Wells was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Wednesday and held without bail. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. 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. 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. Additional court records revealed Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 on battery and witness tampering charges. Daniel lives at 5206 Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. 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. Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. Emailus. 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. From there, investigators said they found Wells and confirmed he was the killer after obtaining a discarded cigarette. You may have heard that name before. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. He wasn't going to ever just say what he did on his own. 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. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. May 8, 2022 | In best courses to study in uk for masters | . There are 5 court records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". 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 seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down, Pensacola cops said in a statement. Wells, 57, was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department on March 18 for the 1985 murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. The defendant got to live his life the last 35 years. 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. 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. 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. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest warrant. [emailprotected]. The landline phone number 8165849629 is registered to Daniel Leonard Wells in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. "Nothing could ever make up for losing my mom, but at least now we know what happened to her. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? Pensacola; Daniel Leonard Wells; Daniel Leonard Wells, Age 60. aka Dan Wells, D L Wells. Thats all moot now. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. Daniel Leonard Wells. 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. I'm positive of that.". Spokeo's database, while extensive, does not contain all U.S. warrant, arrest, court, or other related records. She was later found in an empty lot half-naked, officers said. 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. At the point, the process has become kind of routine. 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. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.. 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. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest . "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years.". She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic hair from Tonya's body and the crime scene. 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. Court records viewed by Law&Crime show no attorney of record. Cold case investigators. 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. 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. For thirty-five years.. This home is the most recent known address for Daniel. In 1988, he was arrested for solicitation of prostitution in Pensacola. Search for birth, death, marriage, divorce, US Census, and military records. She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said in a statement Thursday. His first hearing to face charges of first-degree. 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. was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. She was half-nude, strangled to death and sexually assaulted. They found a dead body and immediately notified the authorities. "She can finally rest.". Explore the listing below to find Daniel's address, relatives, and other public records. Police credit Parabon NanoLabs with helping them break the case. Daniel was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. Browse . 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. She was later found dead at an empty lot. However, the cause of death was determined to be strangulation, and she was alsosexually 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. However, they could not find witnesses who had seen her leave the bar that night. Discover work experience, company details, and more. ", Watch: PPD makes oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Wells was identified . He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.". If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. UNLOCK PROFILE. They have also lived in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze, FL. Landlines (4) (850) 584-9629 (816) 584 . "It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. 5 records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". But DNA in a public database eventually linked McKinley's killer to Wells' family and then to him, police said. 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. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. On Wednesday, 35 years later, Pensacola police made an arrest in the case: Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is facing charges of. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. 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"It weighed a lot on him. "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 carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions. 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. Past Addresses: Pensacola FL, Kansas City MO +4 more. Emailus. ADVERTISEMENT View Dan Rowdy Wells's record in Pensacola, FL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Email Address: See available information. According to police sources, the alleged murderer had died from self-inflicted injuries. Court records did not indicate the outcome of that case. 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. Daniel and Jennifer have resided together in a single family house in Kansas City, MO. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. We identified 991 records related to "Daniel Wells" in the state of Florida. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Current Address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. 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. Their parting exchange was wishing each other New Year greetings, and Tonya stated she would see her the following morning. 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. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. 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. 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. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. It was just a normal New Years Eve.. 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. No suspects had been publicly named. Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. 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 Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. 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. "(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. Investigators collected semen, head hair and pubic from Tonya's body and the crime scene. The 1985 killing of Tonya Ethridge McKinley, 23, has been solved, say police in Pensacola, Florida. McKinley, 23, was last seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at a restaurant. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. 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. Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. ", Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. He is being held.. 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. 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 Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriffs office. 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