KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Story courtesy of WVLT) – A verdict has been reached in the trial of Marquis Ellis, one of the men accused in the “revenge killing” of Danishka Mejia.
The trial began on Monday, March 9, centering around Mejia’s murder at a South Knoxville home in April 2024. It happened just a day after she reported a sexual assault.
The man Mejia named in that assault, Latawyne Osborne, pleaded guilty to several charges, including first-degree murder, last June and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
On Monday, officials with the Knox County District Attorney’s office said a jury found Ellis, Osborne’s accomplice, guilty of 26 counts, including the following:
- First-degree murder
- Aggravated burglary in concert
- Aggravated burglary
- Two counts of attempted first-degree murder
- Attempted second-degree murder
- Employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony
- Especially aggravated kidnapping
- Robbery
- Delivery of fentanyl
- Setting fire to personal property
- Tampering with evidence
Officials said the judge sentenced Ellis to life in prison on the first-degree murder count. Sentencing for the remaining counts is set for July 17.
Two other people were also charged in connection to Mejia’s death and are awaiting trial: Edward Wilson and Angela Greenburg. Wilson faces several charges, including first-degree murder, and Greenburg, who is Osborne’s mother, was charged with tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact.
