Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition | April 19, 2026
This morning at 9:54 a.m., James Ellerby — known and loved throughout Putnam County as “Uncle James” — made his transition to eternal rest. His family was with him. According to a statement posted by his daughter, he exhibited great determination in expressing his final goodbyes. He fought as best he could. And then he was gone.
Ten days after being beaten in the Sav-a-Lot parking lot on April 8, 2026, James Ellerby became a homicide victim. What was already a heartbreaking story is now a devastating one — and it demands more from this community than grief.
He Was Someone
James Ellerby was not an abstract symbol of a policy failure. He was a man with a name, a laugh, a dog, and decades of relationships woven through this small town. He showed up at Bible studies. He chatted with strangers who became friends. He was loud sometimes, yes — and generous, and present, and real.
PCHSC Strategic Alliance Lead William “Red” Conrad knew him personally. “During my own time experiencing homelessness, James was a great friend to me,” Red said. “He introduced me to people. Our dogs loved each other and played together. He didn’t deserve this. I’m going to miss him. I’m going to miss being able to talk to him.”
That is who we lost today. Not a statistic. A friend.
What His Death Demands
A suspect, Jacquez Stephon Miller, 26, is in custody. We expect and demand that charges be reviewed and upgraded to reflect what this now is — a homicide. Justice for James Ellerby means the full weight of the law applied to the full weight of what was done to him.
But justice in a courtroom, while necessary, is not enough. James Ellerby’s death raises questions this community must answer with more than prayers and a verdict.
People experiencing homelessness are more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators. (ABC News) The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that less than half of violent victimizations of people experiencing homelessness are ever reported to police. (National Coalition for the Homeless) James’s death is not an aberration. It is the visible peak of a largely invisible epidemic of violence against our most exposed neighbors.
What the PCHSC Is Committed To
The Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition will not allow James Ellerby’s name to fade into the background noise of community tragedy. We are committing publicly, today, to the following:
- We will push for better policing and visible patrols that treat every citizen in this county — housed or unhoused — as worthy of protection.
- We will continue organizing the R.I.S.E. Initiative — recently approved by the Palatka City Commission — which will provide both a day center and overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Putnam County. A building is still needed. James’s story is exactly why that building matters. Research has found that rehousing older adults may directly reduce the risk of experiencing violent victimization. (PubMed Central) Shelter saves lives. We intend to prove it.
- We will advocate for multiagency coordination between the Palatka Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and community organizations so that vulnerable people in public spaces are protected rather than ignored.
Until we create the political will to invest in solving homelessness, we need to look directly at the dangers our neighbors without homes face. (Ucsf) The PCHSC is looking directly. We are asking Putnam County to look with us.
To James’s Family
To the children who sat with their father in his final hours, who watched that monitor go flat, who now carry this grief — the PCHSC extends its deepest condolences. He was loved here. He will be remembered here. We ask for your patience and understanding as you prepare to send him home one final time, and we honor your request for respect in this sacred season of mourning.
To This Community
James Ellerby fought for ten days. The least we can do is fight for what comes next.
If you want to stand with the PCHSC in demanding better for the unhoused members of our community, visit PutnamHomelessCoalition.org and join us.
Do not let Uncle James become just another headline. Let him be the reason something changes.
Rest in peace, James. You will be missed by more people than you probably knew.
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