Northeast News
August 6, 2013

For two years, the deer known as Ella roamed the grounds of the Elmwood Cemetery, becoming a well-liked addition.

Ella, who was born in the cemetery, lost her mother when she was struck by a vehicle across the street. Ella chose to make Elmwood her home and even stood beside mourners during graveside services or would walk up to individuals passing through the cemetery.

On Sunday, Aug. 4, however, cemetery security found Ella on the grounds, shot to death.

“The rational mind can’t try to even figure something like this out,” Elmwood Cemetery Board member Bruce Mathews told KCUR. “Everybody who looked after her, everybody who would come to visit the cemetery, the officers from the East Patrol station – all I can say is it was somebody with a hard heart and confused mind.”

Mathews called her a “goodwill ambassador” and said the cemetery board is planning to schedule a memorial for Ella in the upcoming weeks. Ella will also be honored during Elmwood’s Oct. 5 picnic.