There was no one in the store, and there should have been, said Pevehouse. JC Rider, a retired Fort Smith Police Department detective, said investigators believe Witt was struck in the head and then kidnapped. When her shift ended, her car wouldnt start. Morning:Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS). She lived with her parents, who were farmers, about 1.5 miles from the cemetery. Melanie ETHIER (1996) - ON Julie FORTIER (Unsolved Murder - 1980) - ON Stefan SCHWARTZ (1960) - B.C. William Scott Smith Unemployed cook, Salem, Ore. . The BridgeWay mental-health hospital, admitting it had wronged a 14-year-old patient who . When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Fort Smith may be as high as 1 in 11 in the northwest neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 25 in the southeast part of the city. Georgia said that this was strange behavior from Dana. When a crime happens, and you dont know who the other party is. Example video title will go here for this video. The murders of Greg Collins, Daniel Bearden, James Milan, Jordan Kettleson, and Mike Samples remain unsolved. Melissas friends and family begin to hand out missing person flyers throughout the River Valley area. 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. A young boy, who was with his mother at Bowling World, said when he went out to retrieve a book from their car, he heard a woman scream, Help me! He didnt see anyone but stated the time was around 6:30 or 6:40 p.m. Arrested and charged with four counts each of murder were Charles Anthony Diaz, 47, of Vallejo, and Gerald Michael Lester, 47, of Fort Smith, Ark. She was shy and didn't like to smile much; she was self-conscious about a crooked front tooth. *This list consists of persons who have been reported missing to the Department of Public Safety under undetermined circumstances. He was caught in 2000 when he attempted to rape and kill a 16-year-old girl in her house. Missy's body was nude and placed near a headstone-shaped rock. He said: There are many possibilities in the death of Mr. Moody. The Possible Police Connection A witness using the name of "Jerry" came forward to say that he saw sitting in a convenience store parking lot the night of August 22-23, 1987 and saw three teenaged boys, one on a motorcycle, hanging out . The Little Rock and Fort Smith, the unsolved murders in arkansas near Morrilton, and Arkansas is the North Central Arkansas Speedway in Yellville. Should Smith, now 73, ever be releasedin Illinoishe would face a life sentence in Arkansas. If you need a pleasant palate cleanser, try touring this cider mill. A strange phone call made to police a day or two prior to the discovery of the body helps support this theory, he said. 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. You just cant accept that your child is gone. Two people witness Melissa's abduction. According to Sgt. Georgia said that in the days following Danas disappearance, there were several sighting of her daughter reported to police, but none proved true. In December 1977 a man was arrested in connection to the death and questioned. Police called the man a "suspect." Arkansas Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries by County. Wal-Mart Stores, in conjunction with AR Missing Exploited Children's Center announced the introduction of Missing Person's Poster Display at the local store in Huntsville in honor of Melissa. Outreach. Soon after she disappeared, the car was discovered about a quarter-milefrom the laundromat. The Colorado Cold Case Database features unsolved homicides, missing person, and unidentified person cases to assist law enforcement agencies in the development of information, which can lead to the identification, and arrest of any person (s) who may have committed any crime described on this page. The Texarkana Moonlight Murders, a term coined by the contemporary press, was a series of four unsolved serial murders and related violent crimes committed in and around the Texarkana region of Arkansas and Texas in the late winter and spring of 1946. Each of these victims were submitted by families or law enforcement through our submission page. ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) There are at least four unsolved missing person cases in North Central Arkansas since 1991, and all are women. Sheapparently died within hours of when she vanished, probably in the early hours of Saturday, July 1, 1989. They called around to family members and Danas friends, but no one had heard from her that day. Faces of Unsolved Homicide - Project: Cold Case. It was described in news storiesas "torn up." 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Download the Uncovered Citizen Detective Guide to learn more about how thoughtful and safe online sleuthing. An FBI profiler also concluded Vine was not the killer, Rider said, according to Today In Fort Smith. But could he have been responsible for another murder? 322 South Main Streeet, Suite 615 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2222 / Visit Website. 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. Especially at the county levels.". Both tried to interview witnesses, but they could only speak with certain people. Hurrying to the scene, deputies found a bloody 1961 Ford with bullet holes in it. Fort Smith unsolved murder subject of new billboard campaign, Nonprofit launches billboard campaign to bring attention to 27-year-old cold case, Were not giving up: Search still alive 27 years after Melissa Witts disappearance and death, Nonprofit making sure Missy Witt cold case stays front & center, Who Killed Missy Witt team holds press conference on 27th anniversary of kidnapping, Non-profit group asking for information on 27-year-old Fort Smith murder case, More than a story: Nonprofit works to bring awareness to Melissa Witt case, Missy Witt: Cave Springs woman writes book about unsolved murder, Police Say Suspected Killer's Grandparents Withheld Evidence, Arrested man not suspect in girl's kidnap, cops say, Strangled (Who Killed Melissa Witt? Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. She had accidentally left something on, and the battery was dead. The man told Davis "vigilantes" who suspected him of killing Workman had shot up his mobile home. Police learn the key witness in the stabbing death of a beloved aunt was an imposter; a return to the crime scene reveals a . Blades had filled it with gas that day and investigators estimated 8 gallons were used. An autopsy could not determine cause of death; she was not shot and apparently was not raped. Melissa and her mother have a disagreement over money, Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS), Melissa works at the dentist office in the afternoon, Melissa's car doesn't start after leaving work, Melissa arrives at Bowling World to have dinner with her mother but never makes it inside, Witness reports hearing woman in distress in Bowling World Parking, Melissa's body is found by two trappers in the Ozark National Forest, Wal-Mart dedicates their missing persons board to Melissa Witt, 27 y.o.man,charged w/kidnapping,raping,& killing 19 y.o.college student gal in TX in 1998,is prime suspect in unsolved 1994 college gal killing in AR, Parnell v. C & N Bowl Corp., 954 F. Supp. Do you feel thoroughly thrilled and chilled? I wanted a better life for him than I had. On July 25, 1989, Dana went over to her parents house to do some laundry, Georgia said. No arrests have been made in connection with her death. Six people were on board the boat at the time of the crash, including 19-year-old Paul T. Murdaugh. Swamp gas, pressurized quartz crystal, and headlight reflections have been possible explanations. 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. Melissa Witt was a hardworking and ambitious, 19-year-old college student. It's been over 20 years and people are still looking for answers in the murder of Arkansas teenager, Melissa Witt. About. The Oakland County Child Killer. Mark Alan SMITH: 1966 - 1970: 4 - 12: Arkansas, USA : Richard Wayne SNELL: 1983 / 1984: 2: Arkansas, USA . For many years there has been one person of interest that has been interviewed and questioned; he is in prison in Illinois," Cole said, referring to Smith. The real mystery is why it took so long for someone to decide "hey maybe we should bury this guy.". Records are retained indefinitely, unless removed by the entering agency. Aaron Smith Found Murdered on Serene Campground, A First Look at the Murder of Aaron Smith. We were very young. The hunt for answers continues to this day, as the case remains open,THV11 KTHV reported. Jane BERNARD (Unsolved Murder - 1966) - ON Lucas SHORTREED (Unsolved - 2008) - ON Tammy LAMONDIN (1999) - ON Marguerite CARDWELL (1973) - AB Bowmanville Jane Doe (2006) - ON Kimberly MCANDREW (1989) - NS Le Roi Francis LA FRANCE (1964) - B.C. You may also email information to the Detectives, by clicking on the link. You can download the data here. We were together all the time, Kristy said. 1. In 1973, legislation created the White River Monster Refuge. While the city with highest number of murders period? At that time, we didnt have Caller ID in the office; it was a voice recording on the machine we had at our Major Crimes Office. Records in the Missing Person File are retained indefinitely or until the individual is located or the record is canceled by the entering agency. Tara Strozier, a 40-year-old from Fort Smith, Arkansas, was last seen alive about 20 miles away across state lines in Cameron, Oklahoma, on July 17, according to the Fort Smith Police Department . You can also report any information you may have concerning a crime and could receive a . 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. Georgia dreads that outcome. Six weeks after the abduction, two hunters in the Ozark National Forest discovered Missy's body on January 13, 199545 miles from her home in Fort Smith. "He was a brave, strong person," his mother told the News-Leader at the time. Gun sales shot up for a time, and sales of alarm systems and guard dogs also rose as the murders went unsolved . During the school year, Dana had been working after school and on weekends at Harps Food Store in Bella Vista, Arkansas. He was convicted of the murder of Melissa Trotter who was killed in a very similar manner as Missy. If you're looking at the places in Arkansas with the most murders, and where residents have the highest chances of being killed themselves, this is an accurate list. Many conspiracies were prompted by the tragedy, including a (mildly far-fetched) drug smuggling cover-up connected to a former U.S. President. The majority of law enforcement officials consider photographs to be the most important tool in missing person cases. No circumstance has a more devastating effect on a family than the unknown whereabouts of a loved one. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Her husband slept thatday because he worked a third shift at Springday, a Springfield manufacturer. Jenkins added. Blades was last seen at a Nixa store buying cookieson a cold Monday, Dec. 15, 1969. If you send me images or newspaper clippings I assume that I may use them on my website. The legend is that a railroad workers head was severed by an oncoming train. Chester Simons and Deborah Popp were found fatally shot in bed and police determined that Popp was shot by Simons, who then died by suicide, according to Fort Myers Police Department. When Georgia received the call from police that evening that Danas body had been found, she said her only reaction was, It just couldn't be. Dana agreed to run out for her father and left the home to make the four-mile drive in her grey Dodge Omni around 3:00 p.m. Georgia said she got home after work around 4:00 p.m., and Lawrence told her Dana had not yet returned. In a letter published in the News-Leader they saidthe case should never be forgotten. Sheriff Lamb, who died at age 77 in 2001, was a former rodeo performer who as sheriff wasknown for straight talk and at times for roughing up those in custody. Double murder of Hot Springs mom, 5-year-old son remains unsolved Little Rock police urging people to be cautious of phone scam Police make arrest in fatal hit-and-run of Benton 13-year-old Missy kept very busy with classes and her part-time job at a local dental clinic where she worked as a dental assistant. He may have been lost at times, but who of us has not been lost? 1. She was always smiling and happy, Georgia told Dateline. Both Rush and Ensey believe police can solve the case. Went to the store, and people said that she had been there and bought what she needed and left, Georgia said. He was shot in the back and, police say, beaten. Fort Smith shares its status with Greenwood as the county seat of Sebastian County. She was considering studying business at university. That left us with 26 cities to rank.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'roadsnacks_net-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',706,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-roadsnacks_net-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Most Dangerous Cities In AmericaFinally, we averaged the two scores into an index:The raw number of murders in each cityThe murders per personWe 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. She suffered a gunshot wound to her head. Some of that gas, but not all,could be accounted for by a trip Blades made to Kmart in Springfield to buypresents. Ron Davis, the reporter, interviewed one of them. This move prompts an interesting discussion about the rights and preservation of potential fantastical threats. This is extremely important in cases involving a possible abduction, suspected foul play or an at-risk situation. Both cases remain unsolved. It was only after the car was impounded, some three days later, that it was dusted.". The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is requesting your assistance in closing these open cases. Cornerstone Mountain Retreat, near Jasper, visitors can walk for miles in pristine forests. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. 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.". 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. Ive always felt that the phone call was tied to what had happened, Rider said. 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 . Spiro man shot by law officers in eastern Oklahoma Fort Smith gunsmith arrested in Austin, Texas on federal charge FBI continues manhunt for Fort Smith fugitive Police release name of man shot and killed Friday in north Fort Smith Fort Smith man with ties to Pakistan . However, they still have hope. if(window.innerWidth<700){ezoicSiteSpeed(jQuery(document),String(/documentReady/).substring(1).slice(0,-1),String(/jQuery-document-dot-ready/).substring(1).slice(0,-1),function($){$("#skip_expand").html("(Expand+)");$("#toc ul").css("display","none");$("#skip_expand").on("click",function(){$("#toc ul").toggle()});$("#toc h3").on("click",function(){$("#toc ul").toggle()});});}. Melissa's mother assumed that her daughter was with friends that evening. There is no waiting period before a person can be entered into the NCIC Missing Person File. According to private investigators, it was her second night on the job and her first time working solo. FORT SMITH, Ark The Fort Smith Police Department is investigating a homicide in the 1300 block of Jackson St. When she entered the salon, she first saw the corpse of 62-year-old Dorothy Harris. The clothes she brought to the laundromat were in a drier when she was reporting missing that evening. Her daughters are now 44 and 46. Danas father passed away 10 years after his daughter was killed. This is a list of notable male murderers who committed their murders in Arkansas, USA. 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. Compare Fort Smith crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. Workman was 6 feet tall and 135 pounds. 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. They made this determination based on evidence of a struggle around her car, including blood found in the parking lot, as well as Missy's keys and an earring found nearby. And we have, every time we getany kind of lead whatsoever, run down that lead. He ran into a grove of trees anda limb struck hisface. Although the region has its fair share of beauty and wonder, thats not all youll find there. An unclesaw her mowing at 5:40 p.m.; her absence was noticed at about 6:15 p.m. "Obviously, we have not come up with probablecause to charge anybody at this point. And even the victim and the victims loved ones dont know who the other party iswe normally draw these dead ends, Pevehouse said. We understand if you have trouble getting to sleep tonight, these unsolved mysteries certainly shook us to the core. Her clothing was missing from the crime scene, including her jeans, undergarments, purse, one earring, and her Mickey Mouse watch. FPD Sergeant Tony Murphy said. Turner retired from law enforcement in 2020 after nearly 24 years with the Ozark Police Department. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The suspect apparently was spotted soon after the murder. On December 6, 1991, Austin, Texas was shell-shocked by a vicious crime. Fort Smith jobs have decreased by 1.6%. Smith confessed that he raped Ash and stabbed her to death at theTV repair shop where he worked in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He was described as 5 feet 9 or 10 inches tall, a white man with a dark complexion andblack hair combed back. The burglar shot Anstutz twice in the abdomen. Shedid. All rights reserved. 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 . Lifestyle is a possibility that may play a role in his death.". December 1, 1994, was a typical day for Missy. Steve Whitney, then Christian County sheriff, said it was likely her body was tossed down an embankment, where itcame to rest in water up to her waist. Tragically, we'll never know who murdered these young men. With so many things you can choose from. 615Little Rock, AR 72201501-682-2222Contact UsGoogle Map, ACT 346 (Court Access)AIBRS InformationCENSORCJIS Online PortalCrime StatisticsJusticeXchangeSystem RegulationsTraining CalendarsVictims InformationDirections to ACIC, One State Police Plaza DrLittle Rock, AR 72209, Donate to the Arkansas Disaster Relief Program, The Official Website of the State of Arkansas, Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, Arkansas Full Time Law Enforcement Officer Salary Stipend. Smith was also questioned in the 1983 unsolved murder of a 14-year-old girl in Idaho. Melissa's memorial service is held at the Grand Avenue Baptist Church followed by a burial at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetary under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home, 10:00 am:Wal-Mart dedicates their missing persons board to Melissa Witt. The cases. There could easily be a scientific explanation for this one, but do you really want to risk it to find out? They denied ever suggesting Lamb was involvedbut stood firm in their belief Lamb was incompetent as a criminal investigator. He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move. A trail of blood was later found in the parking lot. Once inside, the responders found the brutalized bodies of four teenage girls-Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Eliza Thomas. Our Cases. Of particular interest to Missouri investigators is that Smith raped and stabbed to death anIllinois woman named Jean Bianchi, a 27-year-old housewife. From mafia to monsters, check out these 10 unsolved mysteries in Arkansas. RELATED: Details About The Murder Of Arkansas Teen Dana Stidham And Why Police Have Yet To Find Her Killer Alabama. What haunted locations can I visit in Arkansas? Image. 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. Would you dare investigate what clawed monster lives in the deep? Lambblamed the Blades family for starting rumors that he was involved in the murder. Little Rock with 38. ", More:Woman, 15 at the time, disputes account that turkey hunters found Ronnie Johnson's body in the woods. The murders remain unsolved. At El Patron Mexican . in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. His name was never released. Evening:Melissa arrives at Bowling World to have dinner with her mother but never makes it inside. Help bring awareness to the murder of Melissa Witt in hopes of generating new information that could bring justice to her case, Follow the Melissa Witt Facebook Group to follow the latest updates in the case. She was a 1967 graduate of Nixa High and her maiden name was Horton. Anyone with information about the murder of Melissa Witt is urged to contact the Fort Smith Police Department at [emailprotected], or by calling (479)709-5100. Arkansas Crime Information Center. in Library Science. Who killed Missy Witt? He was elected sheriff in 1968; lost in 1972 (some say because of the unsolved Blades murder); and re-elected in 1976 and 1980. The light is the ghosts lantern used to search for his head. Unsolved Cases . Her car was found in the parking lot, but she was nowhere to be seen. In 1999, high school seniors J.B. Hilton Green Beasley and Tracie Jean . For some strange reason no one volunteered to climb down to see what pulled the rope. Some theorize she may have been the victim of a local serial killer, "The River Valley Killer.". "I kind of bonded with her. Little Rock: 56 | North Little Rock: 23. There also was a younger male voice, also with a really strong Southern accent. Drugs is a possibility. Sure, that's fiction. So we knew something happened to her, Danas cousin, Kristy, told Dateline. William Gardiner, a preacher of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, was suspected due . It is our seventh time ranking the most places with the most murders per capita in Arkansas and is updated for 2021. 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. As of now, the Sebastian County Sheriffs Office says they havent received any new leads on this case in quite a long while, but if they do, they will immediately investigate. With over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of hiking trails. Thank you! "We loved him dearly.". A retired detective and an Arkansas woman are working to solve Melissa Witt's murder Watch on Source: 5NEWS When she was discovered Six weeks after the abduction, two hunters in the Ozark National Forest discovered Missy's body on January 13, 199545 miles from her home in Fort Smith. Lawrence Timmons, 65, was indicted for Smith's murder while he was in jail on unrelated charges, a Lawrence County Sheriff's Office release stated. Howard County Sheriff's Department. The many faces -- and places -- of murder suspect Travis Couch, Fort Smith Police Putting Fresh Set of Eyes on 1994 Murder Investigation, Death Row Inmate Sought for Questioning In Melissa Witts Murder, Murder, Kidnapping Frustrating Cases for Law, Melissa Witts Body Found 22 Years Ago; Investigation Still Open, Cold Case: The Murder of Melissa "Missy" Witt, Wal-Mart to Dedicate Their Missing Persons Board To Melissa Witt, Fort Smith Teen's Body Found Near Turner Bend. Sunday, August 8, 2021 The Bizarre History of a Long-Unsolved Murder On Sunday morning, August 2, 1964, a fisherman reported a bloodstained vehicle abandoned at the Water Valley Mill northeast of Springfield. Search dogs were used in the days following Danas disappearance, Sgt. They were attributed to an alleged unidentified serial killer known as the Phantom of Texarkana or simply the Phantom Killer or Phantom Slayer. Dana had been very well-liked, her cousin Kristy said she didnt have any problems with anyone. However, with a period of no less than 90 days of community service. Missy's body was nude and placed near a headstone-shaped rock. by Crawlspace - True Crime & Mysteries, Arkansas : Melissa Witt by Cults, Crimes & Cabernet, CrimeCon UK Live: The Girl I Never Knew by Crimepedia, Episode 29: Unsolved Murder: Melissa Witt by Unsolved America. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's last year of reporting. She says her mothers abduction and murder affected the entire family. *While use of the Unidentified Person File is increasing, it is not yet mandated by law to make entries into this file. Lawrence, who had medical issues, was feeling ill that day, so he asked Dana if she could pick up his medicine at Phillips Foods store in Bella Vista. Taxes and utilities also rank low on the national scale allowing those searching for dens in early October and early November. 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. More than 30 years later, Fisher's estranged wife was charged with first-degree murder. A homicide is considered cleared if at least one person has been arrested, formally charged and handed over to a court of law for trial. Rose Harsent was stabbed to death on 1 June 1902, in Peasenhall, Suffolk, England by an unknown assailant.
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