Alabama inmate fighting execution killed world famous masked Elvis impersonator in 1998 double murder
Jimmy Ellis, who was gunned down in his Dallas County pawnshop in 1998, had toured the country years earlier as an Elvis impersonator. He still has fans across the world.
Mason Reed 
As death row inmate Jeffery Lee faces a high-stakes legal battle to stall his scheduled execution at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility, the world is looking back at the 1998 tragedy that landed him there. While Lee fights for his life, the legacy of one of his victims—a globally recognized musical figure who performed behind a mask—continues to resonate with fans decades later.
A Violent Tragedy in Orrville
Lee has spent more than 25 years on death row for the 1998 robbery and shooting at Jimmy’s Pawn Shop in Dallas County. On December 12, 1998, Lee entered the business with his brother and cousin before returning later with a sawed-off shotgun. He fired multiple shots, killing shop owner Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson. A third person, Helen King, survived the attack and later recounted how she feigned death until Lee fled the scene. Lee was arrested the following day in Georgia.
The Man Behind the Mask
Jimmy Ellis was far more than a local business owner; he was the man behind Orion, the enigmatic singer who rose to fame during a time when some conspiracy theorists believed Elvis Presley was still alive. Captivated by his voice, which mirrored the King of Rock 'n' Roll, fans were drawn to the mystery of the masked performer.
The documentary Orion: The Man Who Would Be King explores how Ellis, who originally hailed from Orrville and trained world-champion walking horses, was thrust into stardom under the Sun Records banner. Shelby Singleton, the label's owner, utilized the public's grief following Elvis's 1977 death to build the Orion persona. Despite his success, Ellis reportedly struggled with the gimmick, feeling the mask stifled his own identity.
Enduring Legacy
Even today, Orion remains a significant figure in music history. With over 6,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, his cult following persists. Sun Records marketing manager Laura Pochodylo noted that Orion’s influence reaches modern artists like Orville Peck, stating, "Orion was a talented artist and his murder was a tragedy that cut a life short."
The Current Legal Fight
Lee’s execution, initially slated for Thursday via pure nitrogen gas, remains in limbo. On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that the state's nitrogen protocol is unconstitutional, citing an "unconstitutional risk of pain." The Alabama Attorney General’s Office has appealed this decision to the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, leaving the execution's status uncertain as 205focus.com continues to monitor the situation.
