The duo convicted of killing two men, including one from Columbus, were sentenced last week to life in prison without parole.
Edward Jesus Elias and Leopoldo Castro Chavez II, both 36, were convicted in March of first degree murder for the 1993 deaths of Eugene “Cliff” Ellis, 20, and Keith Combs, 23, of Ohio.
Ellis and Combs were stationed aboard the naval aircraft carrier USS Constellation and had gone to a bonfire in a remote San Diego nightspot near Interstate 805 when they encountered Elias and Chavez, who murdered them, robbed them of their wallets and stole Ellis’ new Toyota truck.
In 2009, Elias and Chavez were connected to the slayings by DNA evidence found at the scene. Chavez was arrested July 2010 in Kent, Wash. and extradited to San Diego. Elias was arrested and charged last April.
Ellis’ mother, Muffie Ellis, was present for the sentencing and delivered the family’s victim impact statement. His father, Charlie Ellis, was unable to attend due to health issues.
In her statement, Muffie Ellis detailed the family’s “journey into darkness” and the agony of hearing the murders described in graphic detail during the trial. Both victims were shot three times at close range between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Sept. 25, 1993. Ellis was severely beaten as he fought for his life.
Several days later, Chavez, also known as “Weasel,” was found in Tijuana, Mexico driving the truck, but there was not enough evidence at the time to charge him with the murders.
Cliff Ellis, a 1991 graduate of Heritage Academy, was proud to serve his country and had just made rank as a petty officer in the Navy, Muffie Ellis said. He was buried with full military honors.
“On that day, Charles and I began serving our life sentence,” she said.
She described her son as a young man with his life ahead of him who enjoyed giving back to the community and loved spending time with his father.
“They were the best of the best,” she said of her son and Combs. “They took their commitment seriously and their job seriously.”
She said it’s hard to process the sentencing in her mind after working so hard over the years to bring his murderers to justice, but she feels her son is at peace now.
“We did our best,” she said. “We did everything we possibly could. At the end of the day, justice won. Good overcame evil.”
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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