"I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". 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He got to have a family. The 1985 killing of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, has been solved, say police in Pensacola, Florida. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts 8 maja 2022. daniel leonard wells 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. "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years.". This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200402/suspect-in-1985-northwest-florida-cold-case-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell. 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 investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. "There are people out there who know (what happened). Daniel Wells was arrested in connection with the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida. 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. Landlines (4) (850 . 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. 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. According to the arrest report, there is a less than 1 in 700 billion chance that the DNA from the crime scene is a match to anyone other than Wells. Uncover Daniel's photos, videos, and more , Personal details for Daniel may include . They have also lived in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze, FL. 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. Around three and a half decades later,Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonyas homicide. We found 4 phone numbers and email addresses. Wells was recently identified after a Virginia-based company working with the Pensacola Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ran a DNA sample from the crime scene through an open-source genealogy database and identified several distant cousins of the suspect. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. Wells was recently identified after a Virginia-based company working with the Pensacola Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ran a DNA sample from the crime scene through an open-source genealogy database and identified several distant cousins of the suspect. Daniel has lived with Polly in Pensacola, FL. 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. We located 9 sex offenders matching the name "Daniel Wells" in the US. 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. The authorities were able to establish a timeline when residents of the locality near the crime scene reported they were confident they did not see any corpse when they passed the parking lot at 2:00 am. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. 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. Police "immediately stopped and recovered the cigarette butt," which had DNA matching semen taken off the victim's body, according to the warrant. 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. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. 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. I'm positive of that.". No suspects had been publicly named. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Zaznacz stron. . The cutting-edge forensic technology helped authorities identify multiple people as distant cousins of the suspect. Investigators nationwide say the genetics company have aided in solving cold cases. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. Also, the way he had disposed of the body and other evidence, such as her purse and shoes, indicated the perpetrator was in a hurry. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley's killer to Wells' family and then to him, police 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. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. Check out The Morning News to get the latest news, weather and traffic in Central Florida. * Historical, vital, and court records and search results may require an additional purchase. View property details and household demographic information related to income, investments, and interests. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice, he said. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. 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. According to police sources, the alleged murderer had died from self-inflicted injuries. 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. 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. Emailus. Davidson was 18 months old at the time of the murder. He wasn't going to ever just say what he did on his own. He was found hanged in his cell early Thursday morning, according to authorities in a Pensacola News Journalreport. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. 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. Police credit Parabon NanoLabs with helping them break the case. Law enforcement officials were able to construct a family tree, beginning with the distant relatives, that ultimately led them to identify Daniel as a suspect. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". The drag marks and absence of blood at the scene indicated the murder had been committed somewhere else. The officers found the victims high heel shoes and her purse, containing her drivers license, a few blocks from the scene. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. Press J to jump to the feed. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on . [emailprotected]. Discover work experience, company details, and more. Browse . The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. 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,. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. 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 . Lets begin then, shall we? Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal murder.". However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was also. The landline phone number 8165849629 is registered to Daniel Leonard Wells in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd. 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. Current Address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. Wells was being charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery and was scheduled to be in court on April 8 for his first hearing in the case. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said PPD Capt. Results for this person or the person you are looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results. Court records viewed by Law&Crime show no attorney of record. 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. Their parting exchange was wishing each other New Year greetings, and Tonya stated she would see her the following morning. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. Daniel departed this 2,006 square foot home in 2003. [Image of McKinley via Pensacola Police Department; mugshot of Wells via Escambia County], Have a tip we should know? 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. ". Pensacola, FL View Cell Phone Number View Background Report. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. 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. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. 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. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. "Each time, evil won, just out of reach," police said of the 35-year gap. Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L Wells. Pensacola, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. . Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. "Until today. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. Daniel Leonard Wells. There are 5 court records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? McKinley in Pensacola, Florida, on the first day of 1985. 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. 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. Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. Tonyas son Tim Davidson Jr. called Daniel a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial started. He said, Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. . Landlines (4) (850) 584-9629 (816) 584 . 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