Friends, family trying to come to terms with Ells’ death

As police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the slaying of Ewart ‘Ells’ King of Pembroke, persons close to the 57-year-old dental technician are trying to come to grips with his passing.{{more}}

SEARCHLIGHT visited the Calliaqua neighborhood where the man, described as a friend to all, grew up.

Residents in the coastal town shared with his neighbors on the Leeward side the shock and pain of his Sunday, December 4 stabbing death, which took place at his home in the early hours of the morning.

One Calliaqua resident and friend of the family, who indicated that he knew Ells ‘from birth’, said that the death of his long time friend is very hard to bear.

The friend described King as a jolly young man, who was extremely helpful and affable.

According to the former neighbor, he last saw the deceased last Tuesday in Calliaqua, when they had a long conversation, in which King told him of future plans, which will now never become reality.

King died as a result of two stab wounds inflicted in his chest while he slept on the lower lever floor of his two storey home.

The family friend informed SEARCHLIGHT that the nickname “Ells”, the third child and first boy of 13 children born to Frank Seales and Stephanie King, was an acronym of his full name Ewart Leslie Lanfranc Seales (ELLS).

He later returned to using his mother’s name (King).

At the time of his death, King resided with his family, which included his wife Theodosha, and young children Elson, Thea, Ewart and Ellion.

He is known to have fathered at least a dozen more children.

King was said to be sleeping with his family when an intruder entered his home and stabbed him multiple times with a knife which was recovered at the scene.

The injured man managed to retrieve his licensed firearm and fired shots at the intruder, who escaped through a kitchen window.

Although bullet casings were found at the scene, King’s gun was not.

SEARCHLIGHT made attempts to speak to the wife of the deceased, but was told by family members that she was still overcome with grief and was not ready to talk.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that other relatives and friends of King, who reside overseas, are expected to return home for his funeral, which the family friend indicated will take place on Friday, December 16, at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Calliaqua.(JJ)