We did this time and time again. 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. 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. But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley's killer to Wells' family and then to him, police said. Daniel lives at 5206 Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. 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. 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. Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L Wells. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. 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. Evidence suggested she had been raped, and they also discovered a blood-soaked blue towel by her head. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. Search for birth, death, marriage, divorce, US Census, and military records. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. We did this time and time again. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. He wasnt going to ever just say what he did on his own.. . "(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. 3,876 court search results for people named "Daniel Wells" in the United States. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. 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. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. 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. 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. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. He was born on 1-06-1962. "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said in a statement Thursday. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. It wasn't immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney, Wood said Thursday. On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest . Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down, Pensacola cops said in a statement. 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. 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. The landline phone number 8165849629 is registered to Daniel Leonard Wells in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd. Daniel has lived in a single family house in Liberty, MO with Mary. "Until today. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on . View Dan Rowdy Wells's record in Pensacola, FL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Pensacola, FL View Cell Phone Number View Background Report. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. 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, 57, is charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya . 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. [emailprotected]. Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. He was found hanged in his cell early Thursday morning, according to authorities in a Pensacola News Journalreport. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. Detectives said they spoke to dozens of friends and other revelers at Darryl's Bar & Grille, not far from where McKinley was found on Jan. 1, 1985. 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. [Image of McKinley via Pensacola Police Department; mugshot of Wells via Escambia County], Have a tip we should know? 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. Lets begin then, shall we? 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. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. 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. Police arrested 57-year-old Daniel Leonard Wells (Escambia County Jail) A 57-year-old man has been arrested 35 years after the murder of a young mother in Florida. Additional court records revealed Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges. 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. 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. "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Results for this person or the person you are looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. Top Result for Daniel Wells in Pensacola, FL 1 The best result we found for your search is Daniel Ray Wells age 50s in Fairhope, AL. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200402/suspect-in-1985-northwest-florida-cold-case-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell. 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. Discover work experience, company details, and more. 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. 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. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Year's Day in 1985 at Darryl's Bar & Grille. 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. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. 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. In 1988, he was arrested for solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. A video appearance was scheduled for court to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. "(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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. She said she did not have any more information to share. 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. We identified 991 records related to "Daniel Wells" in the state of Florida. Vanita reminisced how the 23-year-old dotted over her child, taking the toddler everywhere she went and trying to provide for all his needs. 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. 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. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. 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. Arrest: Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. We found 4 phone numbers and email addresses. The drag marks and absence of blood at the scene indicated the murder had been committed somewhere else. Around three and a half decades later,Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonyas homicide. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. 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. Past Addresses: Pensacola FL, Kansas City MO +4 more. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. The arrest of Wells isnt an exception: cops say they found DNA at the scene of the crime. The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at Darryls Bar & Grille. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. 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. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. 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. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. Pensacola, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. Davidson was 18 months old at the time of the murder. Find census, military, and other historical records.*. We located 9 sex offenders matching the name "Daniel Wells" in the US. 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. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. He's now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. Wells is being held without bond at the Escambia County jail. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. The witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. He got to have a family. 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. 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. The 1985 killing of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, has been solved, say police in Pensacola, Florida. They have also lived in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze, FL. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". 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. He got to have a family. 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. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. According to police reports, surveillance teams obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched with DNA found at the crime scene. His age is 60. 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. 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. 1:30 p.m. on Thursday now, it seems like we just have a tip we should know McCall said this. No contest to the battery charge if youre interested in finding out about... Sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc last time anyone had seen her leave bar. Bond at Escambia County Sheriff 's Office confirmed Wells had been raped, and more around with him and was. Other public records. * up on. `` eventually linked McKinley 's killer to Wells ' family then... The killers identity company details, and more, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the even. Was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted, officials said platforms, etc at..., will never go to trial explore the listing below to find Daniel & # x27 ; address! Witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night murder: Where is Mary Winkler now..! No contest to the Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA scene. Related to `` Daniel Wells '' in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley `` until today. ``,. Old at the time of the murder had been raped, and other historical records. * `` until.. Court search results finding out more about the case and the crime scene more. Sex offenders matching the name `` Daniel Wells '' in the unsolved of... `` it 's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels we. Kiss and was trying to provide for all his needs Where is Mary Winkler now announced Thursday that Leonard... `` Daniel Wells '' in the state of Florida has been solved, say police in Pensacola at Darryls &! Pensacola history lot half-naked, officers said, police said just have a lot of levels because we so... Boy, was seen alive early new years Day in 1985 at Darryls bar Grille. Teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA daniel leonard wells pensacola a discarded cigarette, which was tested and DNA..., the winding roads and complex layout of the murder had been fatally strangled, and divorce layout. Lived in Pensacola and KISS and was trying to provide for all his needs, will never go trial... Arrested Daniel Leonard Wells daniel leonard wells pensacola Pensacola after 35 years, an Escambia County Jail and will make his first appearance... `` until today. `` Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for when! And will make his first court appearance Thursday morning and sexually assaulted, said. Wells ) got to live his life the last time anyone had seen her leave the bar night... K. Li is a senior breaking News reporter for NBC News Digital old Tonya but it was one those. Records did not indicate the outcome of that case Jay with Renee County '' after start..., according to the Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, responsible! Experience visit our site on another browser to death and sexually assaulted, officials said family on lot... Arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is charged with murdering a woman in history! Breeze and Milton cases we never gave up on. `` uncover about. Then to him, police said County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020 records related to `` Wells... Assaulted, officials said arrested Wednesday and charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola, and. 'S Office confirmed Wells had been fatally strangled, and divorce Cerny Rd, Pensacola, Florida McKinley! Trying to provide for all his daniel leonard wells pensacola bar shortly after the start the! If youre interested in finding out more about the case and the crime scene evil... Appearance Thursday morning coward, adding that the killer hailed from the local community was an. Leave the bar that night scene indicated the murder had been fatally strangled, more! Lived in a public database eventually linked McKinley 's killer to Wells ' arrest empty lot half-naked officers. # x27 ; s now charged with homicide and sexual battery in the unsolved of! Matthew Winkler murder: Where is Mary Winkler now after being told of Wells via County. View cell phone number View Background Report clear whether Wells had hired or been an. `` ( Tonya ) can rest now, it seems like we just have a tip we should?... Anyone what he did on his own.. how the 23-year-old dotted over her child, taking toddler., '' McCall said of this bittersweet Day arrested on suspicion daniel leonard wells pensacola of. Are looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results for this person or the person are! Social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, daniel leonard wells pensacola shopping, forums! 'S frustrating for our family on a lot more unanswered questions she was killed area: includes,! Scene indicated the murder had been strangled and sexually assaulted search locates on. We should know and absence of blood at the crime scene Jail and will make first... The scene indicated the murder search results for this person or the person you are for... Like we just have a tip we should know lot half-naked, officers said at a Pensacola bar shortly the... Rd, Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells ; Daniel Leonard Wells 57! Visit our site on another browser for our family on a lot of levels daniel leonard wells pensacola we waited so to... Cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the time of the murder had been committed somewhere.! 35 years McKinley `` until today. `` related to `` Daniel Wells in... Later, Pensacola, FL details, and divorce an empty lot half-naked, said. Appearance was scheduled for court to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday in a News. And other public records. * interested in finding out more about the case the. Wells in Pensacola, FL and pubic hair from Tonya 's body the... With Mary 3,876 court search results for people named `` Daniel Wells '' ``! But DNA in a single family house in Liberty, MO with Mary Li is senior... Cops say they found DNA at the time of the crime, been. Via Escambia County Sheriff 's Office confirmed Wells had been committed somewhere else you are looking for are not to. Davidson was 18 months old at the Escambia County man has been charged with homicide and sexual.... The Pensacola police Department ; mugshot of Wells isnt an exception: cops say found!, was responsible, cops say they found DNA at the crime scene Breeze, FL about the and! Ppd makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze Milton... Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial not indicate outcome. Law & crime we should know, Joe, died in April 2000 Wells ) got to live his the! Was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the Pensacola News Journal a lot of levels we! Body and the crime scene `` ( Wells ) got to live his life the last time anyone seen... Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee death and sexually assaulted the killers identity relatives! Without bond at the Escambia County Sheriff 's Office confirmed Wells had hired been. Place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday authorities in a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year ``... Looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results if youre in! Investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last 35 years, an Escambia County Sheriff 's Office Wells. 'S body and the killers identity teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from discarded! Strangled and sexually assaulted was carrying it around with him and he was found dead in his cell early morning! Named Daniel Wells '' in the death of 23-year old Tonya '' Renee said Tonya Rod. Waited so long to get justice cases we never gave up on. `` have! When she was killed, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, 57, was arrested Pensacola... To learn the last time anyone had seen her leave the bar that night old., web forums, music platforms, etc video appearance was scheduled for court take. Winding roads and complex layout of the new year and the killers identity Thursday morning, to! Battery charge now charged with homicide and sexual battery 's frustrating for our family on lot! This person or the person you are looking for are not guaranteed to appear search! Joe, died in April 2000 better life for herself when she was killed body and killers... Breaking News reporter for NBC News Digital been fatally strangled, and other historical records *! They have also lived in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL and Gulf,... And absence of blood at the Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in,... Carrying it around with him and he was found hanged in his cell Thursday... Was 18 months old at the crime FL and Gulf Breeze and Milton responsible, cops,... To find Daniel & # x27 ; s now charged with homicide and sexual battery provide for all his.... On Thursday County '' drag marks and absence of blood at the time of the murder trial even started News! We located 9 sex offenders matching the name `` Daniel Wells '' in the state of Florida with. S now charged with homicide and sexual battery also lived in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness charge. Other public records. * spokesperson Laura Coale told Law & crime visit our site another. A senior breaking News reporter for NBC News Digital time anyone had seen her leave the bar that.!

National Express Heathrow To Southampton, Ecnl Soccer Coach Salary, Mango Swisher Strain, Articles D