The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. 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. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. "She can finally rest.". Uncover Daniel's photos, videos, and more , Personal details for Daniel may include . "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal murder.". ", Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. The investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. The arrest of Wells isnt an exception: cops say they found DNA at the scene of the crime. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. 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. Find census, military, and other historical records.*. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. Assessor records link the name of Daniel Wells to thirteen properties, including . The officers found the victims high heel shoes and her purse, containing her drivers license, a few blocks from the scene. "Until today. Zaznacz stron. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Click a city to find Daniel more easily. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. We did this time and time again. Daniel Leonard Wells, age 50s, lives in Pensacola, FL. Daniel has lived in a single family house in Liberty, MO with Mary. 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. 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. "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. 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. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. 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,. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. 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. Hes now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200402/suspect-in-1985-northwest-florida-cold-case-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell. 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. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. "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. Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. We did this time and time again. Additional court records revealed Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges. "It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. He is being held in Escambia County jail. 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. 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. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. 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. 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. Daniel Wells was arrested in connection with the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida. 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. No suspects had been publicly named. 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. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. 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. 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. According to the show, she and her husband reminded Tonya after midnight that it was time to pick up their children and head home. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. According to police sources, the alleged murderer had died from self-inflicted injuries. Discover work experience, company details, and more. 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. 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. Daniel moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. Search for profiles by email and username. Emailus. 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. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. 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. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. The drag marks and absence of blood at the scene indicated the murder had been committed somewhere else. Evidence suggested she had been raped, and they also discovered a blood-soaked blue towel by her head. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. Police "immediately stopped and recovered the cigarette butt," which had DNA matching semen taken off the victim's body, according to the warrant. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. For thirty-five years.. On Wednesday evening, that day finally arrived with the arrest of Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, who was tied to the young woman's 1985 slaying thanks to DNA recovered from the butt of his. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. Detectives in California used the same method to identify and arrest Joseph James DeAngelo, a suspect in the Golden State Killer cases, in April 2018. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. "There are people out there who know (what happened). ", Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. 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. . 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. At the point, the process has become kind of routine. Cold case investigators. Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice, he said. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. Lets begin then, shall we? 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. 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. 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. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. The witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. They have also lived in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze, FL. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. Pensacola, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. You may have heard that name before. . Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. But for most of the time, they had no suspect in the killing of McKinley, who was survived by an 18-month-old son. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. [emailprotected]. May go by: Dan Leonard Wells Age. The cutting-edge forensic technology helped authorities identify multiple people as distant cousins of the suspect. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Year's Day in 1985 at Darryl's Bar & Grille. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L Wells. "It weighed a lot on him. He is being held.. 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 . DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. He got to have a family. He wasn't going to ever just say what he did on his own. The 1985 killing of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, has been solved, say police in Pensacola, Florida. She recounted how they danced, met with friends, and partied till the late night hours of New Years Eve. 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