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. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal. 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. 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. Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L Wells. Zaznacz stron. 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 age is 60. View property details and household demographic information related to income, investments, and interests. For thirty-five years.. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Daniel lives at 5206 Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. The price to rent a two bedroom unit in the zip code 32526 is around . She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. Wells' DNA is being offered to other nearby law enforcement agencies with unsolved sex crimes because he has lived locally the whole time, Pensacola police spokesman Mike Wood said. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. 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. 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. 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. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.". Lets begin then, shall we? Have a tip or story idea? 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. "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. He got to have a family. However, forensic science was yet to evolve in 1985, and with the police having no leads or suspects, the case went cold. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. 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 was found hanged in his cell early Thursday morning, according to authorities in a Pensacola News Journalreport. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. Edited: Suspect in 35-year-old Pensacola cold case solved by familial DNA commits suicide in jail By Tony Adame Pensacola News Journal 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. 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. [emailprotected]. 5 records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. He is being held in Escambia County jail. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Phone Number: (816) 468-UYKW +3 phones. Arrest: Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA. Daniel has lived with Polly in Pensacola, FL. The defendant got to live his life the last 35 years. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. 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. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial. 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. 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," Davidson said after the arrest. She was later found dead at an empty lot. Daniel moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. The investigators had retrieved semen, head hair, and pubic hair from Tonyas body and the crime scene. 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. 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. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. 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. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said PPD Capt. Pensacola, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. 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 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. 50s Location. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. 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. View their profile including current address, phone number 850-584-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. "The reasons why this happened, how evil crossed Tonya's path, may never be answered and in the end may not be important," according to police. Emailus. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200402/suspect-in-1985-northwest-florida-cold-case-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell. Cold case investigators. "(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. 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's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. Name. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found dead in his cell at Escambia County Sheriff's Office in an apparent suicide Thursday morning. "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.. At the point, the process has become kind of routine. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic from Tonya's body and the crime scene. I'm positive of that.". She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. Results for this person or the person you are looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya . 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. He was born on 1-06-1962. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". Discover work experience, company details, and more. He has been charged with murder and sexual battery. She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. 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, according to police. He's now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. We located 9 sex offenders matching the name "Daniel Wells" in the US. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "She can finally rest.". 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. 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. 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. Davidson was 18 months old at the time of the murder. Have a tip or story idea? The investigation hit numerous dead ends over the years, lasting so long that retiring detectives had to pass it on to their successors. Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and held without bail. Daniel Leonard Wells. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. Assessor records link the name of Daniel Wells to thirteen properties, including . Thats all moot now. Check out The Morning News to get the latest news, weather and traffic in Central Florida. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. 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. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. ADVERTISEMENT Phone & Email (4) All Addresses (7) Family (3) 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. The officers found the victims high heel shoes and her purse, containing her drivers license, a few blocks from the scene. ". 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. 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. 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. 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. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. daniel leonard wells pensacola daniel leonard wells pensacola. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. 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. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. 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. PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A 57-year-old man has been arrested for the 1985 cold case murder of 23-year-oldTonya Ethridge McKinley in Pensacola. They found a dead body and immediately notified the authorities. According to the show, she and her husband reminded Tonya after midnight that it was time to pick up their children and head home. DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. 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. Wells was identified . She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. 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. It wasn't immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney, Wood said Thursday. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. ", Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley's killer to Wells' family and then to him, police said. However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. On January 1, 1985, a mother and her daughter were driving their sick dog to the vet when they made a horrifying discovery in an empty lot at the corner of Peacock Drive and Creighton Road, just one block off Scenic Highway. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. 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. She recounted how they danced, met with friends, and partied till the late night hours of New Years Eve. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. "(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. 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. and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Police credit Parabon NanoLabs with helping them break the case. [Image of McKinley via Pensacola Police Department; mugshot of Wells via Escambia County], Have a tip we should know? McKinley in Pensacola, Florida, on the first day of 1985. We did this time and time again. She said she did not have any more information to share. "It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. 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,. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. Daniel departed this 2,006 square foot home in 2003. Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice, he said. Their parting exchange was wishing each other New Year greetings, and Tonya stated she would see her the following morning. Hes now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. ", Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Spokeo's database, while extensive, does not contain all U.S. warrant, arrest, court, or other related records. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. According to court records, Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 for battery and witness tampering, but the witness tampering charge was dropped after he pled no contest to the battery charge. Investigators nationwide say the genetics company have aided in solving cold cases. The witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. Daniel Wells was arrested in connection with the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. Additional court records revealed Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges. 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. Disclaimer: Reference to these media outlets or TV shows should not be construed to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of Spokeo or its products. Daniel and Jennifer have resided together in a single family house in Kansas City, MO. Click a city to find Daniel more easily. "There are people out there who know (what happened). On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Around three and a half decades later, Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonya's homicide. 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. 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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. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on . According to police sources, the alleged murderer had died from self-inflicted injuries. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Email Address: See available information. "There are people out there who know (what happened).