Neither authorities nor the family has provided a clear motive for Valeries murder, though a coroners report noted Cameron, a Harvard graduate who reportedly suffered from mental health problems and was living with his parents, had been acting erratically and aggressively in the days prior. the estate is owned by Kaitland H Ely and Kirsten C Ely Ron Ely's . But somehow they want to pin that on the police and double down that the police killed their brother in cold blood. Law enforcement officials claim Cameron announced he had a gun, then lunged at the deputies during their confrontation at the property. Your browser does not support the video tag. This is the exclusive $4.8 million mansion in Santa Barbara where the wife of Tarzan star Ron Ely was stabbed to death by their son. October 15, 2019:Wife and Son Killed in Tarzan Actor's Hope Ranch Home, October 29, 2019:Officers Identified in Shooting of Unarmed Hope Ranch Murder Suspect, August 27, 2020:One Santa Barbara Deputy, Five Violent Deaths, September 30, 2020:'Tarzan' Actor Ron Ely Sues Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office Over Family Deaths, October 6, 2020: District Attorney Finds Officer-Involved Shooting of Tarzan Actor's Son Justified. You might also like our free A.M. Report. In her current role, Joelle helps oversee all things TV, and enjoys being able to say she has to watch The Kardashians, America's Got Talent, Love Is Blind and Dancing with the Stars for her "work" responsibilities. Op-Ed: Santa Barbara Unified Schools Do Not Have to Be This Way, CHP to Enforce Super Bloom Traffic Issues, Helicopter Rescues Couple from Hiking Trail, Op-Ed: County Republicans Hire Accused Child Sex Trafficker for Keynote. This was not heard in the audio tape even though all other voices are heard. Cameron Ely, 30, was suspected of murdering his mother, Valerie Ely, 62, on the night of Oct. 15, 2019. He will always be remembered by me as a nice kid. Follow Loading Kirsten. It is important to remember that the plaintiffs attorneys allegations are just that allegations, not facts. We haven't been made privy to details like the forensics - was Valerie's blood on Cameron? Dated: May 6, 2021 THE LAW OFFICES OF JOHN L. BURRIS By: /S/ DeWitt M. Lacy DeWitt M. Lacy Attorneys for Plaintiff, RON ELY, by his Guardian Ad Litem KIRSTEN ELY Dated: May 6, 2021 MICHAEL C. GHIZZONI COUNTY COUNSEL By: /S/ Mary Pat Barry Mary Pat Barry Senior Deputy County Counsel Attorneys for Defendants, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA . Kaitland Ely Welcome to the world through my "Sweet Southern California" bright eyes. If you want to submit your deal, add this product to your cart and complete the checkout process. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), https://www.independent.com/2021/11/23/ely-family-wrongful-death-case-heads-to-trial/. Authorities claim Cameron announced he had a gun during his confrontation with the deputies in the homes driveway and then lunged at them. Deputies attempted to gain verbal control of the suspect; however, he presented a threat to them. The Elys and their attorneys dispute that narrative, arguing Cameron was attempting to surrender to the four deputies with his hands raised when they opened fire without reason or warning. The first killing was in 2008. The deputies firedshots that struck Cameron Elys front and back, with no evidence at all that any shots were fired back at them, according toBurris. Forty minutes passed before paramedics were allowed inside the home and declared her dead. Search by Name, Phone, Address, or Email. Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office is actively working a possible homicide in the 4100 block of Mariposa in Hope Ranch. They all tell different stories, said Lacy. Subscribe to our free P.M. Report to receive the days headlines weekdays at 4:15 p.m. Because the (Santa Barbara County) coroners department did not appropriately probe the trajectory of the bullet wounds, we cannot be 100 percent certain right now, Lacy said. Trying to accommodate Deputy Rogers cruiser, which was allegedly going too slow, a driver, who had three passengers in his own vehicle, swerved and drove head-on into the wrong-way driver coming the other way. It is our position his shooting and death was not the function of lawful police activity, he said. The sheriffs office replied: We cannot comment on pending litigation and referred us to Sheriff Browns statement from October 2020, which merely pre-echoed the same: We will respond to these allegations later, and at the appropriate place, District Court., In addition, the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office sent us a link, ostensibly to the District Attorneys findings., In actuality, the link was just a news release the D.A.s Office issued one day following the incident: During the search, deputies located the suspect on the property of the homicide. You're on the list. Actor Ron Elys Daughters Reject DAs Findings in Officer-Involved Shooting of Brother, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Kirsten Ely, the daughter of actor Ron Ely, wipes away tears while her sister, Kaitland Ely-Sweet, speaks at a press conference on the one-year anniversary of the deaths of their mother, Valerie Lundeen Ely, and brother, Cameron Ely. Members of this family express their concerns regarding the death of two family members during a contact with deputy sheriff's and this leads you believe they have "expectations of power?" We have preliminary work here showing that he was shot in the front and the back, multiple times. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription. Attorney John Burris, who leads the civil rights law firm Lacy is a member of, said the statements made by Santa Barbara authorities shouldnt be taken at face value. Neither authorities nor the family has provided a clear motive for Valeries murder, though a coroners report noted Cameron, a Harvard graduate who reportedly suffered from mental health problems and was living with his parents, had been acting erratically and aggressively in the days prior. Edhat Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Santa Barbara Community! Voted Santa Barbara's Best Website for 10 years in a row, edhat is local news from your community. Keep up with Noozhawk's daily news coverage, delivered at 4:15 a.m. right to your inbox. 2023 - All Rights Reserved. Nothing was done after he was engaged in two arguably unlawful shootings and a tragic collision, he said. 'Tarzan' star Ron Ely sues sheriff's dept. over son, wife's deaths We know about one company registered at this address Kiki E LLC. Ely family, attorneys rebuke district attorney's report - Santa Barbara We also reached out three times to Mary Pat Barry, the counsel who represents Santa Barbara County. The attorneyspresented new evidence that Santa Barbara County sheriffs deputies engaged in the unjustified use of deadly force and denial of medical care, resulting in the deaths of Elys wife and son., In an email to Noozhawk, District Attorney Joyce Dudley said, If I am presented with any new evidence, I will carefully consider it.. Photo: Kirsten Ely/Instagram; James Lemke Jr./WireImage, Woman Found Stabbed to Death at Santa Barbara Home Owned by, Fatal Shooting of Tarzan Actor Ron Ely's Son Cameron Determined to Be a 'Justifiable Homicide', 'Tarzan' Actor Ron Ely Sues Police, Claiming Son Who Stabbed Wife Was Surrendering When Cops Killed Him, Man Allegedly Killed Wanted Suspect in His Mother's Murder Before He Could Be Found by Police, 4 Dead, Including 2 Children, After Fla. Ron, 81, who is best known for his titular role in the 1960s Tarzan television series, was home at the time of the incident but had trouble communicating with officers because of a medical condition that impeded his speech, authorities said according to KTLA. What should she expect from folks we call our heroes?, Valerie suffered from a stab wound to her lung, Lacy said. 06.01.88 is the birth date of Kirsten. Her age is 37. Unless, that is, Ron Ely and his daughters resist settlement and go to trial. Decedent Cameron immediately fell to the ground motionless. Click "Accept" to agree and continue. Law enforcement officials claim Cameron announced he had a gun, then lunged at the deputies during their confrontation at the property. Kirsten Ely embraced her sister in a hug onThursday afternoon. Your passings were preventable, which makes the pain even deeper, she said. And since Santa Barbara County will doubtless seek to quietly settle the matter (with your money) on the eve of trial to ensure that the killing of Mr. Cameron is never spoken of again, zippo may be all well ever know. Attorney DeWitt Lacy, a well-known Los Angeles litigator who specializes in police misconduct cases, played the audio recording for members of the media. You're on the list. Noozhawk is a founding member of theLocal Independent Online News (LION) Publishers. Based on a transcript of a video recording provided by the Ely familysattorneys, Its pretty clear that even though there were a lot of statements made by the police there is no statement at all, none, where Cameron (Ely) saidhe had a gun, Burris said. Still, he was able to tell them that another family member was involved in the stabbing of his wife, which occurred at the exclusive Hope Ranch home. It lay next to a pool of blood on the outside tennis court. 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Scott Roder, a forensic specialist working with Lacys team, said Dudleys attempt to explain away the missing sound as a technical issue just doesnt make sense. And your dad really can give amazing advice, Kirsten wrote. The Elys claim the deputies then lied to investigators, and that the District Attorneys Office is now complicit in the alleged cover-up. Its just not possible. That is the basis for the lawsuit., Even if the deputies had good reason to believe Cameron had murdered his mother, Burris went on, they werent legally allowed to shoot him if he didnt pose an immediate threat to their lives. 'Tarzan' actor Ron Ely sues sheriffs over deaths of wife and son There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Im here to tell you today that this is an American problem that we all have to join together to do something about, he said. . Sign Up for the A.M. Report 4,894 Followers, 3,485 Following, 483 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Kaitland Ely (@sweetsoutherncalifornia) sweetsoutherncalifornia. Kirsten Ely Profiles in CA and FL - Bizapedia She graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor's degree in Television-Radio (and an appearance in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Final Four!). 'A Series of Lies' Ely Family Denounces DA for Clearing Deputies in If you believe an Independent.com user or any material appearing on Independent.com is copyrighted material used without proper permission, please click here. food. Plaintiffs have raised legitimate questions about Sheriff's response, but we should not overlook the basic fact that someone murdered Valerie, for which the Sheriffs are clearly not responsible. During Thursdayspress conference, Scott Roder with the Evidence Room unveiled its digital reconstruction of theallegedevents last fall. Ron Ely's daughters Kirsten Ely and Kaitlin Ely-Sweet spoke, describing their emotional losses in one night of their mother and their brother. Certainly, its a devastating wound, but one that someone can live from if they receive the appropriate medical aid.. Please reload the page and try again. One year to the day after their brother Cameron Ely the son of Tarzan actor Ron Ely was shot 22 times by Santa Barbara Sheriffs deputies, Kirsten Ely and Kaitland Ely Sweet and their attorneys held a tearful news conference in the driveway of the familys Hope Ranch home to rebuke a new report by the District Attorneys Office that ruled the shooting a justifiable homicide. The lawsuit also alleges deputies failed to provide timely medical attention to Cameron Ely after he was shot, and noted that he already had suffered stab wounds and an injured leg. Cameron Ely the son of Tarzan actor Ron Ely was unarmed when he was shot 22 times by four deputies at the familys Hope Ranch estate on October 15, 2019. It can be quite a gift to be able to stay their little girl it can also be horribly annoying but try to ignore the annoying part., Kirsten also referred to her father as the best dad ever in a series of blog posts titled Advice from Dad.. The shooting itself was unjustified, Burris said. This story was originally published by theSanta Barbara Independentand is reproduced here in partnership with Edhat. Success! Moreover, Lacy said, the few brief moments in the tape between when the deputies first approach Cameron and the explosion of gunfire erupts simply dont allow for that supposed series of events orders given, Cameron complying, Cameron then saying he has a gun, Cameron then not complying, deputies restating their orders to have occurred. Son of Tarzan actor Ron Ely was killed by Santa Barbara sheriffs in a He illustrated how three of the main points made in the District Attorneys report to portray Cameron as a threat to the deputies that they ordered him to the ground, that he announced he had a gun, and that the deputies commanded him to remain on the ground when he reportedly started to lunge cannot be heard at all. Now theres a way to directly enable these efforts. She came and visited the site of the wedding the day before (quite a haul from Santa Barbara to Malibu for 20 minute visit!) a new report by the District Attorneys Office, attempting to surrender to the four deputies with his hands raised, Wife and Son Killed in Tarzan Actor's Hope Ranch Home, Officers Identified in Shooting of Unarmed Hope Ranch Murder Suspect, One Santa Barbara Deputy, Five Violent Deaths, 'Tarzan' Actor Ron Ely Sues Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office Over Family Deaths, District Attorney Finds Officer-Involved Shooting of Tarzan Actor's Son Justified, A Series of Lies: Ely Family Denounces DA for Clearing Deputies in Fatal Shooting, Chemical Spill Response to State Street Marshall's. Lacy challenged that assertion, noting other dialogue is clearly audible just before and right after the shooting. Sheriffs spokesperson Raquel Zick said the department could not comment on pending litigation. We are not looking for a settlement. 2023 - All Rights Reserved. Santa Barbara, California. Allan Hancock College to honor community leaders, Westmont mens tennis falls in GSAC Championship, UCSB mens volleyballs Seif Earns AVCA Thirty Under, UCSB womens water polos season ends against Long, San Marcos triumphant in boys and girls diving, Cate girls varsity lacrosse wins Channel League, SBCC womens swimming excels in another first place, Rams announce youth football camp at SBCC, Gay, Scott lead SBCC mens golf to fifth, SBCC mens volleyball earns second straight road sweep, UCSB mens basketball secures Creighton transfer Shtolzberg, UCSBs Jordan claims mens tennis seasons final Player, Westmont womens tennis advances in GSAC Tournament, Westmont golf continues to compete in Surprise, Retailers where you can get the Santa Barbara News-Press, IRS data: As high income Californians move elsewhere, poorer residents move in, Bed, Bath, and Beyond to close in Goleta and elsewhere. They point to an audio recording of the incident that directly contradicts the deputies statements and the District Attorneys report, which relied solely on an internal Sheriffs Office investigation. Moreover, Lacy said, the few brief moments in the tape between when the deputies first approach Cameron and the explosion of gunfire erupts simply dont allow for that supposed series of events orders given, Cameron complying, Cameron then saying he has a gun, Cameron then not complying, deputies restating their orders to have occurred. On the evening of Oct 15, 2019, Santa Barbara County sheriffs deputies answered a call and rolled up to Tarzan star Ron Elys home on Mariposa Drive in Hope Ranch after being summoned and dispatched to keep the peace. Kirsten Ely said her brotherposed no threat when deputies encountered him. design. Is there something we should see or hear in the video? Country Club Wedding. The county may have bungled its opportunity to find another suspect in this case, Lacy said. There was no weapon of any kind, and so the justification for that just seems unjustified., However, an investigative report from the Sheriffs Departments investigation byDetective Matthew Banks stated that CameronElytold deputies he had a gun and he bent forward at the waist, quickly moved his hands toward his waist, and yelled, I have a gun!. The rendition that theyve cooked up doesnt pass muster, and they have to be held accountable.. In a blog entry from 2010, Kirsten, 34, wrote about everything she has learned in 25 years, including how she approaches her relationship with her parents. The pain our family has felt is so immense that we are constantly living in a nightmare that we cant wake up from, she said. You cant pick up one thing and not something else from a few feet away. The shooting occurred when Cameron and the deputies were standing within 10-12 feet of each other, Lacy said. Thank you for making the world a better place Thank you for being you:) I love you forever and a day!, In another post, Kaitland said of Valerie, She shines daily:) I am so lucky to have her I love her more than air!. Defendant deputies did not ask any questions of decedent Cameron, nor did they announce that they were members of the Santa Barbara Sheriffs Department . Valeries most serious stab injury was to one of her lungs, Lacy said. Kirsten Ely - Facebook ELYSIUM OF SANTA BARBARA - Party & Event Planning - Yelp Besides their son Cameron, Ron and Valerie, who wed in 1984, shared two daughters, Kirsten and Kaitland. We will respond to these allegations later and at the appropriate place, the district court., Burris said Cameron Elywas shot a number of times with his hands up. The family has since filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the county that also claims the deputies failed to give timely medical aid to Valerie when they responded to the scene. We are full speed ahead to trial.. The company provides scene reconstruction services, including 3D modeling andforensic animationto be used as legal or forensic demonstrative evidence at trial, the Evidence Rooms website states. Please reload the page and try again. The ensuing lawsuit for breach of protocol and reckless behavior was settled for $4.8 million (your money). 483 posts. During his 16-year career with the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office, Deputy Rogers has been involved in two other fatal shootings. Mr. Lacy said they are also looking to obtain additional audio from one of the involved deputies, and also indicated, as of right now, it is unclear which deputy opened fire first. RHS, aren't you a piece of work:) Why do you believe this family is not sincere? {Featured Entrepreneur} Kirsten Ely of Blonder Ambitions! Copyright 2023 Santa Barbara Independent, Inc. Reproduction of material from any Independent.com pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. And for ignoring a pattern and practice of civil rights violations that happened as a result of poorly trained deputies.. We will respond to these allegations later, and at the appropriate place, the District Court., Dudley had no comment on the familys accusations other than to say she would carefully consider any new evidence that I am provided.. Mr. Lacy said that leaving the bodies at the home following the incident was one of the most egregious displays, in my mind, of malfeasance, that law enforcement can make.. 6 items. The lawsuit alleges that dashboard camera video from the deputies patrol car backs their case. Microphones dont work that way, he said. It was only when they obtained the recording through their civil complaint did they realize their instincts were correct. . There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Ely's lawyer, DeWitt Lacy of Los Angeles, says it's a civil rights case arising from the still murky circumstances surrounding the deaths of Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, and Cameron Ely, 30, on. Speaking to reporters, Burris said, Our view here is not necessarily about dealing with the criminal components, but we are very much concerned about the depiction of Cameron (Ely), and suggesting that he was lawfully killed by the police. He also starred in the iconic Seventies show Fantasy Island and the 1975 film Doc Savage: The Man of Iron and Bronze. When they arrived at the scene, deputies found Valerie, 62, dead inside the home with multiple stab wounds, and identified the suspect as 30-year-old Cameron. If they have a case it should proceed but this blatant appeal to public judgment for their special cause is not productive. Kaitland and Kirsten Ely each shared heartfelt letters to their late mother and brother, with Kirsten explaining that the family has been grieving and have been unable to pick up the pieces due to the intentional deception, ineptitude and disregard for human life demonstrated by the Santa Barbara Sheriffs Department, and the conspiratorial obstruction of truth and outright lies put into print by the Santa Barbara D.A.s Office.. Just because youre an adult, it doesnt mean that mom and dad should be kicked to the curb. She added that Cameron was a source of strength for the family during times of need and expressed sorrow that his life was tragically cut short at the age of 30. Processing Sign Up Now The audio recording is conclusive proof that the statement that the DA released saying the shooting was justified is nothing more than a series of lies strung together to protect the deputies from their actions and to conceal the truth of what really happened to Cameron., Kaitland struggled to speak as she remembered her 62-year-old mother, a real-life fairy godmother, and her 30-year-old brother, a gifted athlete and musician who had the most contagious laugh and gave the best hugs. Cameron had the word veritas, Latin for truth, tattooed on his back, Kaitland said, which was illegible when he arrived at the coroners office because it had been shot through so many times by the deputies. We urge everyone to listen to the truth, she went on.
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