Sunday, November 27, 2011

Richard Mark Ellard Case

Richard Mark Ellard who kidnapped, assaulted, and shoved Nancy Conn Mcreary and her cousin Charlotte Parks into the trunk of the his car which was used as a makeshift gas chamber. Her cousin was brutally murdered and McCreary was beaten blind in one eye, supposedly drowned, stabbed, then thrown over a steep embankment and left for dead. Richard Ellard was released on parole after serving less than half of his sentence, and he continued to stalk Nancy Conn until he was caught again. McCreary has been the recipient of numerous plaques, awards, and certificates, and has appeared on Oprah Winfrey twice, a Geraldo Rivera special, Maury Povich, and the 700 Club twice, as well as four other talk shows in the northeast US. After articles recounting her victimization appeared in Woman's Day and Readers Digest, she was contacted by a producer in Los Angeles who wanted to produce a made-for-TV movie about the victimization and her transition from victim to survivor. The result was a movie titled Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story. After being a widow for almost 28 years Mrs. McCreary married James McCreary in 1993. She is the mother of Gary Wayne Conn and Leisa Conn Daniel and the grandmother to two granddaughters and one grandson. Nancy Conn McCreary serves from the 2nd congressional district, but is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. She worked several years as a legal secretary in Birmingham prior to working in the Jefferson County District Attorney's office as the Victim Service Officer in 1985. Mrs. McCreary moved to Montgomery to serve as the State Victim Service Officer for then Attorney General Siegelman. She worked in that capacity from January 11, 1988 until February 1, 1999 when she transferred to the Board of Pardons and Paroles as Victim Service Officer. On May 4, 2000 Mrs. McCreary was appointed to serve on the Board by Governor Siegelman


Tidbits

Since the making of the movie. Nancy Conn Mcreary has been under fire for her votes to release two rapists here in Alabama. Many could not understand how a woman who had been violated and beaten herself could ever vote for the release of these type of offenders. Here is what one victim's advocate had to say about Conn in an interview: Miriam Sheehan, victim's advocate, says she lost her perspective years ago. I don't care how good they were in prison. I don't care if they will never do it again." Nancy defended herself in several interviews. She states: "you would not believe how thoroughly the files are researched and weighed very closely. The thing that disturbs me most is the fact that some victims feel like I have deserted them and that does concern me because I have not and will not. I remember so many years of criticizing the Board myself because I didn't know. But when you know what is in those files and all the evidence and things you have to weigh then you have a better understanding."

11 comments:

  1. I would like to know where is Markk Ellard now

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    1. Mark Ellard is serving a life sentence at Baldwin State Prison in Ga

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    2. He was my cellmate at Jenkins CCA for a few months.He told me about the incident but didn't show any measure of remorse or compassion.Definitely seems to have a problem with females.

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  2. In 1971 or 1972 I was brought to Blount County Jail, Alabama as a 13/14 year old female runaway where myself and my girlfriend who also was a runaway was placed in a cell beside Richard Mark Ellard. We spent many ( I believe 30) days and nights there. Mr Ellard talked to us alot about the murders he committed.Early one morning Sherriff Carr came in.There was a lot of commotion.Mr Ellard had been trying to escape.He had dug a hole through a block wall with a spoon.My friend and I were accused of aiding him because the jailer and his wife(she was the cook)had told that we were singing loudly that night in the cell.I will never forget what we were singing and why.We were singing The chicken song,(c-what a way to begin,h-I'm the second letter in) to drown out the terrifying things he was telling about the murder,murders he committed.I have tried and forgotten all that I could yet I believe he told us of another murder as well and maybe it is a false memory of a child.I had nightmares in which he was trying to murder me for years.Today I'm 55 years old and still experience moments of fear.Afraid he told us something he is willing to kill us to keep us silent.i lost contact with my girlfriend many years ago.I wonder if her memories are the same as mine.I wonder if she remembers.I wonder if the incident has affected her life as it has mine. Are my fears well founded?

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    1. Wow I just finished watching the movie about this story. I can't believe what a creepy creep was able to escape and kept harassing Nancy. I hope he doesn't escape again. Who knows what is going on in that sick head. Amazing that even though they released him on parole, they were able to put him back behind bars. Good thing!

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  3. Does anyone answer these questions?

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  4. Hi, I have not been in contact with Nancy Conn in many years. She does read this site if you have questions for her maybe she can answer them. As far as I know the murderer is still incarcerated.

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    1. Mark Ellard is now serving at Jenkins Correctional Center in GA.

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  5. If The real Nancy Conn ever reads this ,I would like to say what an amazing ,brave lady she is ,(as was her cousin Charlotte)...
    I`m glad her assailant is still behind bars...imo he ought never to be released.(
    I also hope Nancy has managed to overcome her dreadful nightmares ,and is living as happy and fulfilled a life as possible..)

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  6. hello Nancy - i am an avid reader of true crime and watched the movie about ur attack. it was horrendous and heartbreaking to say the least but I'm so glad u came back strong and stopped his parole. I was yelling at my cpu when u guys caught him using ur trap and just wanted the cops to shoot him dead. I wish with all my heart that he would have died at some point. But regardless - bravo to you.

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  7. This is why I am for the death penalty,let evil scum know that they will me their maker 'now',not in 16 years for the crime of murder.

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