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Former Orange County deputy seeks bond in wife’s killing case
A former Orange County sheriff’s sergeant accused of killing his wife and staging it as a suicide appeared in court Wednesday in a bid to be released on bond. Anthony Shea, charged with first-degree murder in the October 2024 death of his wife, spent hours before a judge as attorneys debated whether he should remain in custody.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A former Orange County sheriff’s sergeant accused of killing his wife and staging it as a suicide appeared in court Thursday in a bid to be released on bond.
What we know:
Former Orange County sheriff’s sergeant Anthony Shea appeared in court Thursday seeking bond as he awaits trial on first-degree murder charges in the death of his wife, Lt. Eloilda "Ellie" Shea.
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Prosecutors contend he killed her in October 2024 and staged it to look like suicide. The hearing lasted hours but ended without a decision, with the judge promising a written ruling within days.
Orange County Sheriff's Office Lt. Eloilda Ellie Shea
What we don't know:
The court has not yet determined whether Shea will be granted bond. His wife’s official cause of death has not been fully detailed in court, and questions remain over whether digital evidence — including text messages and an audio recording — will prove decisive at trial.
The backstory:
On Oct. 14, 2024, Shea called 911, claiming to have found his wife shot in a bedroom. Investigators initially believed it was suicide, but four days later arrested Shea, citing his DNA on the gun’s trigger and evidence they say pointed to a cover-up.
Prosecutors also referenced a message that Lt. Shea sent a friend before her death in which she said she would not take her own life.
Looking Ahead:
The trial is scheduled to begin in February 2026.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Orange County Sheriff's Office and court proceedings in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court on Sept. 4, 2025.