Vernon Appleton Jr

A lifelong resident of Akron, Ohio, Vernon Appleton Jr. was known as a gifted athlete and an avid musician who loved his family deeply. At 24 years old, the Black / African American man was a loving father to his two daughters, Faith and La'Njae, and a cherished son and brother. Those who knew him recall his passion for rapping, making beats, and playing football and basketball. He was remembered by his family as someone who always put them first.

The course of his life was tragically cut short on the evening of November 12, 2014. Around 6:30 p.m., Akron police received calls about shots being fired in the 1100 block of Diagonal Road. When officers arrived, they found Vernon Appleton Jr. in a field behind a house. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators learned that the shooting followed a dispute between Vernon and another man outside the residence, which was known in the neighborhood as a rooming house where arguments were frequent.

Within days, the Akron Police Department identified a suspect, issuing a warrant for the arrest of 22-year-old Marriece L. Ellis on a charge of aggravated murder. Police stated that during an altercation with Vernon, Ellis allegedly fired several shots, killing him. Vernon’s family said that he had taken Ellis in at the rooming house. As police searched for Ellis, Vernon’s father, Vernon Appleton Sr., spoke about the family's pain, noting that there had been sightings of the suspect in their own neighborhoods. Vernon's mother, Dorothea Rouser, made a direct plea for Ellis to surrender, saying, "Turn yourself in. Vernon didn't deserve that."

The search for Ellis, who had a last known address on Boulevard Street and prior arrests for trafficking and forgery, was joined by the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. A reward was offered for information leading to his capture. For nearly two months, Vernon’s mother relentlessly posted pictures and pleas on social media, seeking justice for her son.

On January 7, 2015, authorities received a tip through Summit County Crimestoppers that led them to a relative's home in Cincinnati. U.S. Marshals and local police arrested Marriece Ellis without incident. Upon hearing the news, Dorothea Rouser expressed her relief, telling a reporter, "I'm satisfied, I'm glad they caught him and now justice will be served." Ellis was brought back to Akron to face the aggravated murder charge.

However, the case took an unexpected turn. After the evidence was presented to a Summit County grand jury, the jury declined to issue an indictment against Ellis for the murder of Vernon Appleton Jr. Citing a lack of evidence, prosecutors could not move forward, and Ellis was set free. In a separate incident in June 2015, Ellis was arrested on weapons charges after security at a strip club found a handgun hidden in his arm cast.

As of June 2015, the Akron Police Department confirmed that the homicide investigation into Vernon Appleton Jr.'s death remained open. His family mourned their loss at a funeral service held at Shiloh Baptist Church, and he was laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery. No further arrests or charges have been publicly announced in connection with his murder, leaving his loved ones still waiting for justice. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Akron Police Department at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS (2677).