his dead cellmate.

The deputy “immediately noticed Ellis covered in blood, (the victim) lying unresponsive and the walls covered in blood,” according to a probable cause affidavit from SCSO.

The victim, who was pronounced dead in the cellblock, had wounds to his face and head, including a large cut along his jawline, which exposed bone, records said.

“In addition, there was extensive blood spatter on the walls behind (the victim) as well as on the ceiling,” the affidavit said. “Ellis’ clothing, arms, hands and face were covered in blood, and his right hand was red and swollen.”

The suspect waived his Miranda Rights before an interview with deputies, though Ellis’ statements were redacted from the affidavit.

Ellis was charged with second-degree murder, in addition to the earlier charge of domestic battery causing bodily harm.