daniel leonard wells obituary
http://www.northescambia.com/2020/04/suspect-recently-arrested-in-35-year-old-cold-case-murder-commits-suicide-in-jail. No suspects had been publicly named. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 Friday at Davidson Funeral Home in Lexington. 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. Cold case investigators detained Daniel Wells this week in connection with the killing of 23-year-old . ", "She was killed in the early-morning hours of January 1, 1985. Bill loved working on cars and was a Master Mason. Benjamin William Holland . Visit our Support Center. But for most of the time, they had no suspect in the killing of McKinley, who was survived by an 18-month-old son. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. He attended the public schools, Phillips Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth College. She was later found dead at an empty lot. There was even an audio recording of the victim's son being informed of the arrest (which is quite hard to listen to). She was the best sister a girl could ask for, her older sister, Renee Ethridge, told The Daily Beast. Funeral Services for Sidney Bain, 62. a resident of Warren St. Oakes Field, will be held at St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, West Street, on Tuesday, May02, 2023 at 11:00 am. 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, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. Very sad story considering he evaded true justice by taking the coward's way out. He helped ensure African Americans had equal access to promotions in the desegregated Milwaukee Police Department. We did this time and time again. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Davidson was 18 months old at the time of the murder. "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. Obituary. It wasn't immediately clear whether Wells had hired or been assigned an attorney, Wood said Thursday. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57 . A family tree was constructed that eventually led investigators to Wells. Kentucky obituaries and death notices, 1988 to 2023. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. Harvey Leslie Arychuk . Daniel Wheelwright Gooch (January 8, 1820 - November 1, 1891) was a United States representative from . Born February 10, 1942 in Arlington, Massachusetts, he relocated with his family to Tampa, Florida in 1981. 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. Lets begin then, shall we? Funeral Care Services; Celebrations of Life; In Memory; Place an Obituary; Clear Search Results Search. 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. Dan is survived by Betsy Wells, his beloved wife of thirty-eight years, children Eric Robert Wells (Billie Wells), Rex Daniel Wells (Trish Quigley), Jane Crowley, and Brent Daines Wells (Rhonda Wells), ten grandchildren and sixteen great . . Home; Obituaries; Death Notices . "It weighed a lot on him. 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. was born in Wells in Massachusetts' District of Maine (Maine achieved statehood two months after Gooch's birth). She was born May 8, 1929, in Greensboro, Ala. Mrs. Womack was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning . Have a tip or story idea? Earlier this morning I came across this news article stating that the murderer Daniel Wells has killed himself in Escambia County Jail. Daniel A. Apr 19, 2023; Click for details . Leonard A Wells Sr. died Monday, September 23, 2019, at the Life Care Center of Richland at the age of 90. William "Bill" Daniel Leonard, 82, of Lexington, passed away Monday October 24, 2022 at his home. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. 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. DECATUR - Decatur Public Schools Board of Education has approved a new three-year contract with Superintendent Rochelle Clark. The 23-year-old, who was found only partially clothed, had been strangled and sexually assaulted, police said. When detectives retired, Tonyas case was passed along to the next generation again and again. David Charles Fryberg Sr. David Charles December 30, 1941 - Fryberg Sr. February 14, 2023 David Charles Fryberg Sr., 81, passed away on February 14, 2023 surrounded by his family. . 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. Lenard "Lenny" Wells died March 21 at age 69 of complications from the coronavirus. Florida man linked by DNA to 1985 murder found dead in cell. 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. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. 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. Four hours later, a family taking their dog to the vet found her body in an empty lot a block from a highway. . He was born on April 28, 1929, in Grants Pass . 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. Daniel Steven Leonard Obituary. 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. Picture by Phillip Biggs. For 35 years, the family of Tonya Ethridge McKinley anxiously waited for authorities to track down the man who murdered the gregarious 23-year-old, dumping her body on the side of a Florida highway. 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. Her case went cold, but Pensacola police remained committed to catching McKinleys killer, and her case was passed around to several detectives over the last 30 years. 8:32 a.m.: David Chapple-Kerry Miller; Shane Larsson-Junior Flores Wells, 69, died Saturday from complications of COVID-19. 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 . Burial will follow the service at Stafford Memorial Park, 154 Shelton Shop Road, Stafford, Virginia. 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. They found a dead body and immediately notified the authorities. Recently there was a post announcing they had arrested a suspect who confessed to the 35 year old cold case. 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. . It was just a normal New Years Eve.. Subscribe Sign In Try for a limited time! Police "immediately stopped and recovered the cigarette butt," which had DNA matching semen taken off the victim's body, according to the warrant. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April. Mr. Leonard was born January 6, 1940 in Davidson County to Zelma Daphne Leonard. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. He was a Lead Electrician at Lockheed Martin and served in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam. Lough borough was appointed assistant . Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. Pensacola detectives arrested Wells on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and charged him with the slaying of Tonya McKinley, 23, whose body was found before dawn on New Year's Day 1985. I cant believe this day has finally arrived.. Very deeply regretted by his loving parents Noreen and Dan, sister Dawn, brother-in-law Mark, nieces Lily and grace, aunts, uncles, other relatives and . She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. 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. Evidence suggested she had been raped, and they also discovered a blood-soaked blue towel by her head. Get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts. He was born on January 31, 1946, in Lincoln County, West Virginia, the son of the Leonard Clark Wells Jr., age 70, of Westbrook, Connecticut passed away on Sunday, November 7, 2021. Tonyas son Tim Davidson Jr. called Daniel a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial started. He said, Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. Let others know about your loved one's death. The officers found the victims high heel shoes and her purse, containing her drivers license, a few blocks from the scene. God is good. The investigators interviewed several partygoers to learn the last time anyone had seen Tonya alive was around 1:15 am. James Forrest Eby, 85, of Seville, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 after a lengthy battle with Huntington's Disease. 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. 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. Survived by beloved wife Jennifer Zeinner-Leonard, children: Scott Leonard Jr., Steven Strachota, James (Lori) Hestad, Samantha . 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. 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. Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. 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. Around three and a half decades later,Pensacola police arrested Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, for Tonyas homicide. 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. 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, 92, of Grand Haven died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Heartwood Lodge, Hospice. 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. It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. The reasons why this happened, how evil crossed Tonyas path, may never be answered and in the end may not be important. Detectives laid fresh eyes on all of the evidence, new theories were presented, and hopes of catching Tonyas killer were renewed.. The Dignity Memorial online obituary search tool gives you access to obituaries from thousands of locations across North America. 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. Daniel J. Leonard Charleston - Daniel Joseph Leonard, a teacher to thousands, a mentor, friend, and role model to many, died July 14, 2020, at Summerville Community Hospice. 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 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, forensic science was yet to evolve in 1985, and with the police having no leads or suspects, the case went cold. 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 . Records viewed by Law&Crime show that Wells, 57, pleaded not guilty March 24 and was set for an arraignment Wednesday. He was visiting family in Milwaukee when he got sick. He was born on . 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. 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 . 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. "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. He was born . This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. He is being held in Escambia County jail without . His funeral is planned for Saturday . Entombment will be in OLPH Cemetery, Belle Chasse, LA. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced its board of directors approved a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.30 per share, payable June 1, 2023, to stockholders of record on May 5, 2023. . Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 0. The investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. I remember reading about this case actually on this subreddit which fascinated me because I was unaware of it despite living in Pensacola, Florida nearly my whole life. She was a retired assistant manager for Jerry Lees Grocery . Kenneth is predeceased by his son David, brothers Donald, Leonard, Paul and his sisters Sheila Gallant, Rita MacIssac, Patsy Arsenault and Eva Kilbride. 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. They celebrated 73 years together. OBITUARY Mr. C. L. Burns (Tunbridge Wells) Mr. Cecil Leonard Burns, well-known architect, sparetime artist, and a champion of the preservation of the architectural heritage of the town . Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Wade, Bessie Wadley, Della Waggener, Nora Alice Waggener, Patrick Henry Waggoner, Lula . 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in . McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Year's Day in 1985 at Darryl's Bar & Grille. Similar crews held up other Jared stores across U.S. Heubel concussion lawsuit expands as defendant AHN sues UPMC Hamot, Erie County traffic deaths jumped in 2022 as statewide numbers dropped, Erie man charged in assault and shots-fired incident at downtown spot, Meet District 10 baseball's Midseason Breakout Players from 2023, Erie has a bicycle licensing ordinance - but it's about to be repealed, Woman finds permanent home after 13 months at Erie emergency shelter, Vote in the Times-News' high school baseball Breakout Player poll, Remembering Broadway titan, Erie native Jim Wilhelm, Marriage licenses, births: Erie County vital statistics, May 1, 2023, Bills' Hamlin inspires, educates on CPR during youth event in Erie, Erie-area results, game stats for D-10 high school sports: April 24-29, Gov. He was born on January 31, 1946, in Lincoln County, West Virginia, the son of the late Harvey and Doris (Scites) Wells. 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.
