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Police Make Arrested In 35-Year Old Cold Case Using DNA, Cigarette Butt
March 19, 2020
After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola.
Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya Ethridge McKinley.
She was killed in the early-morning hours of January 1, 1985. Her partially nude body was found on the side of Peak Drive near Scenic Highway about four hours after she was last seen alive at Darryl’s Restaurant behind what was then University Mall. The investigation found she had been strangled to death and sexually assaulted.
Wells was developed as the suspect after a DNA sample from the crime scene ran through a database identified some of his’ relatives. Police created a family tree and tracked him down. They surreptitiously obtained a cigarette butt discarded by Wells and made a DNA match to the crime scene.
Comments
16 Responses to “Police Make Arrested In 35-Year Old Cold Case Using DNA, Cigarette Butt”
Tonya was such a beautiful, caring girl. She lived across the street from me. She was so proud of that beautiful baby. We, like so many were devasted when we heard what had happened. We never forgot, always held out for hope knowing one day justice would arrive. It makes me happy they caught the guy but again saddens me to know that such a beautiful, down to earth, young lady who had so much to offer is no longer here.
This makes three of my classmates to be accused of murder. The other two were convicted. We’ll see how this one goes!
REGARDING:
“I realize they both start with a “C” but they don’t mean the same thing.’
Please note nobody here has said he has been Convicted under the law….yet. He is merely Charged because he seems to have EXACTLY the same DNA sequence as the one who raped and murdered the lady 35 years ago.
He may have an identical twin who actually did it.
It is possible someone else just happens to have his DNA sequence, was here back then, and raped and murdered her, however the odds of someone having the same DNA by chance is like having a deck of 20 million cards, all different, and then drawing the same hand of three million cards twice.
Someone in charge of all the records may have switched the data to convict an innocent man.
Most unlikely.
David for better living through better math
Charge – accuse (someone) of something, especially an offense under law.
Convict – declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.
I realize they both start with a “C” but they don’t mean the same thing.
He got caught because a relative did one of thos DNA tests to find out where their ancestry started. He probably thought he was free and clear…Hope he gets what he deserves quickly. He was 22 when he did this…What else has he done in 35 years….
I remember this like it was yesterday. I was only 14 yrs old. I remember it was a cooold an rainy day. It had such an impact on our family.
Steve: you wonder if he had nightmares … I can only ask if lions have nightmares about the wildebeasts they have eaten.
to put it another way, predators don’t feel guilt at chasing or catching their prey. they only feel guilt when they don’t get what they chase.
And he was living amoung us all these years..>Wonder what else he did in that time…If he did this he should meet old sparky!!!!
I waited on Dan unbelievable you never know
he somehow managed to never get arrested during all that time.
Wonder if he has nightmares of that night ?
Wow…glad this family can get some final closure. May justice be swift.
No statute of limitations for murder, nor should there be. Murderers should always worry about getting caught.
David for justice
Great police work! I’m glad technology has advanced to the point that we are solving some of these cold cases. Justice will be served, hopefully.
You should have quit cold turkey
Let this be PROOF that only SCIENCE will bring us up to the ascension point that the LORD YOUR GOD intended for all of us.
Good job investigators. DNA will bring you to justice. Rest In Peace Tonya.