The day before Thanksgiving in 1996, Molly Elliott, a 28-year-old advertising executive, was preparing for a date night with her husband. Leaving her office in the French Quarter of New Orleans, she headed to her car. However, instead of reaching their dinner destination, tragedy struck as a parking lot attendant abducted and assaulted her before leaving her naked body near the East Pearl River close to the Mississippi-Louisiana border. The following morning on Thanksgiving Day, a duck hunter discovered her lifeless form at 7:45 a.m., leaving her family and friends devastated by the loss of the vibrant and beloved woman.
Molly, known for her warmth and vitality, missed out on the joys of motherhood, a successful career, and a future in the countryside that she had envisioned with her husband, Andy Elliott. Nearly three decades later, her killer, Jessie Hoffman, is poised to be the first inmate in Louisiana and only the fifth in the U.S. to face execution by nitrogen gas. Despite legal challenges, Hoffman’s execution is scheduled for the upcoming week, prompting a reflection on Molly Elliott’s life and the tragic events that unfolded.
Molly, born Mary Margaret Murphy Elliott, grew up in Phoenix before establishing a successful career in advertising in Los Angeles. After settling in Covington, Louisiana, with her husband, Molly was remembered for her infectious smile and kind spirit that lit up any room. Her husband described her as intelligent, warm, and trusting, noting her penchant for finding the good in others. Together, the couple enjoyed a life filled with laughter, jokes, and a shared love for their country home and animals.
As the anniversary of her birth passed, loved ones continued to mourn Molly’s absence, honoring her memory and the impact she had on their lives. The tragic events leading to her untimely death serve as a somber reminder of the loss felt by those who knew and cherished Molly Elliott.
An 18-year-old named Hoffman, who had only been working at the garage for a couple of weeks, abducted her at gunpoint and coerced her into withdrawing around $200 from an ATM, according to prosecutors. They stated that even if Hoffman had released her at that point, it would have been a night of extreme terror for her.
Prosecutors revealed that the ATM footage captured the fear on Ms. Elliott’s face as she withdrew money, with Hoffman standing beside her. Following the cash withdrawal, Hoffman compelled Elliott to drive to a secluded area in St. Tammany Parish. Despite her pleas for mercy, prosecutors stated that Hoffman confessed to eventually committing the crime. Subsequently, Hoffman sexually assaulted Elliott, then made her exit the vehicle and walk along a dirt path in an area used as a dump.
The East Pearl River is depicted flowing at the boundary of Mississippi and Slidell, Louisiana, on May 27, 2019. Prosecutors detailed that the dreadful ordeal ended with Elliott being forced to kneel at a small, makeshift dock at the path’s end. There, she was fatally shot in the head in an execution-style manner. Prosecutors mentioned that although she likely survived for a few minutes post-shooting, she was left naked on the dock in the cold evening of November to succumb.
Her husband identified her body after it was discovered on Thanksgiving Day, according to prosecutors. Hoffman argued that he did not sexually assault Elliott, claiming that she had consented, and contended that her death resulted from an accidental discharge of his gun. However, a jury dismissed these assertions, finding Hoffman guilty of first-degree murder and recommending the death penalty.
Hoffman has since admitted to the crime and expressed deep remorse, as per his attorney, Cecelia Kappel. She relayed to USA TODAY that he fully accepts responsibility for the heinous crime and wishes to personally apologize to Molly Elliott’s family before his own demise.
If Hoffman’s execution progresses as scheduled on Tuesday, it will mark the conclusion of a 29-year-long case since Elliott’s murder. Andy Elliott, in a statement to USA TODAY, expressed his indifference between the death penalty and life imprisonment without parole after the extensive passage of time. Nevertheless, he favors the execution to alleviate the uncertainty that has lingered for years.
Elliott emphasized that while Hoffman’s death won’t offer closure, it will hopefully bring finality to the tragic events. His ultimate wish is to move past Molly’s brutal death and the associated reminders, whether through execution or life imprisonment without parole.
Contributing: Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY
This text was originally published on USA TODAY in remembrance of Molly Elliott, who was tragically killed by a Louisiana Death Row inmate.
