Appearances
By Marilyn Aciego
EUSTIS, Fla. — “I accidentally killed someone. Please.”
That’s how a 911 call began in a case that would unravel into allegations of control, isolation and abuse within a family investigators later described as cult-like.
“My stepmom… My dad is going to kill me,” the caller told the operator, identifying himself as Ian Anselmo. “I guess I strangled her. I don’t remember doing it. I remember the argument.”
The victim, 39-year-old Sue-Ellen Anselmo, who was pregnant at the time, was found in a Eustis cemetery.
As the investigation progressed, authorities uncovered allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, along with the isolation and manipulation of children. Ian Anselmo pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and the case centered on questions surrounding influence, coercion and mental health.
Longtime Central Florida journalist Frank Stanfield is revisiting the case in his latest book, “Murder in the Graveyard: A Family Cult Tragedy.”
Stanfield, a veteran reporter and editor, covered the case as it unfolded and describes it as one of the most twisted stories he has covered. Over a career spanning decades, he has reported on everything from alligator attacks and slain law enforcement officers to high-profile and unusual “Florida man” cases.
The book examines not only the crime, but the family dynamics and psychological manipulation investigators say led up to it, as well as what happened inside the courtroom.
Murder in the Graveyard: A Family Cult Tragedy is available in print, e-book and audiobook formats, including through Amazon.
Brand New Episode Of INSIDE LEESBURG With Katie Sartoris
For more than 50 years, Leesburg journalist Frank Stanfield has been at the forefront of the stories that have shaped Central Florida. From high-profile court cases to the most chilling true-crime moments, his reporting for the Orlando Sentinel and Leesburg Daily Commercial has left a lasting impact on the community.
In this episode of Inside Leesburg, we sit down with Stanfield to reflect on his remarkable career in journalism, the evolution of local news, and the unforgettable cases he’s covered along the way.
We also dive into his latest book, Murder in the Graveyard: A Family Cult Tragedy, which unpacks the shocking and tragic murder of Sue Ellen Anselmo — a case that stunned the region.
Book signing Feb. 15 at Barrel of Books and Games in Mount Dora, with surprise visitors Dejah-Thoris Waite and her grandmother, Cindy Miller.
Journalist Frank Stanfield Returns With Fourth True-Crime Book Rooted in Eustis Case |
February 5, 2026
Journalist Frank Stanfield Returns With Fourth True-Crime Book Rooted in Eustis Case
2.8 min read|Published On: February 5th, 2026
After 50 years covering cops, courts and crimes, longtime journalist and Style Magazine correspondent Frank Stanfield says he still finds himself drawn to the stories where life and death intersect — and where the truth is often buried beneath layers of secrecy.
“I’ve been a newspaper reporter and editor for 50 years,” Frank says. “A lot of that has to do with reporting on the cops and courts. The reason I like doing that is because this is real life and death. This is the most dramatic thing you could possibly deal with.”
That career-long focus has shaped Frank’s fourth true-crime book, the latest in a series of works.
Frank’s previous books include Unbroken, which tells the story of Dorothy Lewis, a woman whose faith carried her through an unimaginable crime, as well as investigations into cult violence and bizarre crimes that once made national headlines in Vampires, Gators, and Wackos: A Florida Newspaperman’s Life. Then there was Cold Blooded, the story about a vampire cult case, which also took place in Eustis.
Faith, Frank said, often becomes a defining thread.
“If I have an element of faith,” Frank says, “that just really seals the deal for me.”
His newest book centers on a case that began with a 911 call that immediately stood out.
“This 911 operator answers the phone,” Frank says. “‘I just killed someone. My stepmother. At the cemetery.’ That’s weird, right up my alley.”
From there, the investigation unraveled a deeply disturbing family history, exposing what Frank describes as a pattern of control, secrecy and fear that had gone unchecked for years. As the homicide investigation unfolded, long-buried allegations surfaced, relationships fractured and a community was forced to confront unsettling truths.
“There’s no secrets in a homicide investigation,” Frank says. “All this stuff comes out.”
The victim, Sue Ellen, was at the center of a deeply fractured family dynamic that came into full view only after her death. She left her husband after learning that her adult daughter, Deja, alleged she had been sexually abused by him. Outraged, Sue Ellen removed several of the children from the home and sought safety elsewhere, a decision that intensified tensions within the family.
Sue Ellen
Despite documented threats and fear, she agreed to meet her stepson at Greenwood Cemetery, a place that held significance for the family. There, investigators later determined she was strangled. It was later revealed that she was approximately six weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
The homicide triggered a sweeping investigation that exposed years of control, isolation and secrecy within the household. Testimony detailed strict rules that limited contact with the outside world, communication, media access and independence for the children. Following the killing, conflicts continued to unfold publicly, including confrontations at the cemetery and the eventual removal and cremation of Sue Ellen’s remains.
The case ultimately went to trial, where jurors were tasked with navigating complicated questions of mental health, accountability and responsibility. Frank devotes attention in the book to the challenges of insanity defenses and the conflicting testimony often presented by experts.
“Psychology is a soft science,” Frank says. “There’s going to be disagreement.”
While the trial itself delivered a final verdict, Frank said the deeper story lies in what the case reveals about family dynamics, abuse and the warning signs that can be overlooked.
“It just shows how controlling this was,” he says. “It’s the patriarch to the point of — it’s a family cult. There’s a family code. You cannot tell anybody what happens outside this family.”
Now, with decades of experience behind him, Frank said this book reflects exactly why he continues telling these stories.
“This is the real story,” he says. “You get to deal with the worst human beings on the face of the earth, and the nicest people in the world – the victims and families. It’s an incredible opportunity.”
Frank’s fourth true-crime book is available through Amazon and WildBlue Press.
Photos of Frank Stanfield by Nicole Hamel
Had a great chat with podcaster Dan Zupansky last week. Here are the links if you want to check it out. If you like it please like and share:
https://podcasts.apple.com/.../murder-in.../id393525078...
https://open.spotify.com/episode/25haQB8AvdrtZJMv25zN5x
https://www.truemurderpodcast.com/murder-in-the-graveyard/
https://www.spreaker.com/.../murder-in-the-graveyard...
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064697978510