New Carlisle teen girl pleads guilty in triple stabbing

SPRINGFIELD — One of the teen girls accused in a plotting a fatal stabbing in New Carlisle has pleaded guilty in the case.

Natasha Ellis, now 16, pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder charges in a plea deal with the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office.

Ellis has been charged as an adult and originally was indicted on charges of aggravated murder, murder, attempted murder and felonious assault – but the first and last count of the indictment were dropped as part of the deal.

In addition, Ellis has also agreed to testify against her teenage co-defendant – whose case is still going through the court system in Clark County Juvenile Court.

The charges that Ellis have pleaded to carry a heavy penalty. She could potentially be in prison for the rest of her life for the crime. The murder charge alone carries a mandatory sentence of at least 15 years behind bars.

In May 2019, prosecutors say Ellis and her then 13-year-old friend plotted to kill the 13-year-old’s family, even though Ellis was the one to carry out the act.

The 13-year-old’s mother, Lee Ann Moore, was stabbed and later died.

The teen’s brother and father were also attacked, but survived.

Ellis previously made a claim in an interview with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office that her friend was being abused and killing the family was the only solution to end it, but that claim has not been verified.

Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10.

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