Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. Have a tip or story idea? Dan Johnson Wells was born in Yarnaby, Oklahoma, on March 26, 1928, to Glover Delon and Josie Ella (Johnson) Wells. He was 95 years old. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning . Police "immediately stopped and recovered the cigarette butt," which had DNA matching semen taken off the victim's body, according to the warrant. Lets begin then, shall we? 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. Wells, 64 of Wattsburg, passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2022, surrounded by his family at St. Vincent Health Center. Mr Wells is an Alabama Air National Guard and Civil Service retiree of over 40 years. 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Obituary. 8:32 a.m.: David Chapple-Kerry Miller; Shane Larsson-Junior Flores 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. Leonard Wells, 75, of Waubun, Minn., lost his courageous battle to cancer on June 8, 2015, at his home under Hospice care of the Red River Valley. 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. According to court records obtained by the Pensacola News Journal, Wells has had previous run-ins with Pensacola authorities, including a 1987 arrest for alleged battery and witness tampering. Here's What You Actually Saw, Check Your Change! Kenneth Leo Kenny Wells, a native of Pensacola, Florida and a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, departed the planet on April 1, 2023, leaving no itinerary as to his next destination within the Robert Bobby" Wells, 90, died peacefully at home February 16, 2023. 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. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Ervin Wells Sr. (Wilmington, North Carolina), who passed away on December 14, 2022, at the age of 97, leaving to mourn family and friends. He is currently being held without bond at Escambia County Jail. When detectives retired, Tonyas case was passed along to the next generation again and again. Clark was born December 1, 1950 in Greenwich, CT. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may John "Lenny" Wells Sr. of Tampa, 79, passed away at home August 7, 2021. Lets begin then, shall we? Leonard Charles Wells was born April 25, 1940, to Alfred and Madelyn (Van Oss) Wells in White Earth, Minn. As a young boy, his parents moved to Portland to seek employment. 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. As Milwaukee mourns the loss of Lenard "Lenny" Wells, those words have come up over and over. He was a member of Love of God Baptist Church. Find your ancestry info and recent death notices for relatives and friends. [emailprotected]. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57 . These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Tornado Touched Down in Palm Beach Gardens, Leaving Destruction in Its Wake. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. Investigators collected physical evidence at the scene and on McKinleys bodyincluding semen and hairbut they were never able to identify a suspect or make any arrests in the case. The investigators had retrieved semen, head hair, and pubic hair from Tonyas body and the crime scene. She was later found dead at an empty lot. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Wade, Bessie Wadley, Della Waggener, Nora Alice Waggener, Patrick Henry Waggoner, Lula . Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal.He's now charged with first-degree murder, and first-degree sexual battery. Shots fired near Danville school; no injuries reported. She recounted how they danced, met with friends, and partied till the late night hours of New Years Eve. Apr 19, 2023; Click for details . He attended the public schools, Phillips Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth College. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT. No suspects had been publicly named. Wells, 69, died Saturday from complications of COVID-19. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in . "The reasons why this happened, how evil crossed Tonya's path, may never be answered and in the end may not be important," according to police. 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. Get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts. No suspects had been publicly named. 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. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. Last of 2 defendants has been sentenced in Erie for robbing Jared store near Millcreek Mall. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Contributions are suggested to the American 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. He was found hanged in his cell early Thursday morning, according to authorities in a Pensacola News Journalreport. A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. Frenchy's obituary. 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. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. 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Jean Carroll civil rape case, Prosecutors seek death penalty against plastic surgeon accused of murdering missing lawyer who represented former employer in suit, 'This was not a random act': Person of interest in custody after Detroit neurosurgeon found shot in head and wrapped in blanket, 'I'm sorry. Read More: Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now? You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. was born in Wells in Massachusetts' District of Maine (Maine achieved statehood two months after Gooch's birth). There was even an audio recording of the victim's son being informed of the arrest (which is quite hard to listen to). 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.. A 57-year-old man has been arrested 35 years after the murder of a young mother in Florida. Died October, 27 2022 in Ponca, NE. 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. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website, Leonard Wells, age 76, of Stafford, Virginia passed away Friday, January 20, 2023, at his daughters residence. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. ", "She was killed in the early-morning hours of January 1, 1985. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Leonard Wells, 92, of Grand Haven died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Heartwood Lodge, Hospice. Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". Brookside Funeral Home & Crematory. A memorial service will be in 2014. Kenneth is predeceased by his son David, brothers Donald, Leonard, Paul and his sisters Sheila Gallant, Rita MacIssac, Patsy Arsenault and Eva Kilbride. was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. 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Pallbearers: Mike Wells (brother), Tracey Wells (brother), Fargo Wells (brother), Rick Scites (cousin), Mike Blair (nephew), and Tom Blair (nephew). Leonard D. Wells, aka Bill, passed away on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Landmark Care Center, four days after his 92nd birthday. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. Guest commentary: Let's stand up to Dan Patrick's attack on academic freedom (42) We all should push back against toxic political dialogue (37 . The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial. Daniel Steven Leonard Obituary. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. William "Bill" Daniel Leonard, 82, of Lexington, passed away Monday October 24, 2022 at his home. Cold case investigators detained Daniel Wells this week in connection with the killing of 23-year-old . She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. Harry Daniel Hall. He was visiting family in Milwaukee when he got sick. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. 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. He was married to Rheva Jo Nichols in Bonham, Texas, on April 10, 1948. 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 cigarette . From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold, the Pensacola Police Department said in an emotional statement posted on Facebook Thursday. The 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, will never go to trial.Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida.This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. He was predeceased by : his parents, Lillie Hodge Wells and Louis . However, forensic science was yet to evolve in 1985, and with the police having no leads or suspects, the case went cold. Four hours later, a family taking their dog to the vet found her body in an empty lot a block from a highway. Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, one of popular music's most influential figures for four decades, known most widely for the song "Hallelujah," died Nov. 10, 2016. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. . A legend. PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) 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. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Once you find the obituary you are looking for, you can get important information about upcoming services, share a favorite photo or memory, and send flowers or gifts to the family. The 23-year-old, who was found only partially clothed, had been strangled and sexually assaulted, police said. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. 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 . She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. All Obituaries - Wells Funeral Homes, Inc. & Cremation Services offers a variety of funeral services, from traditional funerals to competitively priced cremations, serving Waynesville, NC and the surrounding communities. CHAMPLAIN Leonard Wells,a Delaware and Hudson Railroad employee and operator of a service station here, died unexpectedly at his home Wednesday afternoon. McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. Chief Ernest Hamel said that the man was dead when the department . Picture by Phillip Biggs. They celebrated 73 years together. Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. On Wednesday evening, that day finally arrived with the arrest of Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, who was tied to the young womans 1985 slaying thanks to DNA recovered from the butt of his cigarette. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. The emergency squad of the Champlain Fire Department received a call for a resuscitator shortly after 4:40. John L. "Lenny" Wells, Sr. 02/10/1942 - 08/07/2021. He was charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya Ethridge McKinley." Local obituaries for Escanaba, Michigan 332 Results Thursday, March 2, 2023 Add Photos Add a Memory Katherine "Kathy" Frappier Katherine "Kathy" Christine Frappier (nee Woodring), 71, of. He is being held in Escambia County jail without . Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. Born March 3, 1940 in Waynesville, NC to Patrick Joseph and Coralie Bolton Leonard, Dan was a recognized expert in the field of music education, having taught . 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. Mr. Daniel Steven Leonard, 35 of Thomasville passed away Thursday, October 6, 2022 at his residence. They also failed to match DNA found at the scene with samples from a national database. This booking photo provided by Escambia County Corrections shows Daniel Wells. Law enforcement officials were able to construct a family tree, beginning with the distant relatives, that ultimately led them to identify Daniel as a suspect. Let others know about your loved one's death. DANIEL LEONARD OBITUARY. 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. The Pensacola Police Department said they followed Wells and were ultimately able to match DNA from a cigarette butt hed discarded to the evidence theyd collected 35 years ago. Obituary. The case went nowhere for years, but officers said they used Parabon NanoLabs to help them break the case. Thats all moot now. Lough borough was appointed assistant . Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest warrant. Searching obituaries is a great place to start your family tree research. April 28, 1929 September 23, 2019. Lenny served in WELLS, John Leonard Jr., Lenny, 42, of Tampa, passed away in a tragic accident Thursday, May 26, 2016. He was 56. "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. Lenard "Lenny" Wells died March 21 at age 69 of complications from the coronavirus. Shapiro to speak at first Erie Co. Community College graduation, Erie County Council primary election: 3 Dems, 4 GOP running for office, Erie County's Top Performers for high school athletics, April 24-29, Meet Trusted Company: The last known living daughter of Secretariat, National League's surprise top team is charting a new course, Why a PA official wants to create an Office of Outdoor Recreation, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. ". Obituary. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Daniel was born October 25, 1986 in Davidson County to Steven Curtis Leonard and Linda Ann Smith Bell. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually assaulted. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) . She said she did not have any more information to share. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as: names, dates, place of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships. Authorities said a man arrested last month in a 35-year-old Florida Panhandle slaying has been found dead in jail from an apparent suicide What is important is that no one forgot Tonya.. The family will arrive at 10:00am and receive friends at 11:00am, one hour prior to the service. . He was born on January 31, 1946, in Lincoln County, West Virginia, the son of the late Harvey and Doris (Scites) Wells. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, according to the Pensacola News Journal. "Until today. The investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. Leonard Wells, age 76, of Stafford, Virginia passed away Friday, January 20, 2023, at his daughter's residence. Mrs. Ruby Lee Womack, 68, passed away Sept. 16, 2007, at her home in Gautier, Miss., after a long battle with COPD. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Got a tip? McKinley in Pensacola, Florida, on the first day of 1985. All rights reserved. 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. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. He was born on . J NORWOOD Mrs Jane Norwood Mulberry Tree Cottage Gillingham who has died in her 90th year was the widow of Mr John Jur-dan . 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. Leonard A. 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 . Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. "It weighed a lot on him. Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal murder, the department said. I cant believe this day has finally arrived, Tonya Ethridge McKinleys sister said on Thursday. Arrangements are under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home . Born February 10, 1942 in Arlington, Massachusetts, he relocated with his family to Tampa, Florida in 1981. A total 172 Danville, Pittsylvania County and Halifax County residents were recently named to the Danville Community College vice president . He spent 27 years on . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Obituary. Born in Erie on May 20, 1957, a son of the late Logan and . Bill loved working on cars and was a Master Mason. He married Norma Jean Purdue in 1946 and they had two children. He was born on April 28, 1929, in Grants Pass . Your search results for obituary: 10 newspaper articles contained information about obituary filtered by: County: kent, england Date from: 19th Mar 1948 - Date to: 19th Mar 1948 . However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was also. 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. Obituaries - - - - - All . 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. Survived by beloved wife Jennifer Zeinner-Leonard, children: Scott Leonard Jr., Steven Strachota, James (Lori) Hestad, Samantha . Need help? You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. GenLookups.com - Mississippi Obituary and Death Notice Archive - Page 872. 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. IE 11 is not supported. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Daniel Edward Wells of Lindale, Texas, born in Longview, Texas, who passed away on January 11, 2023 at the age of 76. . Footy is back and The Examiner will once again . Obituaries. Over the last couple of years, police have been comparing DNA profiles left behind at old murder scenes with open-source genealogy databases that have become popular among families hoping to find long-lost relatives. The reasons why this happened, how evil crossed Tonyas path, may never be answered and in the end may not be important.

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