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. Browse . A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. The cutting-edge forensic technology helped authorities identify multiple people as distant cousins of the suspect. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. She said she did not have any more information to share. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. Disclaimer: Reference to these media outlets or TV shows should not be construed to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of Spokeo or its products. The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial. 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. (816) 468-.css-1y2reja{color:transparent;position:relative;z-index:12;text-shadow:0.1rem 0.1rem 0.6rem #089FE4;}LIYF. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. Daniel moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. 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. 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. 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, 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. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. ", Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said PPD Capt. 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. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. 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. 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. 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. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. 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. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. Around three and a half decades later,Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonyas homicide. 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. 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. 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. We located 9 sex offenders matching the name "Daniel Wells" in the US. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. Landlines (4) (850 . Phone & Email (4) All Addresses (7) Family (3) Results for this person or the person you are looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results. 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 found hanged in his cell early Thursday morning, according to authorities in a Pensacola News Journalreport. 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. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A 57-year-old man has been arrested for the 1985 cold case murder of 23-year-oldTonya Ethridge McKinley in Pensacola. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. "(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. 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. Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. 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. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said in a statement Thursday. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. ADVERTISEMENT He got to have a family. He was born on 1-06-1962. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice, he said. Court records viewed by Law&Crime show no attorney of record. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Search for profiles by email and username. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. The landline phone number 8165849629 is registered to Daniel Leonard Wells in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. 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. 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. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. No suspects had been publicly named. It wasn't immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney, Wood said Thursday. His age is 60. 8 maja 2022. daniel leonard wells pensacola Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. Press J to jump to the feed. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. 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For thirty-five years.. Investigators nationwide say the genetics company have aided in solving cold cases. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. . In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. View Dan Rowdy Wells's record in Pensacola, FL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. . Current Address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. 5 records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L Wells. Have a tip or story idea? McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. We identified 991 records related to "Daniel Wells" in the state of Florida. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. The investigation hit numerous dead ends over the years, lasting so long that retiring detectives had to pass it on to their successors. Landlines (4) (850) 584-9629 (816) 584 . 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. 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. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. Daniel Leonard Wells, age 50s, lives in Pensacola, FL. At the point, the process has become kind of routine. It was just a normal New Years Eve.. Hes now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. 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. Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and held without bail. "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years.". Powered by WordPress.com VIP. . Cold case investigators. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. "She can finally rest.". Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal 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. IE 11 is not supported. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". We found 4 phone numbers and email addresses. 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