PORT TOWNSEND — The body of a woman found in Port Townsend Bay on Wednesday was identified as that of Melissa Christine Ellis of Oak Harbor, a mother of three children younger than 10 years.
Authorities said the 31-year-old had been missing since Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving.
“An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be saltwater drowning, manner undetermined,” said Oak Harbor Police Detective Sgt. Teri Gardner.
“There is no indication at this time of foul play.”
A couple taking photographs in downtown Port Townsend spotted Ellis’ decomposed body in an area formerly occupied by the Tidal Bowl, which was dismantled this month, shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The body — which had been in the water for some time, authorities said — was tentatively identified Thursday on the basis of tattoos.
Her identity was announced Friday after her family was notified.
The autopsy was performed in Port Townsend on Thursday, and the determination was made by Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Scott Rosecrans, acting as county coroner.
Ellis was last seen leaving her Oak Harbor home between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, and she reportedly told family that she was going to Coupeville or the beach, Gardner said.
A missing-person’s report was filed shortly after her disappearance. A cellphone belonging to Ellis was found on a sidewalk near her Oak Harbor residence.
Gardner said Ellis suffered from memory lapses and told friends she was feeling stressed before her disappearance.
Ellis was known to frequent beaches. She did not drive and was known to ride transit buses, according to the missing-person’s report.
Gardner told the Whidbey News Times that Ellis’ three children are staying with family in Oak Harbor.
Ellis had a tattoo of her two oldest children on her left shoulder.
Many of Ellis’ family members live out of state, Gardner said.
Since her disappearance, authorities have investigated whether Ellis boarded a bus but found no trace of her, the Whidbey News Times said, adding that police are still in the process of trying to ascertain whether she boarded a ferry.
Gardner said it remains unknown how Ellis’ body ended up in Port Townsend Bay.
There are no preliminary indications that Ellis was intoxicated when she died, but Gardner said standard procedure dictates that a toxicology screen be performed.
Port Townsend Police Sgt. Joe Kaare said it will be several weeks before the toxicology report and final medical examiner’s report will be available.
Gardner told the Whidbey newspaper that she knew Ellis personally and described her as a joy to be around.
“She was a good person,” Gardner said.
A fund for Ellis’ family was in the process of being set up at Whidbey Island Bank on Friday afternoon, the newspaper said.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant contributed to this report.
