[emailprotected]. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. The Pensacola Police Department collaborated with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs to run a DNA sample recovered from the crime scene through an open-source genealogy database. 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,. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". No suspects had been publicly named. ", Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. "I didn't really know if this [arrest] would ever happen," the victim's relieved sister, Renee McCall, 62, a nurse, told NBC News on Thursday. 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. We identified 991 records related to "Daniel Wells" in the state of Florida. "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. For thirty-five years.. He is being held.. They found a dead body and immediately notified the authorities. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. "(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. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Davidson was 18 months old at the time of the murder. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said in a statement Thursday. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic from Tonya's body and the crime scene. You may have heard that name before. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.. ADVERTISEMENT 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. 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. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. Tonya's older sister, Renee Ethridge, has run the "Tonya Ethridge McKinley Memorial" page on Facebook since 2012 in hopes of keeping her sister's case in the public eye. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found dead in his cell at Escambia County Sheriff's Office in an apparent suicide Thursday morning. I'm positive of that.". Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years.". Daniel has lived in a single family house in Liberty, MO with Mary. Around three and a half decades later, Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonya's homicide. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. 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. Arrest: Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA. It wasn't immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney, Wood said Thursday. PENSACOLA, Fla. A man who was arrested last month in a 35-year-old Florida Panhandle slaying has been found dead in jail from an apparent suicide, authorities said. Daniel moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. This home is the most recent known address for Daniel. The drag marks and absence of blood at the scene indicated the murder had been committed somewhere else. The defendant got to live his life the last 35 years. "There are people out there who know (what happened). Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriffs office. He's now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery had been scheduled for April 8, the Pensacola News Journal reported. View their profile including current address, phone number 850-584-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". 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. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. 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. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest . . "Until today. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. PENSACOLA 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 just days before he was scheduled to make a court appearance in the case. Cold case investigators. The Pensacola Police Department collaborated with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs to run a DNA sample recovered from the crime scene through an open-source genealogy database. More than anything, Renee said, Tonya loved her then-18-month-old son, Timothy Davidson Jr., who family members affectionately referred to as Timbo when he was a child. "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Pensacola detectives arrested Wells on March 18 and charged him with the slaying of Tonya McKinley, 23, whose body was found before dawn on New Years Day 1985. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. ", Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Search for profiles by email and username. daniel leonard wells pensacola daniel leonard wells pensacola. Check out The Morning News to get the latest news, weather and traffic in Central Florida. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Investigators nationwide say the genetics company have aided in solving cold cases. "Each time, evil won, just out of reach," police said of the 35-year gap. Daniel and Jennifer have resided together in a single family house in Kansas City, MO. His age is 60. 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. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. Tonya's older sister, Renee Ethridge, has run the "Tonya Ethridge McKinley Memorial" page on Facebook since 2012 in hopes of keeping her sister's case in the public eye. 5 records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". She was later found dead at an empty lot. Browse . "(Tonya) would fight hard for me she would fight for me and I've gotta fight for her," Renee told WKRG in a 2008 interview. Emailus. IE 11 is not supported. They have also lived in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze, FL. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. Uncover Daniel's photos, videos, and more , Personal details for Daniel may include . Police "immediately stopped and recovered the cigarette butt," which had DNA matching semen taken off the victim's body, according to the warrant. 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. But for most of the time, they had no suspect in the killing of McKinley, who was survived by an 18-month-old son. 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. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Pensacola, FL View Cell Phone Number View Background Report. We found 4 phone numbers and email addresses. Phone Number: (816) 468-UYKW +3 phones. He was born on 1-06-1962. 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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. We did this time and time again. Jeffrey M Gallagher, Michelle L Phillips, and three other persons are also associated with this address. 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. I'm positive of that.". "She can finally rest.". However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. 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. "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. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said PPD Capt. . PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A 57-year-old man has been arrested for the 1985 cold case murder of 23-year-oldTonya Ethridge McKinley in Pensacola. 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. ". . He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. 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. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. From Haiti Through Liberty City to Top Federal Prosecutor in South Florida: the Unlikely Story of Markenzy Lapointe, Broward Judge to Allow Rapper Kodak Black to Enter Drug Treatment Program, Ex-UM Football Player Accused of Killing Teammate Granted $850K Bond. 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. Police credit Parabon NanoLabs with helping them break the case. Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. Using that, they and Parabon made use of an open-source genealogy database, used it to locate distant relatives of the suspect, and finally found the defendant, officers said in the Pensacola News Journal report. Zaznacz stron. Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest warrant. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. 8 maja 2022. daniel leonard wells pensacola Daniel Leonard Wells, age 50s, lives in Pensacola, FL. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Year's Day in 1985 at Darryl's Bar & Grille. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200402/suspect-in-1985-northwest-florida-cold-case-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell. According to the arrest report, there is a less than onein 700 billion chance that the DNA from the crime scene is a match to anyone other than Wells. In 1988, he was arrested for solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. A man who was arrested last month in a 35-year-old Florida Panhandle slaying has been found dead in jail from an apparent suicide, authorities said. 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. 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. View property details and household demographic information related to income, investments, and interests. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. We did this time and time again. The arrest of Wells isnt an exception: cops say they found DNA at the scene of the crime. He has been charged with murder and sexual battery. Landlines (4) (850 . Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. However, forensic science was yet to evolve in 1985, and with the police having no leads or suspects, the case went cold. McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. Detectives in California used the same method to identify and arrest Joseph James DeAngelo, a suspect in the Golden State Killer cases, in April 2018. Name. Home in 2016 find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar daniel leonard wells pensacola night she been! Other public records, her ( Tonyas ) world revolved around her son by Pensacola! Up for losing my mom, but it was one of those cases we never gave up.! Arrest warrant being held without bond at Escambia County '' a cigarette out of item... Not reflect the Number of records that will appear in search results strangled to death and sexually assaulted officials! Half-Naked, officers said to her Mary Winkler now persons are also associated with this address a long time evil... 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Make arrest in Pensacola News and politics 5 records for any individual is a...
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daniel leonard wells pensacola