Family of slain woman offers $50,000 reward for info

Wednesday, October 3, 2007
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

DULUTH - It's one of the largest private reward offerings a Gwinnett police veteran has ever seen.

But whether the cash will help remains to be seen.

The family of a Duluth woman found shot to death in her home Friday is offering $50,000 for information that will put a suspect - or suspects - behind bars.

The 67-year-old victim, Jerry Ann Elliott, was found by her husband in the den of the couple's 3959 Abbotts Bridge Road home. The home was ransacked and may have been burglarized prior to the apparent homicide, investigators said.

The Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Monday that Elliott died from a gunshot wound.

Police haven't named suspects in the case, and to aide their search the Elliott family is requesting the public's help - and offering a serious amount of cash.

Cpl. Illana Spellman, Gwinnett County Police Department spokeswoman, said the private reward is among the largest she's seen. She's optimistic that the money will help.

"We like to think (the reward will lead to an arrest), but I don't know statistically if it's been effective," Spellman said. "We welcome any information we can get and, hopefully, the reward will be some motivation for that."

Elliott's husband, James Elliott, found his wife bloodied and surrounded by toppled furniture, police said. He called 911 to report a homicide at about 7 p.m. Friday evening.

The couple had lived in the home more than 30 years.

"With any heinous crime like this, we appreciate all the help we can get," Spellman said.

Gwinnett Daily Post