March trial date set in 1979 Cape Girardeau murder case

A trial date has been set in the case of Max Ellison, a former sheriff's deputy charged with the 1979 murder of Deborah L. Martin. The five-day jury trial will begin at 9 a.m. March 29 before New Madrid County Circuit Judge Fred Copeland. Ellison will be tried on first-degree murder and first-degree robbery charges in the death of Martin, who died after a fall from a residential balcony at her home and business at 605 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The case was moved to New Madrid County on a change of venue. Evidence against Ellison includes a taped confession made to former Stoddard County sheriff Ralph Mouser and an alleged money trail implicating Ellison, according to court documents. In letters to the Southeast Missourian, Ellison, 61, has denied any involvement in Martin's death and said he confessed to the crime in an effort to escape from federal prison, where he was incarcerated at the time.