Estelle D. Pugh, 67, was found dead in her Richmond, Virginia apartment on the morning of Tuesday, October 6, 2020. Police conducted a welfare check at about 8:22 a.m. in the 3600 block of Chamberlayne Avenue; officers found Pugh suffering from trauma and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was asked to determine the official cause and manner of death.

Detectives identified a person of interest and focused their investigation on Louis Ellis, Jr. Investigators initially charged Ellis with felony credit card fraud tied to the case, a lead that helped move the inquiry forward. Later that month Ellis surrendered in Florida and was charged with first-degree murder and felony assault in connection with Pugh’s death.

Anyone who knew Estelle, lived in that neighborhood, or has information about what happened the morning of October 6, 2020, is asked to come forward.