She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. On Wednesday evening, that day finally arrived with the arrest of Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, who was tied to the young woman's 1985 slaying thanks to DNA recovered from the butt of his. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. We did this time and time again. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. He got to have a family. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Year's Day in 1985 at Darryl's Bar & Grille. "She can finally rest.". From there, the Pensacola police, FDLE and Parabon constructed a family tree, starting with the distant relatives, that eventually led them to identify Wells as a suspect. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? There are 5 court records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". Wells, who was living in Pensacola at the time of his arrest, was identified after Parabon NanoLabs, a Virginia-based company working with the Pensacola Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, ran a DNA sample obtained from the scene of the crime through an open-source genealogy database and identified several different people believed to be distant cousins of the suspect. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. However, Vanita said the young mother was not yet ready to call it a night and requested to pick up her son on her behalf. . "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Tonya Ethridge McKinley, then 23, had just left a New Year's Eve celebration before she was strangled and sexually assaulted in Pensacola, allegedly by Daniel Leonard Wells, now 57, according to police. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. "It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. Cops said they confirmed he was their suspect by getting his DNA from a discarded cigarette. Tonya's body was found shortly before 5 a.m. on New Year's Day by a family living on Peacock Drive who were taking their sick dog to an all-night veterinarian clinic. Search for profiles by email and username. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Daniel Leonard Wells' Arrest Photo (Image provided by Pensacola Police Department) Police needed him to discard something with DNA evidence, and eventually, an officer witnessed him tossing a cigarette butt. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. No suspects had been publicly named. It is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history and the first time the familial DNA method has been used to solve a case in Northwest Florida. When asked whether Tonya was disturbed by anyone or garnered unwanted attention from strangers, Vanita said, At least I did not see any such thing. He is being held in Escambia County jail. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. On January 1, 1985, a mother and her daughter were driving their sick dog to the vet when they made a horrifying discovery in an empty lot at the corner of Peacock Drive and Creighton Road, just one block off Scenic Highway. daniel leonard wells pensacola daniel leonard wells pensacola. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. The investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. Read More: Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now? From there, Pensacola police, FDLE and Parabon constructed a family tree, starting with the distant relatives, that eventually led them to identify Wells as a suspect. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. Additional court records revealed Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on . In the meantime, a baby boy grew up without a mother, parents buried their daughter without knowing justice, and a killer was walking around free. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Phone Numbers. Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". McKinley was last seen alive around 1:30 a.m. at Darryls Bar & Grille in Pensacola, and in the early-morning hours of New Years Day her body was found in an empty lot at the corner of Peacock Drive and Creighton Road, just one block off Scenic Highway. DNA evidence lifted from a discarded cigarette led Florida police to the man they believe killed a young mother 35 years ago, authorities said Thursday. The investigators had to wait for more than 35 years before they finally arrested the murderer with the help of cutting-edge forensic technology at their disposal. Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and held without bail. Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest warrant. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 5 records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. It is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history and the first time the familial DNA method has been used to solve a case in Northwest Florida. Tonya's body was found shortly before 5 a.m. on New Year's Day by a family living on Peacock Drive who were taking their sick dog to an all-night veterinarian clinic. At the time of the incident, Tonya Ethridge McKinley and her 17-month-old son, Timothy, had moved in with her cousin, Vanita Biasco, to Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida, in late 1984, following a split with the infants father. Years later, thanks to advances in DNA testing, all of the evidence was identified as being from the same person, but no matches were ever found in the national DNA database. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. May go by: Dan Leonard Wells Age. Results for this person or the person you are looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results. Wells was identified after Parabon NanoLabs, a Virginia-based company working with the Pensacola Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, ran a DNA sample obtained from the scene of the crime through an open-source genealogy database and identified several different people believed to be distant cousins of the suspect. He was set for a court appearance in the case on April 8 at 8:30 a.m. McKinley was last seen alive around 1:30 a.m. at Darryls Bar & Grille in Pensacola, and in the early-morning hours of New Years Day her body was found in an empty lot at the corner of Peacock Drive and Creighton Road, just one block off Scenic Highway. No suspects had been publicly named. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. He is being held.. His age is 60. He wasn't going to ever just say what he did on his own., "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. May 8, 2022 | In best courses to study in uk for masters | . . Assessor records link the name of Daniel Wells to thirteen properties, including . Around three and a half decades later,Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonyas homicide. Find census, military, and other historical records.*. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Orlando police used the method in November 2018 to identify a suspect in the 2001 murder of Christine Franke and arrested Benjamin Holmes for first-degree murder. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said in a statement Thursday. (816) 468-.css-1y2reja{color:transparent;position:relative;z-index:12;text-shadow:0.1rem 0.1rem 0.6rem #089FE4;}LIYF. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. ", Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200402/suspect-in-1985-northwest-florida-cold-case-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell. McCall said she's pleased about the arrest in her sister's case but saddened that her dad died a decade ago without knowing that his daughter's alleged killer would someday be caught. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery in the 1985 murder of 23-year-old Tonya Ethridge McKinley. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. All rights reserved. was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. Daniel has lived in a single family house in Liberty, MO with Mary. My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life, McKinleys now-grown son Timothy Davidson Jr. said according to the outlet. He's now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. He wasnt going to ever just say what he did on his own.. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. Contact info for Daniel Wells in Pensacola, Florida: Phone number, address lookup, email address, and social networking profiles on Spokeo, your people search engine for contact info & public records. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. Zaznacz stron. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. The investigators had to wait for more than 35 years before they finally arrested the murderer with the help of cutting-edge forensic technology at their disposal. View Dan Rowdy Wells's record in Pensacola, FL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. PENSACOLA Tonya Ethridge McKinley was 23 years old and had an 18-month-old son waiting for her at home when she was killed in the early-morning hours of Jan. 1, 1985, in Pensacola. Years later, thanks to advances in DNA testing, all of the evidence was identified as being from the same person, but no matches were ever found in the national DNA database. But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley's killer to Wells' family and then to him, police said. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. The witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. According to court records, Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges, but the witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. According to court records, Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 for battery and witness tampering, but the witness tampering charge was dropped after he pled no contest to the battery charge. Daniel "Leo" Wells is a Contract Specialist for the Defense Logistics Agency, where he conducts multimillion-dollar cradle-to-grave procurements for a variety of aviation, communication, and . Press J to jump to the feed. I'm positive of that.". She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. Two weeks after his arrest in a 35-year-old cold case murder, Daniel Leonard Wells was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, dead of an apparent suicide. Disclaimer: Reference to these media outlets or TV shows should not be construed to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of Spokeo or its products. Landlines (4) (850) 584-9629 (816) 584 . and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A 57-year-old man has been arrested for the 1985 cold case murder of 23-year-oldTonya Ethridge McKinley in Pensacola. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.". Have a tip or story idea? 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. Wells was identified after Parabon NanoLabs, a Virginia-based company working with the Pensacola Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, ran a DNA sample obtained from the scene of the crime through an open-source genealogy database and identified several different people believed to be distant cousins of the suspect. He got to have a family. Thats all moot now. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. The victim was identified as Tonya, and an autopsy report stated she was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. He was set for a court appearance in the case on April 8 at 8:30 a.m. "(Wells) is a coward he didn't even wait until the trial even started," said McKinley's son, Tim Davidson Jr., who was just 18 months old when his mother was murdered. Emailus. She was last seen alive around 1:30 a.m. at Darryls Bar & Grille in Pensacola, and in the early-morning hours of New Years Day her body was found in an empty lot at the corner of Peacock Drive and Creighton Road, just one block off Scenic Highway. Vanita told the investigators the night of December 31, 1984, had begun festively with her, her husband, and Tonya going to Darryls Bar & Grille in Pensacola to celebrate the New Year countdown. "The reasons why this happened, how evil crossed Tonya's path, may never be answered and in the end may not be important," according to police. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. Court records viewed by Law&Crime show no attorney of record. Investigation Discoverys On The Case With Paula Zahn: New Years Eve Nightmare chronicles the brutal rape and murder of 23-year-old mother Tonya McKinley in Pensacola, Florida, on the first day of 1985. "There are people out there who know (what happened). The landline phone number 8165849629 is registered to Daniel Leonard Wells in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd. She said she did not have any more information to share. I'm positive of that.". Search for birth, death, marriage, divorce, US Census, and military records. According to the arrest report, there is a greater than 1 in 700 billion chance that the DNA from the crime scene is a match to anyone other than Wells. , military, and military records. * have any more information to share the unsolved murder 23-year-oldTonya... The identity of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer after obtaining a cigarette... Search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping web. Her death, was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charge was after! 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daniel leonard wells pensacola