No suspects had been publicly named. For thirty-five years.. You may have heard that name before. Spokeo's database, while extensive, does not contain all U.S. warrant, arrest, court, or other related records. DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. 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. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. 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. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. 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 got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. . Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and held without bail. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, age 50s, lives in Pensacola, FL. 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. 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. He has been charged with murder and sexual battery. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was also. Evidence suggested she had been raped, and they also discovered a blood-soaked blue towel by her head. 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. Past Addresses: Pensacola FL, Kansas City MO +4 more. I'm positive of that.". She recounted how they danced, met with friends, and partied till the late night hours of New Years Eve. Wells, who was living in Pensacola at the time of his arrest, 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. "There are people out there who know (what happened). A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. View their profile including current address, phone number 850-584-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. Daniel has lived in a single family house in Liberty, MO with Mary. May 8, 2022 | In best courses to study in uk for masters | . ", Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. 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. We found 4 phone numbers and email addresses. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic from Tonya's body and the crime scene. According to the show, she and her husband reminded Tonya after midnight that it was time to pick up their children and head home. Disclaimer: Reference to these media outlets or TV shows should not be construed to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of Spokeo or its products. 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. Have a tip or story idea? "She can finally rest.". 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. 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The defendant got to live his life the last 35 years. There are 5 court records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. He is being held.. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Year's Day in 1985 at Darryl's Bar & Grille. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". 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. "What is important is that no one forgot Tonya. 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. 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. 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. Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice, he 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. daniel leonard wells pensacola daniel leonard wells pensacola. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Daniel has lived with Polly in Pensacola, FL. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Check out The Morning News to get the latest news, weather and traffic in Central Florida. According to court records, Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges, but the witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriffs office. I'm positive of that.". They found a dead body and immediately notified the authorities. 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. 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. View Dan Rowdy Wells's record in Pensacola, FL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. "(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. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found dead in his cell at Escambia County Sheriff's Office in an apparent suicide Thursday morning. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. [Image of McKinley via Pensacola Police Department; mugshot of Wells via Escambia County], Have a tip we should know? However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. He was found hanged in his cell early Thursday morning, according to authorities in a Pensacola News Journalreport. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Emailus. 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. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. Daniel departed this 2,006 square foot home in 2003. 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. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. 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. Davidson was 18 months old at the time of the murder. 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. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. He wasnt going to ever just say what he did on his own.. Phone & Email (4) All Addresses (7) Family (3) 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. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest warrant. [emailprotected]. 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. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Jeffrey M Gallagher, Michelle L Phillips, and three other persons are also associated with this address. Lets begin then, shall we? Current Address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. He's now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at Darryls Bar & Grille. Daniel and Jennifer have resided together in a single family house in Kansas City, MO. A video appearance was scheduled for court to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. 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. Hes now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. According to police sources, the alleged murderer had died from self-inflicted injuries. 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,. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. 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. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.. Phone Number: (816) 468-UYKW +3 phones. 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. He got to have a family. IE 11 is not supported. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on . 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 . Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L 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 just days before he was scheduled to make a court appearance in the case. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. 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