Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. 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. Phone Numbers. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. Court records viewed by Law&Crime show no attorney of record. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. The drag marks and absence of blood at the scene indicated the murder had been committed somewhere else. No suspects had been publicly named. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200402/suspect-in-1985-northwest-florida-cold-case-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". 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. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. He was born on 1-06-1962. "(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. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? "(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. ", Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. She recounted how they danced, met with friends, and partied till the late night hours of New Years Eve. Uncover Daniel's photos, videos, and more , Personal details for Daniel may include . Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". 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. His age is 60. 8 maja 2022. daniel leonard wells pensacola 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. The officers found the victims high heel shoes and her purse, containing her drivers license, a few blocks from the scene. 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. and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Hes now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. However, forensic science was yet to evolve in 1985, and with the police having no leads or suspects, the case went cold. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. 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. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. ", Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. 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 . 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. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. 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. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. Name. Email Address: See available information. PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A 57-year-old man has been arrested for the 1985 cold case murder of 23-year-oldTonya Ethridge McKinley in Pensacola. 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. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. 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. Phone Number: (816) 468-UYKW +3 phones. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. Wells is being held without bond at the Escambia County jail. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. In 1988, he was arrested for solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. 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. Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal murder.". 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 investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. With the DNA from the cigarette butt, they were able to positively identify Wells' as the man who raped and murdered Tonya in 1985. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. "She can finally rest.". We identified 991 records related to "Daniel Wells" in the state of Florida. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. "There are people out there who know (what happened). 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 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 1985 killing of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, has been solved, say police in Pensacola, Florida. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. She was later found dead at an empty lot. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Around three and a half decades later, Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonya's homicide. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. Police arrested 57-year-old Daniel Leonard Wells (Escambia County Jail) A 57-year-old man has been arrested 35 years after the murder of a young mother in Florida. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. 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