City of Fort Collins Police Services, 2221 Timberline Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: 970.221.6540 (non-emergency) . Timmons already had a kidnapping conviction on his record, having abducted and held an 11-year-old boy in 1976, KYTV reported. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 (requires payment) at Ancestry/has about 594,000 listings. The massacre inspired the movie "The Town that Dreaded Sundown." 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.". She parked her car, and before she would even make it inside the bowling alley, investigators believe Missy was abducted from the parking lot. After stopping at the store, Blades went to a Nixa laundromat. Evening:Melissa arrives at Bowling World to have dinner with her mother but never makes it inside. Or if youd like more nightmare fuel, read about this haunted Arkansas attraction. Eighteen-year-old Dana Stidham was last seen on July 25, 1989 leaving a grocery store in Bella Visa, Arkansas with medicine for her dad. 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. Melissa was hoping to become a dental hygienist. Murder and mystery in South Carolina: A timeline of the Murdaugh - CNN "Westill follow up on leads that come in from time to time," he said. In 1965 it was 90 percent. Jenkins told Dateline. Fort Smith (Sebastian County) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas In December 1977 a man was arrested in connection to the death and questioned. Aaron Smith Found Murdered on Serene Campground, A First Look at the Murder of Aaron Smith. She was later found dead by trappers, who spotted her by a logging trail in the Ozark National Forest, about 50 miles from where she was abducted, the KTHV reported. Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Fort Smith, AR. RELATED: Details About The Murder Of Arkansas Teen Dana Stidham And Why Police Have Yet To Find Her Killer Alabama. Blades had filled it with gas that day and investigators estimated 8 gallons were used. Fort Smith Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout Records in the Missing Person File are retained indefinitely or until the individual is located or the record is canceled by the entering agency. Blades was 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds. In a May 13, 1990, News-Leader story, Whitney said: I dont think this was a planned-out deal, other than they saw her and made a quick plan, he says. From mafia to monsters, check out these 10 unsolved mysteries in Arkansas. 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. I can't stop thinking about this case because it's from my home town. This, however, only applies to their own. It is our seventh time ranking the most places with the most murders per capita in Arkansas and is updated for 2021. Join a singles club and meet with great singles. The FBI considers eyewitness identification notoriously unreliable, the story stated. Do you feel thoroughly thrilled and chilled? The Category is reserved for cases of Unsolved Mysteries that occurred in Arkansas. Little Rock: 56 | North Little Rock: 23. Branford Antoine Lewis, who was given an additional 18 and 1/2 years on an existing sentence in early February, returned to Sebastian County Circuit Court on . Amy Anstutz saw the burglar in the house. Wanted for Arrest. Melissa is still not home. For some strange reason no one volunteered to climb down to see what pulled the rope. If a manila folder image appears, this means you are at the beginning of the case file. Shes waited 42 years for answers. Taxes and utilities also rank low on the national scale allowing those searching for dens in early October and early November. She wasidentified by dental records. Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murder. 3 deaths potentially - MSN A friend of the family found the keys to the Chevy Impala in the field the man ran across. 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 . 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. Georgia said that this was strange behavior from Dana. They wrote: "When 'Buff'Lamb was called the night Carols car was found, he did not take fingerprints or even caution people to stay away so the car could be dusted later. But Mary Ann knew this was out of character for Melissa. Cold case is finally cracked and the killer is identified. Some of that gas, but not all,could be accounted for by a trip Blades made to Kmart in Springfield to buypresents. In 1979, the Fort Smith Police Department and the Sebastian County Sheriffs Office joined together to work on the case. The lawnmowing job was only about one-third complete and her car was still there, with the keys in it. Melissa Witt Case: Did River Valley Killer Charles Vine Murder Her It's believed that Melissa wore a white v-neck sweater and blue jeans. 6) Morton S. ROSENFELD (79C-083) LCSO-79-5249 DOD: 05/19/1979 . A kind stranger came along and gave her a jump start. "I think I can speak for the entire family when I tell you that the entire investigation both past and present has been an utter and complete disappointment. Often in unsolved murders, family members of the victim lose faith in the investigators trying to solve the case so charges can be filed. Horton told Smith: My only purpose in writing is to ask that if you did abduct and kill Carol, that you grant me the peace of mind to know what happened., Smith responded: I give you my word, which is about all I have anymore that is good, that I havent the answers to the questions you seek. The majority of law enforcement officials consider photographs to be the most important tool in missing person cases. Records in the Missing Person File are retained indefinitely or until the individual is located or the record is canceled by the entering agency. 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. ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) There are at least four unsolved missing person cases in North Central Arkansas since 1991, and all are women. Her body was placed near a headstone-like rock. Because of the lack of leads, her murder is now considered to be a cold case. 29 Unsolved Murders That Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine - The Lineup Police showed her a photo of a convicted burglar who was known in the area and, according to news stories, she identified the man as the intruder who killed her husband. The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) receives monthly NCIC reports concerning the Missing and Unidentified Person files. His sentence in Illinois was lengthened in1977; hewas given another 18 years for trying to escape. The burglar shot Anstutz twice in the abdomen. Thinking their daughter may have had car trouble, Lawrence and Georgia got in their car and drove around to find Dana. There were 'only' 26 cities in Arkansas where a city reported a murder to the FBI, meaning 36 places had no murder. Melanie ETHIER (1996) - ON Julie FORTIER (Unsolved Murder - 1980) - ON Stefan SCHWARTZ (1960) - B.C. The cases. 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. It's been over 20 years and people are still looking for answers in the murder of Arkansas teenager, Melissa Witt. Dana had been very well-liked, her cousin Kristy said she didnt have any problems with anyone. Its time she gets answers, Patti Rush, president of REVAMP in Fort Smith, said while referring to the daughter of the missing woman. When a crime happens, and you dont know who the other party is. If she was going to be late, she always called.. A 1995 News-Leader story mentioned by name two suspects brothers who lived near the cemetery. Swearingen denied murdering Missy Witt and was executed on January 27, 2009, for Melissa Trotter's murder. 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. Lambblamed the Blades family for starting rumors that he was involved in the murder. The two masked killers used a handcart to wheel the store safe out of the building and fled in Reese's car. When her shift ended, her car wouldnt start. CBI FOHVAMP . Six people were on board the boat at the time of the crash, including 19-year-old Paul T. Murdaugh. Therelationship between family and then-Christian County Sheriff L.E. No arrests have been made in connection with her death. But she never made it inside. Her daughters are now 44 and 46. Shedid. 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. No suspect was ever identified. 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. Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas, Download The Entire Arkansas Ranking Data. I wanted a better life for him than I had. More:'I want justice for my father': An investigation into the 1989 death of Ronnie Johnson. The unemployment rate in Fort Smith is 4.6% (U.S. avg. She was really sweet, everybody liked her, she was friends with everybody.. 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. Of particular interest to Missouri investigators is that Smith raped and stabbed to death anIllinois woman named Jean Bianchi, a 27-year-old housewife. Rose Harsent, victim of the Peasenhall murder. The Missing Person Active/Expired Analysis and the Unidentified Person Active/Expired Analysis reports are available upon request. Unsolved Cases - Howard County Sheriff AR People who live in Fort Smith generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest. Crime rate in Fort Smith, AR - City-Data In July of 1979, Lois Ensey was abducted while working at J's Night Owl Grocery off Highway 271 in Fort Smith. Little Rock with 38. The 25-year-old store clerk child was gunned down in an overnight robbery. Download the Uncovered Citizen Detective Guide to learn more about how thoughtful and safe online sleuthing. On December 6, 1991, Austin, Texas was shell-shocked by a vicious crime. With over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of hiking trails. Who Killed Dana Stidham? 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. Vine's disturbing and vicious rape and killing spree is further explored in theOxygenspecial "Snapped Notorious: The River Valley Killer." It was only after the car was impounded, some three days later, that it was dusted.". Melissa's mother assumed that her daughter was with friends that evening. Especially at the county levels.". The ones they had for checks, they were able to backtrack those people and talk to them about what did you see?, said Pevehouse. According to Sgt. 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. Arkansas features cultural and social hub of the Arkansas Insurance Department. Never Forgotten | Arkansas Missing Persons Campaign Three years after her murder, Melissa's family, the Parnells' filed a suit against the C N Bowl Corp. The police looked at the good samaritan very closely before dismissing him as a suspect. Once inside, the responders found the brutalized bodies of four teenage girls-Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Eliza Thomas. The 2019 Fort Smith crime rate rose by 17% compared to 2018. Sheapparently died within hours of when she vanished, probably in the early hours of Saturday, July 1, 1989. ", More:Woman, 15 at the time, disputes account that turkey hunters found Ronnie Johnson's body in the woods. Category:Arkansas | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | Fandom 1992 Natasha Atchley White Female San Jacinto County Ranger Company A Re #: 160 1997 Harold William "Bill" Roland White Male He loved tinkering with cars, being outdoors and being a loyal friend. Known as "The Babysitter", this unidentified serial killer is known to have murdered at least four children, possibly more, between 1976 and 1977. 6:30/6:40 pm:Witness reports hearing woman in distress in Bowling World Parking. That left us with 26 cities to rank. Her body was found on September 16, 1989 in Benton County, Arkansas. The Bizarre History of a Long-Unsolved Murder - Blogger 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. 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. Feeling bad, her mother left her a note asking her to join her for a burger later at Bowling World. "This would have been around 1989 or 1990," McCaster told HuffPost. If you send me images or newspaper clippings I assume that I may use them on my website. 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. Smith has also confessed to killing several women while a U.S. Marine in West Germanyin the 1960s. You just cant accept that your child is gone. "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. Katherine Baker Case Report Number: 90-053018 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. We all know she was really responsible, and she knew her dad was waiting on the medicine. They were attributed to an alleged unidentified serial killer known as the Phantom of Texarkana or simply the Phantom Killer or Phantom Slayer. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Her mother said no and before she left the house, she left Missy a note explaining that she loved her and that she would be at a local bowling alley later that afternoon if she wanted to come by and get something to eat. The cemetery is 13 miles northwest of Ava in Douglas County. In addition, a homicide can be cleared if there is enough evidence to arrest and charge a suspect, but that suspect is dead. Melissa Witt was abducted from a bowling alley parking lot in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1994. If I did, I would certainly honor your most understandable request.. We only looked every single city in Arkansas for which FBI data was available for the most recent FBI Crime In The United States. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name Results: 13 Record (s) Found. The National Crime Information Centers (NCICs) Missing Person File was implemented in 1975. Oklahoma men charged in alleged torture, murder of missing mom from Catching a killer: Shootings stir up memories of '81 murders And I was lucky enough to have her.. And, they asked, who leaves their clothes in a drier prior to running off? Details About Her Unsolved Murder And Why Police Haven't Caught The Killer. A pseudo-documentary, The Legend of Boggy Creek, highlights the towns monster lore. The Arkansas, Texas & Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Records were contacted in an attempt to locate a death certificate for Nona Young. Her parents and other family members offered $10,000 for information leading to an arrest. The victim is identified as 35-year-old . 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. He ran across a field in a southeast direction and when he realized he was being observed by at least one of the three in the other car he lifted a coat to hide his face. Colorado Cold Case Files - Home Page 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. Georgia said they checked all the possible routes that Dana might have taken, and did not see her car anywhere. So we wanted to get the facts straight and dug into the FBI crime data in order to identify the places with the most murders and the highest murder rates per capita in Arkansas. Unsolved Murders. After Vine's arrest, the possibility he killed Witt was considered. It was only her second night on the job and first night alone. Your anonymous call could lead to a $1,000 reward. The real mystery is why it took so long for someone to decide "hey maybe we should bury this guy.". She said that in 2003 detectives from Missouri went to Illinois to interview Smith, whodenied ever being in Nixa. Steve Hamilton was a Springfield police lieutenant at the time. Murder Capitals Of Arkansas For 2021 - RoadSnacks Though the fourth boy, Nils Wilhelm Gustafsson, survived the attack and lead a relatively normal life, he became a suspect in 2004. The body was found on Forest Service Road 1551, located off Franklin County 111, also known as Jethro Road. Kristy told Dateline she and Dana were especially close since they were only a year apart. 322 South Main Streeet, Suite 615 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2222 / Visit Website. According to private investigators, it was her second night on the job and her first time working solo. Jenkins told Dateline. In a letter published in the News-Leader they saidthe case should never be forgotten. Generally, cases are solved when the offender has been arrested and turned over to the court for prosecution. He was active in the area at that time, and he had attacked another teenager in Arkansas. 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 She was running low on money, she was going to come out and have her mother buy her a hamburger. Howard County Sheriff's Department. The body was discovered by a Conco employee. Danas personal belongings, however, were not inside the car. Arkansas isnt always peaceful forests and serene waterfalls. She reported her daughter missing. She was our joy. 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. He said: There are many possibilities in the death of Mr. Moody. Turner retired from law enforcement in 2020 after nearly 24 years with the Ozark Police Department. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite. 1. Tragically, we'll never know who murdered these young men. Melissa Witt was killed in Arkansas in 1994. The unsolved 1989 murder of Ronnie Johnson of West Plainsis but one of many in the Ozarks. Unsolved Murders - Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Outreach. Both girls were 19 at the time of their death, and both were murdered and found in large forests in Arkansas. Two boys and two girls went missing from their Oakland County communities, northwest of Detroit, Michigan, and all were found dead within 19 days. Sergeant Jenkins said there are several people of interest in the case, and that it is still being worked as an active investigation. 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. William Miller is a member of that group. Would you dare investigate what clawed monster lives in the deep? That would be Helena-West Helena with 108.0 murders per 100,000 people. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! A trail of blood was later found in the parking lot. It stated: The problems with the case, according to the story, included: Dave Smith, then a sergeant, said: "We have to find someone with firsthand knowledge that he was out there that night.". "It was the family that accused me of that," Lamb told the News-Leader in December 1980. 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 . It was described in news storiesas "torn up." Police ruled Danas death a homicide, but would not confirm the exact cause of death. RoadSnacks is reader-supported. Both Rush and Ensey believe police can solve the case. Soon after she disappeared, the car was discovered about a quarter-milefrom the laundromat. She was found not guilty in 2015. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. I don't want to go to my grave not knowing, she told Dateline. Sure, that's fiction. So, we grew up without her basically our whole lives, said Enseys youngest daughter Nikki Ensey. 1995 Alma, Arkansas girl's disappearance featured in crime show on Hulu. Jenkins added. Ron Davis, the reporter, interviewed one of them. 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. 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. 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? Arkansas Crime Information Center. Danas parents lived in Hiwasse, Arkansas, a 10-minute drive from Centerton, and she visited them often, Georgia said. Between 6:30-7 pm, after class and work, Missy went to the same bowling alley that her mother had mentioned in her note. The FBI estimates the national clearance rate for murders is 61 percent. View Cases - Unsolved Homicide - Texas Department Of Public Safety Faces of Unsolved Homicide - Project: Cold Case The hunt for answers continues to this day, as the case remains open,THV11 KTHV reported. All rights reserved. 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. ", 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.". Anyone with information that can help solve this case is asked to call the Cold Case Squad at 816-234-5136. Murder! 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. "It's better that it not be brought up because the more something like that is bought up, the worse it gets," he said. It was only her second. As time passes on, I am afraid my sons murderer or murderers will not be found.. That caused him to jerk the coat down. The 1998 murder of John Alan Moody is one of 10 unsolved cold cases listed on the Springfield Police Department website.