Daniel departed this 2,006 square foot home in 2003. 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,. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial. 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. ". 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. For thirty-five years.. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. He's now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. Pensacola, FL View Cell Phone Number View Background Report. 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. 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. 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. Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L Wells. "(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. "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years.". 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. Click a city to find Daniel more easily. Daniel has lived with Polly in Pensacola, FL. At the point, the process has become kind of routine. No suspects had been publicly named. 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 said she did not have any more information to share. 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of. 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. Lets begin then, shall we? Daniel Leonard Wells. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. 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. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. Police "immediately stopped and recovered the cigarette butt," which had DNA matching semen taken off the victim's body, according to the warrant. 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. All rights reserved. Using that, they and Parabon made use of an open-source genealogy database, used it to locate distant relatives of the suspect, and finally found the defendant, officers said in the Pensacola News Journal report. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. . Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. Daniel has lived in a single family house in Liberty, MO with Mary. 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. 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. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. He has been charged with murder and sexual battery. They have also lived in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze, FL. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at Darryls Bar & Grille. 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. daniel leonard wells pensacola daniel leonard wells pensacola. We did this time and time again. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200402/suspect-in-1985-northwest-florida-cold-case-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell. PENSACOLA 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. The cutting-edge forensic technology helped authorities identify multiple people as distant cousins of the suspect. "What is important is that no one forgot Tonya. We did this time and time again. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. We found 4 phone numbers and email addresses. PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A 57-year-old man has been arrested for the 1985 cold case murder of 23-year-oldTonya Ethridge McKinley in Pensacola. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. But for most of the time, they had no suspect in the killing of McKinley, who was survived by an 18-month-old son. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. Results for this person or the person you are looking for are not guaranteed to appear in search results. Daniel and Jennifer have resided together in a single family house in Kansas City, MO. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Their parting exchange was wishing each other New Year greetings, and Tonya stated she would see her the following morning. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. "She can finally rest.". Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. Daniel Leonard Wells' Arrest Photo (Image provided by Pensacola Police Department) Police needed him to discard something with DNA evidence, and eventually, an officer witnessed him tossing a cigarette butt. Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. 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. A video appearance was scheduled for court to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. It wasn't immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney, Wood said Thursday. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. View their profile including current address, phone number 850-584-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The investigators had retrieved semen, head hair, and pubic hair from Tonyas body and the crime scene. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. Phone Number: (816) 468-UYKW +3 phones. He got to have a family. "(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. Emailus. Wells was identified . "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. Court records viewed by Law&Crime show no attorney of record. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal. "There are people out there who know (what happened). Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. She was later found dead at an empty lot. With the DNA from the cigarette butt, they were able to positively identify Wells' as the man who raped and murdered Tonya in 1985. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. Evidence suggested she had been raped, and they also discovered a blood-soaked blue towel by her head. (816) 468-.css-1y2reja{color:transparent;position:relative;z-index:12;text-shadow:0.1rem 0.1rem 0.6rem #089FE4;}LIYF. Landlines (4) (850) 584-9629 (816) 584 . I'm positive of that.". "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. . "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. The arrest of Wells isnt an exception: cops say they found DNA at the scene of the crime. Discover work experience, company details, and more. 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. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. 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. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Wells is being held without bond at the Escambia County jail. UNLOCK PROFILE. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". 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. Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. There are 5 court records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". The landline phone number 8165849629 is registered to Daniel Leonard Wells in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd. 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. I'm positive of that.". She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. Browse . Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. 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. The officers found the victims high heel shoes and her purse, containing her drivers license, a few blocks from the scene. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. 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. 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. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. 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. 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. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. He was born on 1-06-1962. Daniel moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. 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, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. PENSACOLA 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. Was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Jail 850 ) 584-9629 ( 816 ) 584 discarded.... Injury, Escambia County Sheriff 's Office confirmed Wells had hired or been assigned an,... 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