Virginia Beach, 1996 was a booming coastal city on the edge of the Atlantic — a place where suburbia meets beach-town freedom… and military precision. Among its residents was Petty Officer Elise Makdessi and her husband, Eddie, a computer technician. They had moved to the city in 1994, and on the surface, everything seemed normal. Until May of 1996. Eddie Makdessi called 911 on May 14 in a panic, claiming an intruder had broken into their home, stabbed Elise, and that he had shot the attacker to defend her. At first, it seemed like a clear-cut case of self-defense. But detectives weren’t convinced. Every detail was scrutinized, all evidence closely examined. And what they discovered didn’t just raise questions — it contradicted Eddie Makdessi’s story entirely. It would take nearly a decade of investigation before justice was finally served. This is a case that reminds us: not everything is as it first appears. Sometimes, the smallest details make all the difference.
Sources:“DSS Returns Double Homicide Suspect to U.S.” by Bureau of Diplomatic Security on U.S. Department of State Archive on August 4, 2003 (https://2001-2009.state.gov/m/ds/rls/23000.htm)
“Man convicted of 1996 Murders” by The Associated Press in The Culpeper Star – Exponent on March 17, 2006
“BEACH MAN SAYS POLICE SUSPECT HIM IN DOUBLE SLAYING” by Mike Mather in The Virginia Pilot on June 13, 1996 (https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960613/06130573.htm)
“Beach Jury Convicts Man of 1996 Murders” in The Richmond Times – Dispatch on March 17, 2006
“Makdessi’s murder trial in hands of Beach jury” by Jon Frank in The Virginia Pilot on March 16, 2006 (https://www.pilotonline.com/2006/03/16/makdessis-murder-trial-in-hands-of-beach-jury/)
“VA Slaying Suspect Captured in Russia” by The Associated Press in The Richmond Times – Dispatch on July 25, 2003
“The Tailhook Scandal: How a 'Top Gun Mentality' Led to a Disastrous Navy Conference” by Blake Stilwell on Military.com on August 11, 2002 (https://www.military.com/history/tailhook-scandal-how-top-gun-mentality-led-disastrous-navy-conference.html)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39297857/elise_martin-makdessi
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/424850/quincy_bernard-brown
“Double Cross” on Forensic Files – Season 21, Episode 1 on Amazon Prime
“Deadly Accusation” on Unusual Suspects– Season 7, Episode 4 on Discovery+
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