We identified 991 records related to "Daniel Wells" in the state of Florida. Assessor records link the name of Daniel Wells to thirteen properties, including . All rights reserved. The investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? 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. Around three and a half decades later, Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonya's homicide. 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. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic from Tonya's body and the crime scene. Uncover Daniel's photos, videos, and more , Personal details for Daniel may include . Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. 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. 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. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. 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. . In 1988, he was arrested for solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. This home is the most recent known address for Daniel. "It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. The drag marks and absence of blood at the scene indicated the murder had been committed somewhere else. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Year's Day in 1985 at Darryl's Bar & Grille. I'm positive of that.". 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. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. It was just a normal New Years Eve.. 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. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Pensacola, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. The price to rent a two bedroom unit in the zip code 32526 is around . She said she did not have any more information to share. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. 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. View Dan Rowdy Wells's record in Pensacola, FL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. 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. ADVERTISEMENT "(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. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. The cutting-edge forensic technology helped authorities identify multiple people as distant cousins of the suspect. 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 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. 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. 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. With the DNA from the cigarette butt, they were able to positively identify Wells' as the man who raped and murdered Tonya in 1985. Arrest: Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA. Landlines (4) (850 . Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. [emailprotected]. . Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. 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. 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. Emailus. He's now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. Zaznacz stron. 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. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. "I know it took a long time, but it was one of those cases we never gave up on.". Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. She was later found dead at an empty lot. Pensacola Police announced Thursday that Daniel Leonard Wells, of Pensacola, was arrested Wednesday and charged with homicide and sexual battery. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. 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 . We did this time and time again. 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. 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. 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. 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's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. ". 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 Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. 50s Location. 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. * Historical, vital, and court records and search results may require an additional purchase. Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. Name. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. "(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 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. 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. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice, he said. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. Daniel Wells was arrested in connection with the 1985 murder of Tonya McKinley in Florida. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at Darryls Bar & Grille. Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. For thirty-five years.. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. 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. 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 moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. Their mother, Laverne, lives in Jay with Renee. He is being held.. The defendant got to live his life the last 35 years. 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. 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. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. "This was a case that spanned three generations of detectives," said Captain Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. 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 was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. 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. According to the arrest report, there is a less than 1 in 700 billion chance that the DNA from the crime scene is a match to anyone other than Wells. Jeffrey M Gallagher, Michelle L Phillips, and three other persons are also associated with this address. "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years.". [Image of McKinley via Pensacola Police Department; mugshot of Wells via Escambia County], Have a tip we should know? 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. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Click a city to find Daniel more easily. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. 3,876 court search results for people named "Daniel Wells" in the United States. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. 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. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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