Officer Jason Scott Ellis, 33, was ambushed and killed in the pre-dawn hours of May 25, 2013, while heading home after his shift on the Bluegrass Parkway. As he took exit 34, tree limbs had been deliberately scattered across the roadway. Ellis stopped his cruiser to remove the debris and was fired on from a nearby embankment with a 12-gauge shotgun, sustaining multiple wounds. A passing motorist found his cruiser with its lights flashing and used the radio to call for help; Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene with his service weapon still in its holster.

Kentucky State Police, assisted by the FBI, have classified the attack as a calculated, premeditated ambush. Investigators noted the branches were not native to the immediate area, suggesting they were planted to lure a target. While authorities believe a law enforcement officer was targeted, it remains unclear whether Ellis was the specific intended victim. The murder remains unsolved; the FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction, and in February 2024 a special prosecutor in a related case said evidence connecting to the fallen officer had been found.

Does anyone have information about sightings or activity near exit 34 on the Bluegrass Parkway around May 25, 2013?