Marion Co. woman gets life for participating in teen's murder

MARION COUNTY, Fla.,None — A young Marion County woman has been sentenced to life in prison for participating in the murder of a teenager at her home near Ocala.

A 19-year-old  Charlie Ely will soon be transferred to state prison where she will spend the rest of her life.

Ely was sentenced to life for her part in the murder of a 15-year-old boy, but she still insists she is innocent.

"They didn't have evidence against me,” she said from jail on Monday after her sentencing. “My story has never changed over the time. I didn't have a part in it."

She was convicted in September of first-degree murder in the torture and slaying of Seath Jackson in Summerfield in April.

Ely claims she is just as much a victim as Jackson.

“He was a victim of this, but there's another victim too and as soon as you guys can realize that the better,” she said.

Authorities said Jackson was lured to Ely's home, where he was beaten, tied up and shot. Arrest reports said Jackson's body was burned, and his remains were placed into buckets and tossed into a lime pit.

Ely is one of six people accused in the April 17 murder. The other defendants won't go to trial until next year.

Still facing first-degree murder charges are 19-year-old Michael Bargo, 15-year-old Amber Wright, 20-year-old Justin Soto and 17-year-old Kyle Hooper. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Bargo, who authorities identified as the shooter.

WFTV