Benjamin William Holland . [emailprotected]. Leonard A Wells Sr. died Monday, September 23, 2019, at the Life Care Center of Richland at the age of 90. 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. The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial. $205,000; 7054 Hemlock St., Hanover Park; Sold on March 8, 2023, by Wells Fargo Bank Trustee to Cesar O Olague $186,500; 1310 Merrimac Ln N, Hanover Park; Sold on March 23, 2023, by Julia A Rutt . John L. "Lenny" Wells, Sr. 02/10/1942 - 08/07/2021. Skip to main content (800) 896-5587. Pallbearers: Mike Wells (brother), Tracey Wells (brother), Fargo Wells (brother), Rick Scites (cousin), Mike Blair (nephew), and Tom Blair (nephew). The drag marks and absence of blood at the scene indicated the murder had been committed somewhere else. TSL and NTFA football teams for the weekend of April 29. Apr 21, 2023; Click for details . His grandson, Cody Wells, and his sister, Leanna Wells, preceded him in death. Daniel A. As technology advanced, the case was brought back to the forefront. 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. After spending eight years employed at the Texas Engineering and Manufacturing Company in Grand Prairie, Texas, he and . Born in Bluefield, W.Va., he had been a Peninsula resident for . The investigators had retrieved semen, head hair, and pubic hair from Tonyas body and the crime scene. The officers found the victims high heel shoes and her purse, containing her drivers license, a few blocks from the scene. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Tornado Touched Down in Palm Beach Gardens, Leaving Destruction in Its Wake. Got a tip? 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. This booking photo provided by Escambia County Corrections shows Daniel Wells. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. The emergency squad of the Champlain Fire Department received a call for a resuscitator shortly after 4:40. "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. 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. The cutting-edge forensic technology helped authorities identify multiple people as distant cousins of the suspect. James Forrest Eby, 85, of Seville, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 after a lengthy battle with Huntington's Disease. Thats all moot now. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in . "What is important is that no one forgot Tonya. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. 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. Once you find the obituary you are looking for, you can get important information about upcoming services, share a favorite photo or memory, and send flowers or gifts to the family. 8:32 a.m.: David Chapple-Kerry Miller; Shane Larsson-Junior Flores It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Kenneth is predeceased by his son David, brothers Donald, Leonard, Paul and his sisters Sheila Gallant, Rita MacIssac, Patsy Arsenault and Eva Kilbride. PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? 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. (Escambia County Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Lenard "Lenny" Wells died March 21 at age 69 of complications from the coronavirus. Earlier this morning I came across this news article stating that the murderer Daniel Wells has killed himself in Escambia County Jail. 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. Lets begin then, shall we? Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. As Milwaukee mourns the loss of Lenard "Lenny" Wells, those words have come up over and over. 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 had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. Obituary. A legend. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. He was born on April 28, 1929, in Grants Pass, Oregon, to Kathryn and Wilson Wells. Leonard Wells, 92, of Grand Haven died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Heartwood Lodge, Hospice. April 28, 1929 September 23, 2019. I cant believe this day has finally arrived, Tonya Ethridge McKinleys sister said on Thursday. Obituaries - - - - - All . He is being held in Escambia County jail without . We are proud to serve people of all faiths, nationalities, and lifestyles. 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. Born February 10, 1942 in Arlington, Massachusetts, he relocated with his family to Tampa, Florida in 1981. 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. John "Lenny" Wells Sr. of Tampa, 79, passed away at home August 7, 2021. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. A memorial service will be in 2014. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Daniel Steven Leonard Obituary. Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest warrant. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. There was even an audio recording of the victim's son being informed of the arrest (which is quite hard to listen to). Need help? However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was also. Around three and a half decades later,Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonyas homicide. 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 Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Searching obituaries is a great place to start your family tree research. 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. . 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. IE 11 is not supported. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. 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. ", "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. . She said she did not have any more information to share. 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. 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. CHAMPLAIN Leonard Wells,a Delaware and Hudson Railroad employee and operator of a service station here, died unexpectedly at his home Wednesday afternoon. Oct 31, 2021. Bracknell celebrate a goal in their win over Longford last week. She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. He has been charged with murder and sexual battery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 Friday at Davidson Funeral Home in Lexington. A total 172 Danville, Pittsylvania County and Halifax County residents were recently named to the Danville Community College vice president . He pleaded no contest to the first charge, and the second was eventually dropped. Contributions are suggested to the American 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts. McKinley was last seen alive celebrating New Years Eve around 1:30 a.m. at Darryls Bar & Grille in Pensacola, while her 18-month-old son was waiting for her at home. Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal murder.". 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". Have a tip or story idea? 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Obituary. He was found hanged in his cell early Thursday morning, according to authorities in a Pensacola News Journalreport. No suspects had been publicly named. Graveside Services for Daniel Leo Leonard, Sr., age 83, of Picayune, MS, who passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021, will be held Friday, January 7, 2022 at 11:00 am at OLPH Cemetery, Belle Chasse, LA. Let others know about your loved one's death. Shots fired near Danville school; no injuries reported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. 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. Born March 3, 1940 in Waynesville, NC to Patrick Joseph and Coralie Bolton Leonard, Dan was a recognized expert in the field of music education, having taught . 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. Wells Sr. died Monday, September 23, 2019, at the Life Care Center of Richland at the age of 90. 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. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. 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. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Obituary. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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.. 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. "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years.". 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. However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. Subscribe Sign In Try for a limited time! The case went nowhere for years, but officers said they used Parabon NanoLabs to help them break the case. 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. Daniel Brown sold property at 8005 Thon Drive to James Donald Shults for $130,000. Daniel Robert Wells died at his Bay Ridge Annapolis home on January 2, 2023. He was a member of Love of God Baptist Church. 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. He was charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya Ethridge McKinley." Wells was living in Olive Branch, Mississippi, about a 30-minute drive from Memphis, where he taught. He was born on . 0. Evidence suggested she had been raped, and they also discovered a blood-soaked blue towel by her head. Born in Erie on May 20, 1957, a son of the late Logan and . "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. Additional court records revealed Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges. Mrs. Ruby Lee Womack, 68, passed away Sept. 16, 2007, at her home in Gautier, Miss., after a long battle with COPD. She was the best sister a girl could ask for, her older sister, Renee Ethridge, told The Daily Beast. 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. McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. Leonard Wells Obituary Search. ", Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. Investigators collected physical evidence at the scene and on McKinleys bodyincluding semen and hairbut they were never able to identify a suspect or make any arrests in the case. He married Norma Jean Purdue in 1946 and they had two children. Kenneth Leo Kenny Wells, a native of Pensacola, Florida and a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, departed the planet on April 1, 2023, leaving no itinerary as to his next destination within the Robert Bobby" Wells, 90, died peacefully at home February 16, 2023. 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. Recently there was a post announcing they had arrested a suspect who confessed to the 35 year old cold case. He was charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya Ethridge McKinley. She was later found dead at an empty lot. He attended the public schools, Phillips Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth College. I love you': Chilling note found at murder scene after husband allegedly drives 500 miles to tell mom he shot and killed his wife, I do not want this on record: Texas substitute teacher caught encouraging student fights on video immediately fired and jailed, Burning body found in open field after bystander initially believed it to be a mannequin: This is a jarring scene, Repeat offender who has cost taxpayers millions by eating metal from jail cells hes occupied is headed back to the clink, Federal judge orders Missouri woman who faked death of famous Hollywood chimp to pay PETA $224,000, Inmates who escaped jail through a hole cut with toothbrush and metal object arrested at IHOP, Florida man goes on naked stroll, tells officers hes from a different earth: Police. A 57-year-old man has been arrested 35 years after the murder of a young mother in Florida. Wells, 69, died Saturday from complications of COVID-19. Frenchy's obituary. 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. The death has occurred of Daniel Leonard (Junior) Ballinacurra Gardens, Ballinacurra, Limerick. They also failed to match DNA found at the scene with samples from a national database. The reasons why this happened, how evil crossed Tonyas path, may never be answered and in the end may not be important. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Guest commentary: Let's stand up to Dan Patrick's attack on academic freedom (42) We all should push back against toxic political dialogue (37 . The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial.Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida.This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. Jim was born in Wadsworth on July 25, 1937 to Ralph Forrest and Bernice (Edis) Eby. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. Obituaries. 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. Detectives laid fresh eyes on all of the evidence, new theories were presented, and hopes of catching Tonyas killer were renewed.. HAMPTON - Leonard Daniel Wells of Hampton, Va., died unexpectedly on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, at the age of 56. He was a Lead Electrician at Lockheed Martin and served in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam. We also offer funeral pre-planning and carry a wide selection of caskets, vaults, urns and burial containers. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. OBITUARY Mr. C. L. Burns (Tunbridge Wells) Mr. Cecil Leonard Burns, well-known architect, sparetime artist, and a champion of the preservation of the architectural heritage of the town . He was visiting family in Milwaukee when he got sick. 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. 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. He was born on January 31, 1946, in Lincoln County, West Virginia, the son of the Leonard Clark Wells Jr., age 70, of Westbrook, Connecticut passed away on Sunday, November 7, 2021. Lenny served in WELLS, John Leonard Jr., Lenny, 42, of Tampa, passed away in a tragic accident Thursday, May 26, 2016. A year later, Wells was arrested for alleged solicitation of prostitution, but its unclear how the case ended. Daniel died suddenly on January 29th 2023. Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. Survived by his brothers and sisters, Edward (Gillian) Gallant, Florence (Clarence) Galliott, Francis (Donna) Gallant, Phyllis (Ross) Wells, Larry O'Brien and brother-in-law Art Arsenault. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Funeral services will be held at 12:00pm, Saturday, January 28, 2023, at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 186 Shelton Shop Road, Stafford, Virginia. 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. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. Apr 15, 2023 . 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. Survivors include: one son, Leonard Wells, Jr., (Joyce) of Stafford, Virginia; one daughter, Cynthia Wells, of Fredericksburg, Virginia; three brothers, Michael Wells (Evelyn) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Tracey Wells (Karen) of Dunnellon, Florida, and Fargo Wells of Stafford, Virginia; one half-sister, Grace Warr (Silas) of Brisbane, Australia; one grandchild, Misty Hatcher (Matthew); and three great grandchildren, Gemma, Jade, and Josie Hatcher. But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley's killer to Wells' family and then to him, police said. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. Wells, 64 of Wattsburg, passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2022, surrounded by his family at St. Vincent Health Center. God is good. Using a database, Pensacola authorities were able to match DNA evidence found near McKinleys body with several different people believed to be Wells distant cousins. Obituaries. Leonard Wells, age 76, of Stafford, Virginia passed away Friday, January 20, 2023, at his daughter's residence. Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. Clark was born December 1, 1950 in Greenwich, CT. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may John "Lenny" Wells Sr. of Tampa, 79, passed away at home August 7, 2021. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning . Her partially nude body was found on the side of Peak Drive near Scenic Highway about four hours after she was last seen alive at Darryls Restaurant behind what was then University Mall.
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