Cause Of Woman's Death Still A Mystery

A medical examiner could not pinpoint a cause of death in the case of an Elizabeth woman whose decomposing body was found in in June, authorities said Thursday.

First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said that tests conducted by Dr. Alex Xun Zhang, of the Monmouth County Medical Examiner’s Office could not determine why Michelle "Peaches" Ellison, 47, of Elizabeth and Aberdeen, died.

Gramiccioni declined to elaborate. Ellison's death is being investigated as suspicious.

on an embankment of the parkway near mile marker 95.5, just off a walking trail in Allaire State Park. Her body was reported by a hiker, police have said.

Ellison, a black female, about 5’7’’ and 180 pounds who also was known as Marshelle Ellison, was last seen alive in Elizabeth at the intersection of Prince Street and Union Avenue at approximately 4:41 a.m. on July 2, police said.

The clothing Ellison was discovered wearing when her body was found on a grass embankment of the Parkway was the same clothing she was seen wearing the night she was last seen on video surveillance, police have said.

The investigation is being led by the New Jersey State Police Holmdel Station Criminal Investigation Office, State Police Major Crime Unit and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. 

Anyone with information is urged to contacted State Police Detective John Cipot #6551 at (732) 441-4577 and/or Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Detective Jeffrey Wilbert at (908) 670-6833.