A Florida man who contacted law enforcement claiming he had information about a homicide investigation was instead arrested in connection with the nearly four-decade-old case, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, as reported by Fox News.

Authorities announced Thursday that 70-year-old Gary Edward Glowacz was arrested Wednesday in connection with the 1987 killing of 20-year-old Melissa Ellison.

Glowacz was booked into the Duval County Jail on charges of murder and burglary with battery.

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According to investigators, Glowacz contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and told detectives he wanted to provide information regarding Ellison's death.

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Detectives interviewed Glowacz before obtaining an arrest warrant.

The arrest marks a major development in a case that had remained unsolved since late 1987 and is one of the latest examples of investigators continuing to pursue cold cases years after the original investigations.

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the arrest demonstrates that homicide investigations remain active regardless of how much time has passed.

"Television shows condition us to believe that homicide cases that are not solved within the first 48 hours will not be solved," Waters said during a news conference. "That is patently false."

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He also acknowledged the impact the case has had on Ellison's family for nearly four decades.

"While his arrest cannot fill the enormous void left in the hearts of Melissa Ellison's loved ones, I hope that this arrest is another step in the healing process," Waters added.

The investigation dates back to Dec. 28, 1987.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, officers responded to a residence on Colejean Road at approximately 4:40 a.m. after receiving a report of a deceased person.

When officers arrived, they found Ellison dead in her bed with injuries that investigators said were consistent with blunt force trauma.

Authorities said Ellison's roommates discovered something was wrong after hearing her toddler crying from the living room couch. They checked on Ellison before contacting emergency responders.

Despite investigative efforts at the time, the case remained unsolved for decades.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office did not disclose additional details about the evidence that led investigators to seek charges against Glowacz following his interview with detectives.

Officials also did not indicate whether new forensic evidence, witness information, or other investigative techniques contributed to the arrest.

The sheriff's office credited multiple agencies and organizations for assisting with the investigation over the years.

Authorities thanked First Coast Crime Stoppers, the State Attorney's Office, Project Cold Case, and the Clay County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in advancing the investigation that ultimately resulted in Glowacz's arrest.

Glowacz remains in custody at the Duval County Jail while the criminal case proceeds through the court system.

The arrest comes nearly 39 years after Melissa Ellison's death and represents the latest cold case investigation to reach a charging decision after decades of investigative work by local law enforcement and partner agencies.

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