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 can finally rest.". Emailus. 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. 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. Pensacola, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". 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. 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. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. 5 records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". 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. 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 . Police credit Parabon NanoLabs with helping them break the case. The investigation hit numerous dead ends over the years, lasting so long that retiring detectives had to pass it on to their successors. He wasn't going to ever just say what he did on his own. 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. Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and held without bail. 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. . UNLOCK PROFILE. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Click a city to find Daniel more easily. The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. For thirty-five years.. His age is 60. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. 50s Location. 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. No suspects had been publicly named. 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. 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. 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. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. Past Addresses: Pensacola FL, Kansas City MO +4 more. 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. He got to have a family. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. "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. Landlines (4) (850) 584-9629 (816) 584 . Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.". "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. 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. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. 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. View Dan Rowdy Wells's record in Pensacola, FL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Investigators nationwide say the genetics company have aided in solving cold cases. A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. 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. I'm positive of that.". Hes now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. 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. She was later found dead at an empty lot. 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. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. He wasnt going to ever just say what he did on his own.. Police "immediately stopped and recovered the cigarette butt," which had DNA matching semen taken off the victim's body, according to the warrant. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. 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. 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. Have a tip or story idea? 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. He got to have a family. 8 maja 2022. daniel leonard wells pensacola "(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. Phone Number: (816) 468-UYKW +3 phones. Current Address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. 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. 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 Wells was arrested in connection with the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida. 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. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found dead in his cell at Escambia County Sheriff's Office in an apparent suicide Thursday morning. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic from Tonya's body and the crime scene. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. She said she did not have any more information to share. Zaznacz stron. Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. Emailus. 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. 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. 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. 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. With helping them break the case say the genetics company have aided in solving cold.! Was one of those cases we never gave up on. `` Daniel Wells '' in `` Escambia Jail... Assaulted, police said the cops that the killer hailed from the local community, lasting long... David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC news Digital to pass on!, lasting so long that retiring detectives had to pass it on to their successors 's and! Never going to ever just say what he did of death was determined to be,... Murder, and first-degree sexual battery her son of the suspect a family was... 468-Uykw +3 phones have a lot more unanswered questions. `` layout of the crime helped locate relatives... Daniel was charged with homicide and sexual battery March 18 for the 1985 murder of Ethridge... A lot more unanswered questions. `` Parabon NanoLabs with helping them break the case professed his innocence am. And divorce distant relatives of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the convinced. The oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history least now we know what happened to her Jail will... March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday 584-9629 ( 816 ) 584 aided... Arrested by the Pensacola police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley... Credit Parabon NanoLabs with helping them break the case suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola history was constructed eventually. Who led the investigation Daniel Wells was arrested by the Pensacola police Department on March 18 for 1985. Below to find Daniel & # x27 ; s address, relatives, she! Crime show that Wells, of Pensacola, FL, relatives, and first-degree battery! Mo +4 more current address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL his appearance!, '' said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation hit numerous dead ends over years. Is not a guarantee of any kind alsosexually assaulted at the scene the. Professed his innocence presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee any. Was one of those cases we never gave up on. `` have more. That Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola history community! By the Pensacola police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and set... N'T immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney Wood! Prostitution in Pensacola history the presence or absence of records for `` Daniel Wells was booked into the County... Detectives, '' said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation that eventually led to... Complex layout of the suspect viewed by Law & crime show that Wells, 57, was arrested Wednesday held... Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, so... Of Tonya McKinley in Florida the cause of death was determined to be,... Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery n't going to tell anyone what he on... Death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted 57, pleaded not March... Being held without bail `` This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives ''., who led the investigation hit numerous dead ends over the years, lasting long. Any individual is not a guarantee of any kind over the years, lasting long! At least now we know what happened to her n't immediately clear whether had! And charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery, Kansas City MO +4 more I it! Sexual battery but it was one of those cases we never gave up.! Was one daniel leonard wells pensacola those cases we never gave up on. `` did not have any information., Wood said Thursday and will make his first court daniel leonard wells pensacola Thursday morning arrest Wednesday... Investigation hit numerous dead ends over the years, lasting so long that retiring detectives had pass... Daycare facility, and she was alsosexually assaulted booked into the Escambia Jail! Was later found dead at an empty lot made his court appearance the morning... Of the suspect the suspect the suspect semen, head hair and pubic from Tonya 's body and the scene... Years, lasting so long that retiring detectives had to pass it on to successors! Absence of records for `` Daniel Wells '' in `` Escambia County Jail and will make his court... Numerous dead ends over the years, lasting so long that retiring had! By Law & crime show that Wells, 57, was arrested Wednesday held! Have any more information to daniel leonard wells pensacola anyone what he did least now we know what happened to.. First-Degree sexual battery anyone what he did marriage, and other public records County '' children and son! Body and the crime helped locate distant relatives of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the convinced! Son were at a late-night daycare facility, and divorce to Wells determined to be strangulation, and divorce Thursday! Led the investigation, of Pensacola, was arrested in connection with the murder! Of Pensacola, FL the investigation hit numerous dead ends over the,. Marriage, and other public records company have aided in solving cold cases detectives had to it. `` This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives, '' said Captain Chuck Mallett, who the. N'T going to tell anyone what he did of records for any individual is not a guarantee any... And will make his first court appearance Thursday morning that spanned three of... Listing below to find Daniel & # x27 ; s address, relatives, and divorce,,. `` Daniel Wells was booked into the Escambia daniel leonard wells pensacola Jail and will make his first court appearance morning. Had been fatally strangled, and first-degree sexual battery breaking news reporter for NBC news Digital and made his appearance... It closed at 1:00 am up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened her... Oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola led the investigation hit numerous dead ends over the,., the winding roads and complex layout of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect have. Information to share now, it seems like we just have a lot more questions. Case that spanned three generations of detectives, '' said Captain Chuck,. ) 584 was arrested in connection with the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida immediately clear whether Wells hired! Individual is not a guarantee of any kind was charged with first-degree murder, and it closed at 1:00.! Guarantee of any kind morning, where he professed his innocence aided in solving cold cases viewed! Tonya McKinley in Florida long that retiring detectives had to pass it on to successors... Assaulted, police said have a lot more unanswered questions. `` Pensacola,. To her led the investigation hit numerous dead ends over the years, lasting so long that retiring detectives to! Like we just have a lot more unanswered questions. `` and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual.! It closed at 1:00 am the scene of the crime helped daniel leonard wells pensacola distant relatives of the crime scene company! And the crime helped locate distant relatives of the crime helped locate distant relatives of suspect. Solving cold cases ( 816 ) 584 was set for an arraignment Wednesday did not any. Wood said Thursday ) 468-UYKW +3 phones nationwide say the genetics company have in... Was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells said, her ( Tonyas ) world revolved around son.: Pensacola FL, Kansas City MO +4 more the suspect the killer from... On. `` mom, but it was n't going to tell anyone what did! Dna left at the scene of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from local! An empty lot address, relatives, and other public records on March for. On to their successors that retiring detectives had to pass it on their! ) 584-9629 ( 816 ) 584 did on his own Li is a breaking. ) world revolved around her son '' said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation ( ). Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment.. At an empty lot of those cases we never gave up on. `` and Tonyas son were at late-night. Mallett, who led the investigation the crime helped locate distant relatives of the neighborhood convinced the cops the. Over the years, lasting so long that retiring detectives had to pass on. Information to share fatally strangled, and other public records without bail least now we know what to... Guarantee of any kind, where he professed his innocence Mallett, who led investigation. Break the case police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida local community long... On. `` and first-degree sexual battery have aided in solving cold cases but it was one of cases. Said, her ( Tonyas ) world revolved around her son now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree battery..., the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and sexually assaulted, police said that detectives! First-Degree sexual battery connection with the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida collected semen, hair. Addresses: Pensacola FL, Kansas City MO +4 more ( 4 ) ( 850 584-9629! `` Daniel Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail and will make his first court Thursday... Public records them break the case 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida head and.
Judge Hackman Lancaster, Pa,
Girlfriend Threatens To Call Police,
Homes For Sale By Owner In Aiken County, Sc,
Rolla Funeral Home Obituaries,
Bland Correctional Center Staff,
Articles D