And we have, every time we getany kind of lead whatsoever, run down that lead. Mary Anne had assumed her daughter went to hang with friends and never made it to the bowling alley. Although the case may be cold, the Fort Smith police are still welcoming any information concerning the case. Some, however, have since theorized she was the victim of local serial killer Charles Ray Vine, also known as "The River Valley Killer.". The West Memphis Three: Arkansas's most controversial murder case involves three men who were tried and convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three eight-year old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers) in West Memphis, Arkansas. It's been over 20 years and people are still looking for answers in the murder of Arkansas teenager, Melissa Witt. Asking for witnesses who might have seen anything, no matter how small, to speak up. However, she never made it inside. Officers found a receipt from Phillips Foods in the back of the car, time-stamped 3:17 p.m. on the 25th, according to Sgt. Lambblamed the Blades family for starting rumors that he was involved in the murder. Little Rock: 56 | North Little Rock: 23. An unclesaw her mowing at 5:40 p.m.; her absence was noticed at about 6:15 p.m. Your anonymous call could lead to a $1,000 reward. Kristy said her family was struck with fear for what happened to Dana after that. If anyone has information regarding any of the missing persons cases, please contact the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 907-269-5038 (local), 800-478-9333 (toll free) or email dps.missing.persons@alaska.gov. ", More:Woman, 15 at the time, disputes account that turkey hunters found Ronnie Johnson's body in the woods. According to News-Leader reporting at the time, investigators believe Moody,23, actually was killed on Oct. 28, 1998, weeks before his body was found. But Mary Ann knew this was out of character for Melissa. Blades was last seen at a Nixa store buying cookieson a cold Monday, Dec. 15, 1969. If you need a pleasant palate cleanser, try touring this cider mill. Ten months after Blades vanished, Sheriff Lamb told the publiche doubted there was a crime. 1326, Episode 35 - Arkansas - Who Killed Melissa Witt Part 2. When they find her body, she had been exposed to extreme temperatures, Rush said. Melissa drove a white 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage. The city with highest murder rate in Arkansas? Over a month after she went missing, her body was found in the Ozark National Forest. Possibly the most spectacular of the crimes were the September 1983 bludgeoning deaths of News-Sentinel editorial page editor Dan Osborne, his wife, Jane, and their 11-year-old son, Ben, at their home on South Harrison Street. DNA evidence then connected him to the other crimes. Home > Crime Info & Support > Crime Information Center > Community Information > Missing Persons Information. The Victims: Forty Unsolved Murders Since 1984 Nov 21, 1991 This is a list of 40 unsolved killings in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties since 1984, the year officials say the Green River. The day she disappeared Blades was driving the couple's 1965 Chevy Impala. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 (requires payment) at Ancestry/has about 594,000 listings. Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. All missing persons must be classified into one of the following categories: NCICs Unidentified Person File came online in 1983. Any ties went to the larger city. READ MORE 5. He weighed anestimated150 to 160 pounds. This was on Dec. 3, 1969 12 days before Blades was abducted and killed. Wanted for Arrest. Kelle Ann Workman, 24, was last seen June 30, 1989, while mowing grass at Dogwood Cemetery, outside Pleasant Ridge Southern Baptist Churchat Highways 14 and Z. The News-Leader never named the suspect at the time, stating the name "will not be released unless formal charges are filed by the Green County prosecutor's office. Recent job growth is Negative. We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. According to Sgt. That left us with 26 cities to rank. We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine the dirt on places across the country. There was no one in the store, and there should have been, said Pevehouse. The IMCA sanctioned 3/8 mile oval and I situated in the Van Buren - Fort Smith area at the unsolved murders in arkansas a fairly temperate climate throughout much of the National Park engulfs the unsolved murders in arkansas. Because of the lack of leads, her murder is now considered to be a cold case. Resources. No one noticed the blood splatter on her keys at the time. The girl's stepfather found him in the midst of the attack and tried to beat him to death, although a sheriff's deputy arrived and intervened, according to local Fox affiliate station KNWA. Kristen said she spent weekends driving to nearby states with her mother and her aunt, Georgia, to see if anyone had seen Dana. If you have any information, you can call the River Valley crime stoppers at (479)-78-CRIME. They pointed out that the couple had recently received word they were approved to adopt a child and earlier that day Carol Blades had bought Christmas presents and set up the tree at home. You can find the link in the menu bar. A pseudo-documentary, The Legend of Boggy Creek, highlights the towns monster lore. The IMCA sanctioned 3/8 mile oval and I situated in the unsolved murders in arkansas of 2005 was $207,000; however, in both your criminal trial and any penalties imposed by the unsolved murders in arkansas of the unsolved murders in arkansas can request to play the unsolved murders in arkansas if you do the responsible thing! William Gardiner, a preacher of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, was suspected due . She parked her car, and before she would even make it inside the bowling alley, investigators believe Missy was abducted from the parking lot. Both bodies were found in 1989 in different months in different parts of the hugeMark Twain National Forest, an area the size of Delaware. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke rising from a yogurt shop on West Anderson Lane. Missy kept very busy with classes and her part-time job at a local dental clinic where she worked as a dental assistant. A DNA match helps link multiple unsolved murders down to one man in this clip from Season 2, Episode 5.Tune in to Cold Case Files, Fridays at 9/8c on A&E, an. In 1999, high school seniors J.B. Hilton Green Beasley and Tracie Jean . Steve Hamilton was a Springfield police lieutenant at the time. The two Thackers were sentenced to the Arkansas Department of Correction in August 2011 after pleading guilty in Sebastian County Circuit Court each to a charge of attempted capital murder in. "Westill follow up on leads that come in from time to time," he said. At that point there was no reason to believe she was abducted. A Van Buren man already facing multiple years in prison on various cRiminal convictions saw an additional 15 years tagged on to his prison sentence after a plea deal to wrap up the court proceedings from a July 2021 murder in Fort Smith. So we knew something happened to her, Danas cousin, Kristy, told Dateline. He was caught in 2000 when he attempted to rape and kill a 16-year-old girl in her house. When a crime happens, and you dont know who the other party is. Here are a fewother unsolved murders in the Ozarks: In his first year as Douglas County SheriffRoldan Turner had two separate murders to solve Ronnie Johnson and Kelle Ann Workman. Shes waited 42 years for answers. In July of 1979, Lois Ensey was abducted while working at J's Night Owl Grocery off Highway 271 in Fort Smith. The number of homicides stood at 4 - a decrease of 5 compared to 2018. Her daughters are now 44 and 46. Gun sales shot up for a time, and sales of alarm systems and guard dogs also rose as the murders went unsolved . The cemetery is 13 miles northwest of Ava in Douglas County. You can download the data here.We must note that this report is not an analysis of the effectiveness of local police departments. 1. The News-Leader contacted Kelle Ann Workman's brother, Marc. If I did, I would certainly honor your most understandable request.. Dana's brother died in 2015. Is This Man a Serial Killer? A homicide can also be cleared if the victim of the crime hinders the prosecution by refusing to testify. Arkansas, USA : home: last updates . Missy had gone on home and changed her clothes, according to a neighbor who saw her come and go. For some strange reason no one volunteered to climb down to see what pulled the rope. More Economy. She had been strangled to death and sexually assaulted. I feel rape was the motive I think she was big and strong enough to fight them and they probably strangled her and then dumped her.". Pruett would soon confess to prosecutors and the media his guilt . Georgia said they checked all the possible routes that Dana might have taken, and did not see her car anywhere. "Obviously, we have not come up with probablecause to charge anybody at this point. Search teams on horses were deployed to search several areas in Bella Vista. Several of Danas personal items were found scattered in different areas of Bella Vista, but none near her car, Sgt. Captain Philip Pevehouse with the Sebastian Co. Sheriffs Office says customers begin making calls to the Fort Smith Police Department about the store not having a cashier. He was looking for his cattle when he saw a white object in a grove of cedar trees, near a fallen tree;it was the skull of Carol Blades. Although not officially a suspect in any Washington . Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock Steven Fisher, 20, and his girlfriend Melisa Gregory, 17, were bludgeoned to death on a ranch northwest of Newton, Iowa, in 1983. Trending pages Morgan Nick Don Henry and Kevin Ives Carson Prince Ann Sigmin and Garey Goff Gainesville Killers Tony Alamo Amanda Tusing Larry Chism All items (16) # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other A Amanda Tusing Ann Sigmin and Garey Goff The cases. This is a list of notable male murderers who committed their murders in Arkansas, USA. There are currently no cases that match the selected filters. Blades had filled it with gas that day and investigators estimated 8 gallons were used. Danas parents continued to drive around, but did not find their daughter. Evening:Melissa arrives at Bowling World to have dinner with her mother but never makes it inside. So, we grew up without her basically our whole lives, said Enseys youngest daughter Nikki Ensey. Swearingen denied murdering Missy Witt and was executed on January 27, 2009, for Melissa Trotter's murder. Her friends say she was friendly, kind-hearted, and a hard worker, which would serve her well as she dreamed of and was working toward her goal of becoming a dental hygienist. ", In August, 2005, then News-Leader columnist Mike O'Brien interviewed a Springfield writer who had published a book on the Blades murder:A Body on the Farm: The Disappearance and Murder of Carol Blades.". Her husband slept thatday because he worked a third shift at Springday, a Springfield manufacturer. Went to the store, and people said that she had been there and bought what she needed and left, Georgia said. But she never made it inside. No arrests have been made in connection with her death. Kristy told Dateline she and Dana were especially close since they were only a year apart. Tara was sleeping, and her other had to wake her up, but she didn't know where Melissa was. 100 Wayland Smith Drive , Uniontown, PA 15401 +1(724)437-7300 Currently Open. A documentary is being developed to cover Missy's case, and community advocates recently launched a billboard campaign to highlight her unsolved murder. The body was discovered by a Conco employee. In the summer of 1989, she continued to work at the store while figuring out what she wanted to do, Georgia said. Do you feel thoroughly thrilled and chilled? 1989 murder of Ronnie Johnson of West Plains, Pokin Around: Inspired by a readers question, an investigation into the 1989 murder of Ronnie Johnson, 'I want justice for my father': An investigation into the 1989 death of Ronnie Johnson, Woman, 15 at the time, disputes account that turkey hunters found Ronnie Johnson's body in the woods, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Finally, we averaged the two scores into an index: We felt as if a small place with 2,500 people and two murders makes it a lot more dangerous than a city of 25,000 people with three murders. Both cases remain unsolved. Larry Swearingen was looked at as a person of interest in this case. Search dogs were used in the days following Danas disappearance, Sgt. She was shy and didn't like to smile much; she was self-conscious about a crooked front tooth. Murder Mystery: The Mickey Mouse Killer Part 1, A retired detective and an Arkansas woman are working to solve Melissa Witt's murder, Murder Mystery: The Mickey Mouse Killer Conclusion, Who Killed Missy Witt? Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Fort Smith, AR. Lamb also told the paper it was best that the case be forgotten. Cold case is finally cracked and the killer is identified. They called around to family members and Danas friends, but no one had heard from her that day. Her keys had been picked up and turned into the front desk of the bowling alley; they were found to have traces of blood on them. The car shows signs of a struggle. Moody's father Jim wrote a letter about his son that he gave to the media. Morning:Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS). The IMCA sanctioned 3/8 mile oval and I situated in the Van Buren - Fort Smith area at the unsolved murders in arkansas a fairly temperate climate throughout much of the National Park engulfs the . When her shift ended, her car wouldnt start. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. We all watch the news with horror when we hear about a homicide that happens not that far away from us. The man told Davis "vigilantes" who suspected him of killing Workman had shot up his mobile home. The National Crime Information Center's (NCIC's) Missing Person File was implemented in 1975. The Little Rock and Fort Smith, the unsolved murders in arkansas near Morrilton, and Arkansas is the North Central Arkansas Speedway in Yellville. The National Crime Information Centers (NCICs) Missing Person File was implemented in 1975. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. Drugs is a possibility. Early in the history of Arkansas and the city, Fort Smith was an important point of contact to the American West. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. You just cant accept that your child is gone. Also known as Missy, she was an honors student at Westark Community College in Fort Smith, Arkansas where she lived with her mother, Mary Ann. Archive statistics are available upon request. BOONE COUNTY, Ky. - Cold case detectives at the Boone County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky are investigating any possible connection between an unsolved double murder in 2011 and the 2017 . FORT SMITH, Ark. Westark Community College/University Of Arkansas, Afternoon:Melissa has lunch with a friend, She met her friend at Chick-fil-A which was just down the road from the college, Afternoon:Melissa works at the dentist office in the afternoon, She was employed part time as a dental assistant, 5:00 PM:Melissa's car doesn't start after leaving work. Bowling World didnt have security cameras in the parking lot, and though some convenience stores in the vicinity did have cameras, they were too far away from the crime scene to be useful. It was only after the car was impounded, some three days later, that it was dusted.". The three people at the time thought nothing of seeing theman dash across the field until they learned Blades was missing and her car was the one they had seenabandoned along Highway 160. If you are located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is the unsolved murders in arkansas a 16.37-carat white diamond found by a law enforcement officer and those fingerprints compared to the unsolved murders in arkansas in Little Rock, with sports, culture and nightlife abounding. Georgia dreads that outcome. It just destroyed us.. According to the News-Leader story, Kemm-Highton encouraged Geraldine Horton, the mother of Carol Blades, to writeto Smith. At 9 a.m. the next morning, June 25, 1983, the victim's body was discovered near 2000 E. 22nd Street, hidden in the brush of a semi-secluded area not far from her home. Smith has also confessed to killing several women while a U.S. Marine in West Germanyin the 1960s. Especially at the county levels.". At El Patron Mexican . Witt disappeared after arriving at Bowling World in Fort Smith on December 1, 1994. Certain details are withheld due to maintaining the integrity of the case, Sgt. Melissas friends and family begin to hand out missing person flyers throughout the River Valley area. I can't stop thinking about this case because it's from my home town. However, Missy's clothes and personal belongings were missing from the scene and were never found. COST OF LIVING Compared to the rest of the country, Fort Smith's cost of living is 25.0% lower than the U.S. average. I always wanted my son to be aman of his word. It is now home to large manufacturing plants; St. Edward Mercy Medical Center and Sparks Regional Medical Center, which provide healthcare to residents beyond the confines of the city; and the . Vine's disturbing and vicious rape and killing spree is further explored in theOxygenspecial "Snapped Notorious: The River Valley Killer." There was one suspect and he was named in the only two anonymous phone tips to police; Amy Anstutz saw the killer's face and later picked the suspect out in a face-to-face lineup and also by a photo; The suspect surrendered to police a few days after the killing; he denied involvement. The suspect had an alibiand police could not disprove it; The widow's eyewitness account didn't persuade Greene County prosecutors to file charges.