Get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts. "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. Davidson was 18 months old at the time of the murder. Lets begin then, shall we? Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.". CHAMPLAIN Leonard Wells,a Delaware and Hudson Railroad employee and operator of a service station here, died unexpectedly at his home Wednesday afternoon. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 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. 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? 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 investigators had retrieved semen, head hair, and pubic hair from Tonyas body and the crime scene. He was born on January 31, 1946, in Lincoln County, West Virginia, the son of the late Harvey and Doris (Scites) Wells. McKinley in Pensacola, Florida, on the first day of 1985. 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. Daniel J. Leonard Charleston - Daniel Joseph Leonard, a teacher to thousands, a mentor, friend, and role model to many, died July 14, 2020, at Summerville Community Hospice. Select boxes below to reduce the number of results. ", "She was killed in the early-morning hours of January 1, 1985. Mr. Daniel Steven Leonard, 35 of Thomasville passed away Thursday, October 6, 2022 at his residence. Harvey Leslie Arychuk . "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. He is being held in Escambia County jail without . Daniel Steven Leonard Obituary. Leonard Wells, 75, of Waubun, Minn., lost his courageous battle to cancer on June 8, 2015, at his home under Hospice care of the Red River Valley. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Sign up for service and obituary updates. [emailprotected]. Leonard Charles Wells was born April 25, 1940, to Alfred and Madelyn (Van Oss) Wells in White Earth, Minn. As a young boy, his parents moved to Portland to seek employment. All rights reserved. Additional court records revealed Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. Names are spelled as they appear in the primary source, Bixby Bulletin obituary, and cannot be edited by Bixby Historical Society. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said in a statement Thursday. He was born . For 35 years, the family of Tonya Ethridge McKinley anxiously waited for authorities to track down the man who murdered the gregarious 23-year-old, dumping her body on the side of a Florida highway. 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. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Wells, 69, died Saturday from complications of COVID-19. DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. All Obituaries - Wells Funeral Homes, Inc. & Cremation Services offers a variety of funeral services, from traditional funerals to competitively priced cremations, serving Waynesville, NC and the surrounding communities. Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. We also offer funeral pre-planning and carry a wide selection of caskets, vaults, urns and burial containers. He was born on . She left behind an 18-month-old son. The officers found the victims high heel shoes and her purse, containing her drivers license, a few blocks from the scene. He studied law, was admitted to the . TSL and NTFA football teams for the weekend of April 29. 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 . 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. Here's What You Actually Saw, Check Your Change! Jim was born in Wadsworth on July 25, 1937 to Ralph Forrest and Bernice (Edis) Eby. Wells, 64 of Wattsburg, passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2022, surrounded by his family at St. Vincent Health Center. A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. 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. Find your ancestry info and recent death notices for relatives and friends. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. HAMPTON - Leonard Daniel Wells of Hampton, Va., died unexpectedly on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, at the age of 56. God is good. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Daniel Edward Wells of Lindale, Texas, born in Longview, Texas, who passed away on January 11, 2023 at the age of 76. . ". ". Obituary. 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. Over the last couple of years, police have been comparing DNA profiles left behind at old murder scenes with open-source genealogy databases that have become popular among families hoping to find long-lost relatives. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) . Daniel was thankful for his salvation and loved the Lord with all his heart. Have a tip or story idea? Snippet of text from article above: "The Escambia County Sheriffs Office said Daniel Leonard Wells took his own life in his cell early Thursday morning, just a few days ahead of a scheduled court appearance on April 8. They found a dead body and immediately notified the authorities. We are proud to serve people of all faiths, nationalities, and lifestyles. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as: names, dates, place of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships. But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley's killer to Wells' family and then to him, police said. The investigation found she had been strangled to death and sexually assaulted. He was 56. After spending eight years employed at the Texas Engineering and Manufacturing Company in Grand Prairie, Texas, he and . CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Lenny served in WELLS, John Leonard Jr., Lenny, 42, of Tampa, passed away in a tragic accident Thursday, May 26, 2016. She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. Lenard "Lenny" Wells died March 21 at age 69 of complications from the coronavirus. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. The witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. He was charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya Ethridge McKinley." John L. "Lenny" Wells, Sr. 02/10/1942 - 08/07/2021. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. Funeral Care Services; Celebrations of Life; In Memory; Place an Obituary; Clear Search Results Search. Wade, Bessie Wadley, Della Waggener, Nora Alice Waggener, Patrick Henry Waggoner, Lula . Subscribe Sign In Try for a limited time! You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. He was 95 years old. (Escambia County Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. William "Bill" Daniel Leonard, 82, of Lexington, passed away Monday October 24, 2022 at his home. He is currently being held without bond at Escambia County Jail. As Milwaukee mourns the loss of Lenard "Lenny" Wells, those words have come up over and over. http://www.northescambia.com/2020/04/suspect-recently-arrested-in-35-year-old-cold-case-murder-commits-suicide-in-jail. A year later, Wells was arrested for alleged solicitation of prostitution, but its unclear how the case ended. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. 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Local obituaries for Escanaba, Michigan 332 Results Thursday, March 2, 2023 Add Photos Add a Memory Katherine "Kathy" Frappier Katherine "Kathy" Christine Frappier (nee Woodring), 71, of. was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. I cant believe this day has finally arrived, Tonya Ethridge McKinleys sister said on Thursday. It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. Find service information, send flowers, and leave memories and thoughts in the Guestbook for your loved one. They celebrated 73 years together. 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 was predeceased by : his parents, Lillie Hodge Wells and Louis . Daniel Wells was arrested in connection with the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida. 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. Obituaries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Daniel was born October 25, 1986 in Davidson County to Steven Curtis Leonard and Linda Ann Smith Bell. According to court records obtained by the Pensacola News Journal, Wells has had previous run-ins with Pensacola authorities, including a 1987 arrest for alleged battery and witness tampering. Recently there was a post announcing they had arrested a suspect who confessed to the 35 year old cold case. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. Earlier this morning I came across this news article stating that the murderer Daniel Wells has killed himself in Escambia County Jail. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57 . Daniel died suddenly on January 29th 2023. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Ervin Wells Sr. (Wilmington, North Carolina), who passed away on December 14, 2022, at the age of 97, leaving to mourn family and friends. Wells was charged Wednesday evening with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery for the January 1, 1985, murder of McKinley, according to the Pensacola Police Department. 8:32 a.m.: David Chapple-Kerry Miller; Shane Larsson-Junior Flores However, forensic science was yet to evolve in 1985, and with the police having no leads or suspects, the case went cold. Born in Erie on May 20, 1957, a son of the late Logan and . We did this time and time again. Entombment will be in OLPH Cemetery, Belle Chasse, LA. He was born on April 28, 1929, in Grants Pass . Apr 15, 2023 . A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. 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. It wasn't immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney, Wood said Thursday. Arrangements are under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home . On Wednesday evening, that day finally arrived with the arrest of Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, who was tied to the young womans 1985 slaying thanks to DNA recovered from the butt of his cigarette. Chief Ernest Hamel said that the man was dead when the department . McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. Leonard D. Wells, aka Bill, passed away on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Landmark Care Center, four days after his 92nd birthday. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Last of 2 defendants has been sentenced in Erie for robbing Jared store near Millcreek Mall. "What is important is that no one forgot Tonya. A legend. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning . The 23-year-old, who was found only partially clothed, had been strangled and sexually assaulted, police said. Late of Ballinacurra Gardens and Rathbane, Limerick. Emailus. She was the best sister a girl could ask for, her older sister, Renee Ethridge, told The Daily Beast. Picture by Phillip Biggs. 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. That Wasn't a Meteorite in the South Florida Sky Sunday Night. William Edwin "Ed" Danallanko . Thats all moot now. 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This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. I remember reading about this case actually on this subreddit which fascinated me because I was unaware of it despite living in Pensacola, Florida nearly my whole life. J NORWOOD Mrs Jane Norwood Mulberry Tree Cottage Gillingham who has died in her 90th year was the widow of Mr John Jur-dan . Leonard A Wells Sr. died Monday, September 23, 2019, at the Life Care Center of Richland at the age of 90. Wells Sr. died Monday, September 23, 2019, at the Life Care Center of Richland at the age of 90. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Daniel Steven Leonard of Thomasville, North Carolina, born in Davidson, North Carolina, who passed away on October 6, 2022, at the age of 35, leaving to mourn family and friends. 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. 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. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.. 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.. 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 1985 killing of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, has been solved, say police in Pensacola, Florida. He is survived by his brother Claude Wells, Leonard Wells, age 76, of Stafford, Virginia passed away Friday, January 20, 2023, at his daughters residence. Burial will follow the service at Stafford Memorial Park, 154 Shelton Shop Road, Stafford, Virginia. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Tornado Touched Down in Palm Beach Gardens, Leaving Destruction in Its Wake. It was just a normal New Years Eve.. 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. 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Jean Carroll civil rape case, Prosecutors seek death penalty against plastic surgeon accused of murdering missing lawyer who represented former employer in suit, 'This was not a random act': Person of interest in custody after Detroit neurosurgeon found shot in head and wrapped in blanket, 'I'm sorry. Pensacola detectives arrested Wells on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and charged him with the slaying of Tonya McKinley, 23, whose body was found before dawn on New Year's Day 1985. A 57-year-old man has been arrested 35 years after the murder of a young mother in Florida. Read More: Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now? "It weighed a lot on him. Their parting exchange was wishing each other New Year greetings, and Tonya stated she would see her the following morning. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, according to the Pensacola News Journal. Mr. Leonard was born January 6, 1940 in Davidson County to Zelma Daphne Leonard. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. . 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 . The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial. Thomas "Tom" Daniel Wells Jr., age 89, of Thomasville . David Charles Fryberg Sr. David Charles December 30, 1941 - Fryberg Sr. February 14, 2023 David Charles Fryberg Sr., 81, passed away on February 14, 2023 surrounded by his family. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. Mr Wells is an Alabama Air National Guard and Civil Service retiree of over 40 years. 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. Apr 21, 2023; Click for details . James Forrest Eby, 85, of Seville, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 after a lengthy battle with Huntington's Disease. He is survived by his wife, Victoria, the light and joy of his life; his two-year-old LEO GREGORY WELLS Leo Gregory Wells, 79, of Grandview, MO passed away the day before his birthday on Nov. 27, 2013. Obituary. Very sad story considering he evaded true justice by taking the coward's way out. Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest warrant. 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 living in Olive Branch, Mississippi, about a 30-minute drive from Memphis, where he taught. Got a tip? No suspects had been publicly named. "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. When detectives retired, Tonyas case was passed along to the next generation again and again. Index Of Deceased Bixby Bulletin Obituary Archive Obituary Look-up by email is available free of charge at Bixby Historical Society. Mrs. Ruby Lee Womack, 68, passed away Sept. 16, 2007, at her home in Gautier, Miss., after a long battle with COPD. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriffs office. . was born in Wells in Massachusetts' District of Maine (Maine achieved statehood two months after Gooch's birth). The family will arrive at 10:00am and receive friends at 11:00am, one hour prior to the service. He helped ensure African Americans had equal access to promotions in the desegregated Milwaukee Police Department. Browse Toledo local obituaries on Legacy.com. Eventually, authorities said, the tree led them to identify Wells as a suspect. She recounted how they danced, met with friends, and partied till the late night hours of New Years Eve. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Very deeply regretted by his loving parents Noreen and Dan, sister Dawn, brother-in-law Mark, nieces Lily and grace, aunts, uncles, other relatives and . Around three and a half decades later, Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonya's homicide. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". He is preceded in death by his parents Joy Charles, and Patricia Leonard, and a sister Robin Buck. Daniel Wheelwright Gooch (January 8, 1820 - November 1, 1891) was a United States representative from . Obituary. Leonard A. Born February 10, 1942 in Arlington, Massachusetts, he relocated with his family to Tampa, Florida in 1981. Shots fired near Danville school; no injuries reported. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. Shapiro to speak at first Erie Co. Community College graduation, Erie County Council primary election: 3 Dems, 4 GOP running for office, Erie County's Top Performers for high school athletics, April 24-29, Meet Trusted Company: The last known living daughter of Secretariat, National League's surprise top team is charting a new course, Why a PA official wants to create an Office of Outdoor Recreation, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. His funeral is planned for Saturday . Survived by beloved wife Jennifer Zeinner-Leonard, children: Scott Leonard Jr., Steven Strachota, James (Lori) Hestad, Samantha .
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