Today, the evil that took Tonya from her friends and family was arrested for her brutal murder.". The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest cold-case arrest in Pensacola history. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. 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, FL View Full Details Phone Numbers. 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. According to court records, Wells was arrested in Pensacola in 1987 for battery and witness tampering, but the witness tampering charge was dropped after he pled no contest to the battery charge. 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 is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. 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. Arrest: Pensacola police make arrest in 35-year-old cold case murder using familial DNA. They have also lived in Pensacola, FL and Gulf Breeze, FL. Counts may not reflect the number of records that will appear in search results. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. 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. She had been fatally strangled, and sexually assaulted, police said. Discover work experience, company details, and more. Daniel departed this 2,006 square foot home in 2003. 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. 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. Uncover Daniel's photos, videos, and more , Personal details for Daniel may include . I'm positive of that.". 3,876 court search results for people named "Daniel Wells" in the United States. She recounted how they danced, met with friends, and partied till the late night hours of New Years Eve. Wells is being held without bond at the Escambia County jail. 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. 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. Investigators were secretly following Wells on March 4 when he tossed a cigarette out of his car, according to an arrest warrant. Click a city to find Daniel more easily. 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. The witness tampering charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest to the battery charge. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Police surveillance teams then surreptitiously obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette, which was tested and matched DNA found at the crime scene. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was responsible, cops say, according to The Pensacola News Journal. View property details and household demographic information related to income, investments, and interests. My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life, McKinleys now-grown son Timothy Davidson Jr. said according to the outlet. 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. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, officials said. 8 maja 2022. daniel leonard wells pensacola Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions., [Mugshot via Pensacola Police Department], Have a tip we should know? 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. Find census, military, and other historical records.*. We did this time and time again. McKinley, the mother of an 18-month-old boy, was seen alive early New Years Day in 1985 at Darryls Bar & Grille. We found 4 phone numbers and email addresses. 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. was assaulted with a blunt instrument, causing blunt-force trauma to her head. ", New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. The investigators initially could not find the cause of death or the identity of the body. 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. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. May go by: Dan Leonard Wells Age. Daniel moved out of this 3.5 bath home in 2016. 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. 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. 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. 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. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. He was held without bond at Escambia County Jail and made his court appearance the following morning, where he professed his innocence. Wells was identified . 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,. "(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. Now, it seems like we just have a lot more unanswered questions.". 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. She was always his favorite," McCall said of this bittersweet day. After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola. She was half naked and had been strangled and sexually assaulted, Pensacola police officers said. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. 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,. 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. and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. daniel leonard wells pensacola daniel leonard wells 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. The arrest on Wednesday is the oldest . [Image of McKinley via Pensacola Police Department; mugshot of Wells via Escambia County], Have a tip we should know? 9 people named Daniel Wells found in this area: includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton. 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. Name. Press J to jump to the feed. He was born on 1-06-1962. "(Tonya) can rest now," Renee said after being told of Wells' arrest. 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. Renee said Tonya loved Rod Stewart and KISS and was trying to make a better life for herself when she was killed. Matthew Winkler Murder: Where is Mary Winkler Now. 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 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. "She can finally rest.". 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Check out The Morning News to get the latest news, weather and traffic in Central Florida. He got to be around his children and all those years he was out there, knowing what he did. Lets begin then, shall we? . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts "It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. The landline phone number 8165849629 is registered to Daniel Leonard Wells in Pensacola, FL at 5206 Cerny Rd. He was carrying it around with him and he was never going to tell anyone what he did. At the point, the process has become kind of routine. "It weighed a lot on him. ". Its frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice, he said. 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. Their children and Tonyas son were at a late-night daycare facility, and it closed at 1:00 am. Daniel Leonard Wells, age 50s, lives in Pensacola, FL. 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. 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. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wells had been found dead in his cell. BREAKING: Daniel Wells -- recently arrested for the 1985 Pensacola New Year's murder of Tonya McKinley -- has committed suicide in jail, deputies confirm. 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. The investigators had retrieved semen, head hair, and pubic hair from Tonyas body and the crime scene. "It's frustrating for our family on a lot of levels because we waited so long to get justice. 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. Pensacola, FL View Cell Phone Number View Background Report. Moreover, the winding roads and complex layout of the neighborhood convinced the cops that the killer hailed from the local community. 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. 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. Weve your back if youre interested in finding out more about the case and the killers identity. He has been charged with murder and sexual battery. UNLOCK PROFILE. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Current Address: EWZU Cerny Rd, Pensacola, FL. The case went nowhere for years, but officers said they used Parabon NanoLabs to help them break the case. Daniel Leonard Wells. McKinleys son Tim Davidson Jr. called Wells a coward, adding that the defendant didnt even wait until the trial even started.. Wells is being held without bond at Escambia County Jail and will make his first court appearance Thursday morning. Tonya and Renee's father, Joe, died in April 2000. However, he was found dead inhis cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida on April 2, 2020. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Daniel Leonard Wells, the defendant charged in her death, was found dead in his cell at the Escambia County Jail in Florida. She said, Her (Tonyas) world revolved around her son.. 5 records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". 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. There are 5 court records for "Daniel Wells" in "Escambia County". View their profile including current address, phone number 850-584-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. You may have heard that name before. Powerful social search locates profiles on social networks, dating sites, online shopping, web forums, music platforms, etc. . 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. 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. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said in a statement Thursday. She was later found dead at an empty lot. 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. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, was found hanged in his cell at the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning, according to the sheriffs office. 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. This was from an apparently self-inflicted injury, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners spokesperson Laura Coale told Law&Crime. 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. "She can finally rest.". Detectives in Pensacola said "evil won" in the unsolved murder of Tonya Ethridge McKinley "until today.". 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"(Wells) got to live his life the last 35 years. For thirty-five years.. 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. [emailprotected]. Chuck Mallett, who led the investigation. Investigators nationwide say the genetics company have aided in solving cold cases. 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. She had last been seen at a Pensacola bar shortly after the start of the new year. DNA left at the scene of the crime helped locate distant relatives of the suspect. The57-year-old pleaded not guilty on March 24 and was set for an arraignment in the first week of April.