Some, however, have since theorized she was the victim of local serial killer Charles Ray Vine, also known as "The River Valley Killer.". Three years after her murder, Melissa's family, the Parnells' filed a suit against the C N Bowl Corp. But she never made it inside. Thinking their daughter may have had car trouble, Lawrence and Georgia got in their car and drove around to find Dana. A week later, her body was found some10 miles south of the cemetery and about six miles east of Oldfield, in Christian County. A kind stranger came along and gave her a jump start. Arkansas murderers list | Murderpedia Details About Her Unsolved Murder And Why Police Haven't Caught The Killer. A family is still looking for answers after a Sebastian County womans murder case remains unsolved 42-years later. Wanted for Arrest. The 2019 Fort Smith crime rate rose by 17% compared to 2018. If you have any possible . Both girls were 19 at the time of their death, and both were murdered and found in large forests in Arkansas. There could easily be a scientific explanation for this one, but do you really want to risk it to find out? She wasidentified by dental records. 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. MISSING PERSON ENTRY CATEGORIES If you have any information, you can call the River Valley crime stoppers at (479)-78-CRIME. WEATHER & CLIMATE Little Rock with 38. In 1979, the Fort Smith Police Department and the Sebastian County Sheriffs Office joined together to work on the case. Its time she gets answers, Patti Rush, president of REVAMP in Fort Smith, said while referring to the daughter of the missing woman. The man told Davis "vigilantes" who suspected him of killing Workman had shot up his mobile home. You can find the link in the menu bar. Sergeant Jenkins said there are several people of interest in the case, and that it is still being worked as an active investigation. She says her mothers abduction and murder affected the entire family. These 11 Arkansas Murder Cases Made Headlines - OnlyInYourState The murders of Greg Collins, Daniel Bearden, James Milan, Jordan Kettleson, and Mike Samples remain unsolved. A mother's 30-year missions to uncover the truth about what happened to her son's in 1987 has led a federal judge to order an urgent review of several tightly guarded government . 2020 Homicides in Little Rock and North Little Rock I've stood in the same parking lot where Melissa went missing. The coat was corduroy and possibly fleece-lined. Therelationship between family and then-Christian County Sheriff L.E. We were robbed of her wisdom and just her life in general.. The Fort Smith Police Department investigated her disappearance as a missing person case until they found her body days later off Highway 71 and Treece Road. It simply states where murders occurred most frequently on an absolute and rate basis. "But he could be lying and if he was high on drugs or alcohol as he frequently was at the time he might not even remember," she said. She wouldn't let her dad wait on that.. No circumstance has a more devastating effect on a family than the unknown whereabouts of a loved one. Jenkins added. Download the Uncovered Citizen Detective Guide to learn more about how thoughtful and safe online sleuthing. Compare Fort Smith crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. The number of homicides stood at 4 - a decrease of 5 compared to 2018. 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? On a daily basis, JC. The body was discovered by a Conco employee. Ron Davis, the reporter, interviewed one of them. 322 South Main Streeet, Suite 615 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2222 / Visit Website. OPEN/ UNSOLVED CASES . That summer, Dana spent some time living with her cousin, Kristy Smith, before moving into a different apartment with her brother, Larry, and a roommate in Centerton, Arkansas. Danas personal belongings, however, were not inside the car. Ive always felt that the phone call was tied to what had happened, Rider said. Though the fourth boy, Nils Wilhelm Gustafsson, survived the attack and lead a relatively normal life, he became a suspect in 2004. That caused him to jerk the coat down. "Obviously, we have not come up with probablecause to charge anybody at this point. Any ties went to the larger city. Her body was found a year later in the Ozark Mountains by trappers. He said: There are many possibilities in the death of Mr. Moody. When a crime happens, and you dont know who the other party is. At that point there was no reason to believe she was abducted. Under the Search tab, select the Card Catalog and look for the title "Fort Smith, Arkansas, Criminal Case Files, 1866-1900." Select "view original image" to be taken to the case file folder. Feeling bad, her mother left her a note asking her to join her for a burger later at Bowling World. A pseudo-documentary, The Legend of Boggy Creek, highlights the towns monster lore. Resources. Arkansas law requires all missing persons to be entered immediately. Uncovered: Unsolved Arkansas Murders National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City, OK *While use of the Unidentified Person File is increasing, it is not yet mandated by law to make entries into this file. 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. No one has been convicted of her murder, and there is currently a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for Missy's abduction and murder. Suspected or convicted serial killers in Washington - Seattlepi "Westill follow up on leads that come in from time to time," he said. For nearly three decades the homicide case of Fort Smith teen Melissa Witt has gone unsolved, but a former detective refuses to give up hope. So, we grew up without her basically our whole lives, said Enseys youngest daughter Nikki Ensey. Man arrested in 2004 Arkansas murder case - KHBS In December 1977 a man was arrested in connection to the death and questioned. He was shot in the back and, police say, beaten. We must note that this report is not an analysis of the effectiveness of local police departments. Arkansas area. First-time author Barbara Kemm-Highton spent three years working on herbook. 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. Vine himself repeatedly denied having anything to do with Witt's murder, even after his conviction, local outlet Today In Fort Smith reported in 2020. Eldorado Jane Doe: An Enduring Arkansas Mystery Begs To Be Solved The cause of death is listed as"homicidal violence.". His sentence in Illinois was lengthened in1977; hewas given another 18 years for trying to escape. Updated: 6:31 AM CDT October 4, 2021. Mark Alan SMITH: 1966 - 1970: 4 - 12: Arkansas, USA : Richard Wayne SNELL: 1983 / 1984: 2: Arkansas, USA . His father, Alex Murdaugh, a local attorney and the son of Randolph Murdaugh III, owns the boat.. FORT SMITH, Ark. They also tried search warrants and subpoenas for information but had no luck. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Her mother declined to give it to her. 1326, Episode 35 - Arkansas - Who Killed Melissa Witt Part 2. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Your anonymous call could lead to a $1,000 reward. The only clues left at the scene were a gold hoop earring, a crushed hair clip, her car keys, and pools of blood. Interactive map produced by Yutao Chen. She was 75 years old. Each of these victims were submitted by families or law enforcement through our submission page. Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Biologist in the unsolved murders in arkansas to 2006. Generally, cases are solved when the offender has been arrested and turned over to the court for prosecution. But Mary Ann knew this was out of character for Melissa. It had been abandoned on the shoulder of northbound Highway 160. If you have any updates in any of these cases please contact me. Unsolved 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. He said it was likely there was more than one assailant because Workman wasstrong. Fort Smith (Sebastian County) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas TV Schedule for MNT (KFSM-TV2) Fort Smith, AR | TV Passport ", 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.". It was described in news storiesas "torn up." The Murders of Kevin Ives and Don Henry: The True Story of Arkansas Her logic is that since Smith admitted other slayings he would have admitted this one, as well, if he did it. Friday, March 17th TV listings for MNT (KFSM-TV2) Fort Smith, AR. Furthermore, Swearingen was known to be in the area around the time Missy was abducted. A 1995 News-Leader story mentioned by name two suspects brothers who lived near the cemetery. In the summer of 1989, she continued to work at the store while figuring out what she wanted to do, Georgia said. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. The car shows signs of a struggle. I always wanted my son to be aman of his word. 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. The National Crime Information Center's (NCIC's) Missing Person File was implemented in 1975. A federal judge is to review an unsolved 1987 murder case of 2 young boys from Arkansas who were believed to have been killed by Clinton operatives. 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. Arkansas killer gets life term Continue with Recommended Cookies. Melissa is pronounced deceased. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name Results: 13 Record (s) Found. Gun sales shot up for a time, and sales of alarm systems and guard dogs also rose as the murders went unsolved . Any ties went to the larger city. 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 they checked all the possible routes that Dana might have taken, and did not see her car anywhere. ADC inmate implicated in 2021 murder gets additional 15- years tacked The suspect had passed a polygraph test and told Davis that when he had talked about killing Workman he was "joking.". Missy kept very busy with classes and her part-time job at a local dental clinic where she worked as a dental assistant. The News-Leader contacted Kelle Ann Workman's brother, Marc. Both cases remain unsolved. Many conspiracies were prompted by the tragedy, including a (mildly far-fetched) drug smuggling cover-up connected to a former U.S. President. If you have any information regarding the missing persons or homicide victims on this website, please contact the Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at 727-582-6153 or by email at jsuessiv@pcsonet.com. The 2019 crime rate in Fort Smith, AR is 559 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 2.1 times higher than the U.S. average. 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. I don't want to go to my grave not knowing, she told Dateline. 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. Police called the man a "suspect." However, with a period of no less than 90 days of community service. The burglar shot Anstutz twice in the abdomen. Little Rock It was leaking oil badly; there was mud on the windshield; new scratches on both sides;and the antenna on the backwas bent. The victim is identified as 35-year-old . Arkansas law requires all missing persons to be entered immediately. It's been nearly 30 years since Pam Felkins was kidnapped from her job at an Arkansas video store, raped and then murdered -- but . Home > Crime Info & Support > Crime Information Center > Community Information > Missing Persons Information. Here's The Most Harrowing Unsolved Murder From Every State . Unsolved Cases . Ashley County Obituaries, 1965-present from the Ashley County Ledger - also includes cemetery listings. Archive statistics are available upon request. The lawnmowing job was only about one-third complete and her car was still there, with the keys in it. More Economy. On July 25, 1989, Dana went over to her parents house to do some laundry, Georgia said. An autopsy could not determine cause of death; she was not shot and apparently was not raped. Workman was 6 feet tall and 135 pounds. He chose not to cooperate and therefore remains a suspect in this murder. Photo credit: Kurt Wilson/ Missoulian. Denver Post . William Gardiner, a preacher of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, was suspected due . Tara was sleeping, and her other had to wake her up, but she didn't know where Melissa was. She always called. 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. But he was never charged in connection withAnstutz's murder. Sergeant Jenkins said Benton County Police issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO ) at 9:43 p.m. At 6:30 a.m. the next day, Danas car was found in the southbound lane of highway 71, Sgt. Unsolved Cases - Howard County Sheriff AR The rate of crime in Fort Smith is 55.87 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. 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. 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. Crime in Arkansas. Some theorize she may have been the victim of a local serial killer, "The River Valley Killer.". She had been brutally murdered and left to die along a logging trail in the Ozark National Forest about 50 miles from where she was abducted. Moody's father Jim wrote a letter about his son that he gave to the media. Sergeant Shannon Jenkins of the Benton County Sheriff's Office told Dateline that they received a phone call from Danas brother, Larry, at 9:15 p.m. on the 25th to report Dana missing. Never Forgotten | Arkansas Missing Persons Campaign The officer told Mary Ann that since Melissa is over 18, she can leave on her own accord. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. 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. There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the people who killed . 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. Drugs is a possibility. Two boys and two girls went missing from their Oakland County communities, northwest of Detroit, Michigan, and all were found dead within 19 days. Fort Smith Police investigating homicide, victim identified - 5newsonline Arkansas: Unsolved Murders In Arkansas - Blogger 'Cold Justice' Murder Cases Solved: Cynthia Smith And More | Crime News While a murder just blocks or even a couple of towns away from your house would make anyone uneasy, in the long run, most likely, where you live is relatively safe. *This list consists of persons who have been reported missing to the Department of Public Safety under undetermined circumstances. True Crime Garage - Melissa Witt Part 2 /// 162, True Crime Garage - Melissa Witt Part 1/// 161, Murder in the Hills, episode 1: The Unsolved Murder of Melissa Witt & The Abduction of Morgan Nick, Local Documentarians Develop New Leads in Melissa Witt Cold Case, 304 // Who Killed Melissa Witt? One of the bullets severed a major artery and Anstutz died an hour later at Cox Medical Center South. 1. We were very young. News-Sentinel.com - Fort Wayne Cold Case Files: DNA Match Links Multiple Unsolved Murders to - YouTube The Victims: Forty Unsolved Murders Since 1984 Who Killed Dana Stidham? Get more stories delivered right to your email. I would like to see if they could maybe come for now. He ran into a grove of trees anda limb struck hisface. Cold Case - ABI - AST - Alaska Department of Public Safety But we're certain he got the idea from some of the real life eye witness reports. Crime rate in Fort Smith, AR - City-Data You'll receive your first newsletter soon! This is extremely important in cases involving a possible abduction, suspected foul play or an at-risk situation. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. Murder! 18 unsolved slayings in this area in five years Morning:Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS). Two people witness Melissa's abduction. Book 2), Oklahoma Author Looking For Answers To Arkansas Cold Case. Kristy said her family was struck with fear for what happened to Dana after that. 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. 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. Arkansas Crime Information Center. She was a 1967 graduate of Nixa High and her maiden name was Horton. She was just the kind of daughter people wish they had. Dumping on the Razorback Greenway worries residents, Police: Greenwood teen taken into custody on drug charges, Storm warning fatigue | Alerting Arkansas, Detective believes 1995 murder of Arkansas teen could be tied to another case, Alma Police receive hundreds of tips since 'Still Missing Morgan' documentary aired. If you have information on any of the persons . "It's better that it not be brought up because the more something like that is bought up, the worse it gets," he said. Fort Myers unsolved murders: 9 SWFL cold cases from the 1990s