Charges filed in Gifford Murder Case

A homeless woman is charged in connection with the death of 62-year-old Thomas Gifford who was found dead in the 17-hundred block of Highway 5 South of Camdenton on February 16th.
Detectives from the Camden County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with several other agencies in the state to locate and arrest 39-year-old Chrisma D Ellis, known to frequent Camdenton, Sunrise
Beach, Lebanon, Lee’s Summit, and Kansas City. Detectives identified Ellis as a person of interest early in the investigation and traveled to Kansas City late last week to take her into custody. Ellis has been in the Camden County Jail since February 23rd on related auto theft charges, while the investigation into the homicide continued. Ellis is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and tampering with a motor vehicle. She is being held without bond.