Where is Charlie Ely now? Latest updates since her release

Where is Charlie Ely now? Latest updates since her release

Charlie Ely came into the spotlight after being involved in the murder of teenager Seath Jackson. She was convicted along with other co-defendants for luring Seath to her home, where he was killed. But, where is Charlie Ely now? She served time in prison and was eventually released after pleading guilty to a lesser charge. Since then, Ely has maintained a relatively low public profile.

Charlie Ellie smiling and Charlie at the women’s prison in Lowell
Young Charlie Ely poses for a photo smiling indoors (L). Charlie at the women’s prison in Lowell (R). Photo: @FreeCharlieNow on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Charlie Ely was just eighteen years old when she was arrested and charged with first-degree premeditated murder in Marion County, Florida.
  • In 2011, she lived alone and allowed several other teens to move in with her.
  • One of her roommates shot and killed a fifteen-year-old boy at the residence.

Profile summary

Full nameCharlie Kay Ely
GenderFemale
Date of birth11 July 1992
Age32 years old (as of 2025)
Zodiac signCancer
Place of birthMarion County, Florida, United States
Current residence Lakeland, Florida, United States
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityWhite
ReligionChristianity
SexualityStraight
Height in inches5’4’’
Height in centimetres163
Weight in pounds115
Weight in kilograms52
Hair colourBlonde
Eye colour Blue
Relationship statusMarried
HusbandJoseph David Burham

Charlie Ely’s biography

Charlie was born on 11 July 1992 in Marion County, Florida, United States of America, where she was raised. She is 32 years old as of June 2025. She is an American national of white ethnicity.

What is Charlie Ely’s height?

Ely is 5 feet 4 inches or 163 centimetres tall. She also weighs approximately 115 pounds or 52 kilograms. Additionally, Charlie Ely's eyes are blue, and her hair is brown.

Top-5 facts about Charlie Ely
Top-5 facts about Charlie Ely. Photo:Canva.com (modified by author)
Source: Original

What happened to Charlie Ely?

She was one of five individuals arrested in connection with the 2011 murder of teenager Seath Tyler Jackson. The then 15-year-old Florida native was killed in April by a gang of five because one of the boys had a grudge against him over a girl.

Prosecutors said Ely and Amber Wright lured Seath to Ely’s home in Summerfield, where they beat and eventually killed him. Murder weapons were used in the crime, and DNA evidence was found in her trailer.

Amber was said to have been Seath's ex-girlfriend, hence the reason why Bargo (one of the co-defendants) held a grudge against him.

In October 2011, Ely, who was 19 years old at that time, was sentenced to life in prison without parole along with the other group members, Michael Bargo, Kyle Hooper, Amber Wright, and Justin Soto, who were involved in the heinous incident.

Before the sentence was imposed by Circuit Judge David Eddy, Seth Tyler Jackson's mother, Sonia Jackson, addressed the court and Ely. She said;

Some say your life is over. (But) You will still see and talk to your family. You will still get letters and birthday cards. You will still laugh and cry. I have no sympathy for the tears you shed. They have not been for Seath, but rather for what's happened to you. You could have been a hero and saved many lives.

How did Charlie Ely get released?

Charlie during her trial
Charlie at the women’s prison in Lowell (L). Charlie in a black blouse (R). Photo: @FreeCharlieNow on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

She was released due to a federal ruling that deemed her counsel ineffective during the trial. She pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder and received a 10-year prison term. She was ultimately freed, having accrued credit for time already served.

Her attorney, Jose Baez, calls it 'bittersweet.' He said;

Charlie is happy to be going home, but at the same time there’s really nothing to celebrate. She feels terrible for the Jackson family.

Michael Bargo, who prosecutors said was at the centre of the murder case, was sentenced to death. The other remaining defendants were sentenced to life in prison.

Where is Charlie Ely now?

Before release, Ely served time at the women’s prison in Lowell. After the decision to release her was made, the lawyer who procured her release, Jose Baez, addressed the media and said there was little evidence against Ely and that she did not lure Seath to his death.

Who is Charlie Ely's husband?

Since her release, Ely has not disclosed any information about her personal life. However, before her imprisonment, Charlie married Joseph David Burham.

Joseph David Burham and Charlie Ely met in 2010 and tied the knot in the same year. Her current whereabouts remain relatively undisclosed as she has maintained a discreet lifestyle since her release.

Fast facts about Charlie Ely

  1. Who is Charlie Ely? She was among the five people who were arrested in connection with the death of teenager Seath Jackson in 2011.
  2. Where is Charlie Ely from? She was born in Florida, United States of America.
  3. What is Charlie Ely’s age? She is 32 years old as of March 2025, having been born on 11 July 1992.
  4. Does Charlie Ely have a baby? She does not have a baby.
  5. Who is Charlie Ely’s husband? Her husband is Joseph David Burham. They tied the knot before she was arrested. However, it is unknown if they are still together.
  6. What is Charlie Ely’s height? She is 5 feet 4 inches or 163 centimetres tall.
  7. Does Charlie Ely have an Instagram account? No, she is not on any social media platform.
  8. Has Charlie Ely's story been depicted in any Netflix film? No there isn't any movie or TV show about Charlie.
  9. Where is Kyle Hooper now? He was sentenced to life without parole for his part in the murder of Seath Jackson. However, the sentence was amended and he will now be eligible for parole after 25 years.
  10. What happened to Kyle Hooper? Kyle was sentenced to life in prison for his part in the murder of Seath Jackson.

Charlie Kay Ely was one of the individuals involved in the murder of teenager Seath Jackson in 2011. She was convicted and served time in prison. For those wondering, where is Charlie Ely now? She was released after a federal judge ruled in her favour due to ineffective counsel during her trial.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Night Mongina avatar

Night Mongina (Lifestyle writer) Night Mongina is an article writer with an experience of more than three years. She has been working as a writer in Legit.ng since August 2021. She won the Writer of the Year Award on Legit in 2023. Night worked with (KNA) Kenya News Agency as a freelance writer (2016-2017). She graduated with a Diploma in Health Records and Information from Kisii University in 2018. In 2023, Night finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In March 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: nightmongina@gmail.com

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