(816) 468-.css-1y2reja{color:transparent;position:relative;z-index:12;text-shadow:0.1rem 0.1rem 0.6rem #089FE4;}LIYF. 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. . After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. 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. The cutting-edge forensic technology helped authorities identify multiple people as distant cousins of the suspect. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. 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. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. Daniel is related to Nicholas Lee Wells and Howard Snowden Wells as well as 3 additional people. 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, 57, is facing charges of first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery in the 1985 murder of 23-year-old Tonya Ethridge McKinley. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said PPD Capt. 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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. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. . 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 was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. 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 . Emailus. Hes now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. The price to rent a two bedroom unit in the zip code 32526 is around . Or to keep it anonymous, click here. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. He wasnt going to ever just say what he did on his own.. Daniel departed this 2,006 square foot home in 2003. 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. Pensacola, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. 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. Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. 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. 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 landline phone number 8165849629 is registered to Daniel Leonard Wells in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. Daniel Leonard Wells. 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. Daniel moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. Current Address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. View property details and household demographic information related to income, investments, and interests. On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. The investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. 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. 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. 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. 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. She 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. 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. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at Darryls Bar & Grille. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. 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. Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.". A video appearance was scheduled for court to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and held without bail. The drag marks and absence of blood at the scene indicated the murder had been committed somewhere else. "(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. We did this time and time again. "(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. 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. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. 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. 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. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". But for most of the time, they had no suspect in the killing of McKinley, who was survived by an 18-month-old son. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. You may have heard that name before. He was born on 1-06-1962. There are 5 court records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". The 1985 killing of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, has been solved, say police in Pensacola, Florida. She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. We located 9 sex offenders matching the name "Daniel Wells" in the US. He is being held in Escambia County jail. She said she did not have any more information to share. DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. Wells was identified . 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. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. "She can finally rest.". Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. When the emergency respondents arrived at the scene, they located the corpse lying next to the curb, with her pantyhose pulled down around her ankles and dress pulled up. ADVERTISEMENT 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. The investigation hit numerous dead ends over the years, lasting so long that retiring detectives had to pass it on to their successors. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. 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. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. "There are people out there who know (what happened). 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 half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Find census, military, and other historical records.*. Emailus. ". The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Evidence suggested she had been raped, and they also discovered a blood-soaked blue towel by her head. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. Email Address: See available information. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. 3,876 court search results for people named "Daniel Wells" in the United States. She recounted how they danced, met with friends, and partied till the late night hours of New Years Eve. 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 on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. 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. 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. 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,. 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,. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. Landlines (4) (850 . . She was later found dead at an empty lot. Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal murder.". Thats all moot now. However, forensic science was yet to evolve in 1985, and with the police having no leads or suspects, the case went cold. Name. * Historical, vital, and court records and search results may require an additional purchase. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. At the point, the process has become kind of routine. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. All rights reserved. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. He was found hanged in his cell early Thursday morning, according to authorities in a Pensacola News Journalreport. Browse . 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. 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. Check out The Morning News to get the latest news, weather and traffic in Central Florida. 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. 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. Daniel and Jennifer have resided together in a single family house in Kansas City, MO. Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L Wells. 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. Contact info for Daniel Wells in Pensacola, Florida: Phone number, address lookup, email address, and social networking profiles on Spokeo, your people search engine for contact info & public records. McKinley in Pensacola, Florida, on the first day of 1985. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. Around three and a half decades later, Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonya's homicide. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. They found a dead body and immediately notified the authorities. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. Phone Number: (816) 468-UYKW +3 phones. Have a tip or story idea? He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. He wasn't going to ever just say what he did on his own. McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". He is being held.. "Each time, evil won, just out of reach," police said of the 35-year gap. It was just a normal New Years Eve.. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. Search for birth, death, marriage, divorce, US Census, and military records. 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