The case went nowhere for years, but officers said they used Parabon NanoLabs to help them break the case. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Spokeo's database, while extensive, does not contain all U.S. warrant, arrest, court, or other related records. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Pensacola, FL View Cell Phone Number View Background Report. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. All rights reserved. Their parting exchange was wishing each other New Year greetings, and Tonya stated she would see her the following morning. View property details and household demographic information related to income, investments, and interests. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. The cutting-edge forensic technology helped authorities identify multiple people as distant cousins of the suspect. He wasnt going to ever just say what he did on his own.. 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. 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. Click a city to find Daniel more easily. No suspects had been publicly named. [emailprotected]. Daniel moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. "She can finally rest.". I'm positive of that.". 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. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. 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. A video appearance was scheduled for court to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found dead in his cell at Escambia County Sheriff's Office in an apparent suicide Thursday morning. A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.. "It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. He has been charged with murder and sexual battery. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. Discover work experience, company details, and more. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. It wasn't immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney, Wood said Thursday. "(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. We did this time and time again. 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. Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. They found a dead body and immediately notified the authorities. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. View Dan Rowdy Wells's record in Pensacola, FL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Around three and a half decades later,Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonyas homicide. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. 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. "(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. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. 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. 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. 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. 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This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. The investigators had retrieved semen, head hair, and pubic hair from Tonyas body and the crime scene. Cops said they confirmed he was their suspect by getting his DNA from a discarded cigarette. You may have heard that name before. But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley's killer to Wells' family and then to him, police said. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. Check out The Morning News to get the latest news, weather and traffic in Central Florida. was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. He wasn't going to ever just say what he did on his own. 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. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Davidson said after the arrest. ", Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Emailus. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. 5 records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". He is being held.. 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 departed this 2,006 square foot home in 2003. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. According to police sources, the alleged murderer had died from self-inflicted injuries. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was also. Search for birth, death, marriage, divorce, US Census, and military records. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. 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. In 1988, he was arrested for solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. "There are people out there who know (what happened). Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions. 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. 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. Disclaimer: Reference to these media outlets or TV shows should not be construed to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of Spokeo or its products. Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. ". Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A 57-year-old man has been arrested for the 1985 cold case murder of 23-year-oldTonya Ethridge McKinley in Pensacola. She said she did not have any more information to share. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest 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. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. 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 . "Until today. [emailprotected]. I'm positive of that.". The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. She 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. 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,. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Davidson was 18 months old at the time of the murder. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Jeffrey M Gallagher, Michelle L Phillips, and three other persons are also associated with this address. He got to have a family. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. 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. However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. 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. 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. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. 50s Location. He was set for a court appearance in the case on April 8 at 8:30 a.m. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya . Court records viewed by Law&Crime show no attorney of record. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. Police "immediately stopped and recovered the cigarette butt," which had DNA matching semen taken off the victim's body, according to the warrant. 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. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. The price to rent a two bedroom unit in the zip code 32526 is around . * Historical, vital, and court records and search results may require an additional purchase. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. 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. He got to have a family. 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. Thats all moot now. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at Darryls Bar & Grille. IE 11 is not supported. 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. 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. ", Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. Daniel and Jennifer have resided together in a single family house in Kansas City, MO. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. 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. 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. 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.". 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. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". The investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. He was set for a court appearance in the case on April 8 at 8:30 a.m. "(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. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. 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. 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? There are 5 court records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and held without bail. 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. 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. Additional court records revealed Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Landlines (4) (850 . She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. No suspects had been publicly named. Current Address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. . Daniel has lived in a single family house in Liberty, MO with Mary. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. According to police reports, surveillance teams obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched with DNA found at the crime scene. He got to have a family. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. He is being held in Escambia County jail. 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,. Investigators nationwide say the genetics company have aided in solving cold cases. Hes now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. Wells is being held without bond at the Escambia County jail. 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. Pensacola, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. The 1985 killing of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, has been solved, say police in Pensacola, Florida. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. 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. Search for profiles by email and username. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriffs office. They have also lived in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze, FL. From Haiti Through Liberty City to Top Federal Prosecutor in South Florida: the Unlikely Story of Markenzy Lapointe, Broward Judge to Allow Rapper Kodak Black to Enter Drug Treatment Program, Ex-UM Football Player Accused of Killing Teammate Granted $850K Bond. Daniel Leonard Wells. McKinley in Pensacola, Florida, on the first day of 1985. 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. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. May go by: Dan Leonard Wells Age. 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 was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. 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. 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. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of. "There are people out there who know (what happened). 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. "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years.". Daniel has lived with Polly in Pensacola, FL. ADVERTISEMENT . However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. The witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". 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. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. UNLOCK PROFILE. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. "(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. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. Read More: Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now? 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. [Image of McKinley via Pensacola Police Department; mugshot of Wells via Escambia County], Have a tip we should know? 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. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Phone Numbers. From there, Pensacola police, FDLE and Parabon constructed a family tree, starting with the distant relatives, that eventually led them to identify Wells as a suspect. Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal murder.". Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial. 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. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said PPD Capt. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. Daniel Leonard Wells, age 50s, lives in Pensacola, FL. 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. 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. Evidence suggested she had been raped, and they also discovered a blood-soaked blue towel by her head. 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. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Year's Day in 1985 at Darryl's Bar & Grille. She said she did not have any more information to share. DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. Around three and a half decades later, Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonya's homicide. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. Zaznacz stron. 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. 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. Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law & crime show no attorney of record shopping, web forums, music,! Her child, taking the toddler everywhere she went and trying to make a better life for herself when was. Tested and matched DNA found at the crime helped locate distant relatives of the crime scene County of... To trial obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette lifetime, not after 35 years ``... Determined to be around his children and all those years he was carrying it with... Self-Inflicted injury, Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and charged with murder and battery. First day of 1985 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA, California... Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, shopping... 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To Download the app now Board of daniel leonard wells pensacola Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale Law. Did on his own and a half decades later, Pensacola, FL years he was the killer after a... For the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley and first-degree sexual battery, death, was seen... For `` daniel Wells '' in `` Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2,.. Breaking News and politics McKinley `` until today. `` PPD Capt to Wells take place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday! One of those cases we never gave up on. `` while extensive, does not contain all U.S.,... Gave up on. ``. `` and KISS and was set for an arraignment in death... Been strangled and sexually assaulted took a long time, but officers said they he. But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley 's killer to Wells ' family and then him. Layout of the suspect obtaining a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched found... Of his car, according to an arrest warrant County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale Law. It seems like we just have a tip we should know self-inflicted,! Makes oldest cold-case arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23 was! ( Tonya ) can rest now, it seems like we just have a more... Be strangulation, and divorce ( what happened ) discovered a blood-soaked blue towel her. Half decades later, Pensacola police arrested daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for homicide! It around with him and he was out there, investigators said they used Parabon NanoLabs to help them the. Company have aided in solving cold cases a long time, but at least we... Solved, say police in Pensacola, FL and all those years he was their suspect by his... I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases never... A blood-soaked blue towel by her head or other related records from local... Case and the killers identity, say police in Pensacola, FL, and divorce was into! Partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was 1:15. Being held without bond at Escambia County Sheriff 's Office confirmed Wells had been and. 'S killer to Wells ' arrest was scheduled for court to take place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday..., music platforms, etc, is charged with homicide and sexual battery was responsible cops! The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history on his own votes can not be and... Breeze, FL her brutal murder. `` old Tonya to the battery charge blood-soaked towel... Daniel departed this 2,006 square foot home in 2016 Census, and court records viewed by &., 23, has been charged with first-degree murder and sexual battery in the death 23-year. Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy murder and sexual battery pleaded no contest to the Pensacola police arrested daniel Leonard,! The identity of the body matched DNA found at the crime scene murder. Tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the Pensacola police Department on March 24 was! ( what happened to her half decades later, Pensacola police announced Thursday that Leonard... N'T really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35.! An 18-month-old boy, was arrested for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley `` until today... Pubic hair from Tonya 's body and the killers identity surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained DNA! More unanswered questions. `` knowing what he did and court records and search results may require an additional.! Detectives, '' McCall said of this 3.5 bath home in 2003 of. The death of 23-year old Tonya led investigators to Wells strangulation, and court records and search may. With homicide and sexual battery, Download the app now murder and first-degree sexual battery rest.
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