Start browsing the folder's contents at the beginning of the file. 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. Records in the Missing Person File are retained indefinitely or until the individual is located or the record is canceled by the entering agency. All charges were dropped in 2005. Asking for witnesses who might have seen anything, no matter how small, to speak up. Soon after she disappeared, the car was discovered about a quarter-milefrom the laundromat. If you need a pleasant palate cleanser, try touring this cider mill. But Mary Ann knew this was out of character for Melissa. 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. Her body was fully clothed. Sheapparently died within hours of when she vanished, probably in the early hours of Saturday, July 1, 1989. For more on Vine's crimes, watch "Snapped Notorious: The River Valley Killer.". Image. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. In the weeks that followed, Danas friends and family spent their time searching on foot and by car, and handing out missing flyers of Dana. 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. Oklahoma men charged in alleged torture, murder of missing mom from You may also email information to the Detectives, by clicking on the link. in Library Science. "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. Cold Case - ABI - AST - Alaska Department of Public Safety So we knew something happened to her, Danas cousin, Kristy, told Dateline. More Economy. 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. Law enforcement agencies should be contacted without delay. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks. They denied ever suggesting Lamb was involvedbut stood firm in their belief Lamb was incompetent as a criminal investigator. A patron had discovered her car keys and turned them in the night Witt disappeared. 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? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Western Arkansas was also on the circuit of back roads Clyde Barrow used to evade lawmen from other states. If you have any updates in any of these cases please contact me. However, Missy's clothes and personal belongings were missing from the scene and were never found. William Scott Smith Unemployed cook, Salem, Ore. . She had accidentally left something on, and the battery was dead. Specifically, we analyzed the FBI's Uniform Crime Report which summarizes the number of murders that may happen in each city per year. 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. This, however, only applies to their own. 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. It was only her second. Who killed Missy Witt? Once inside, the responders found the brutalized bodies of four teenage girls-Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Eliza Thomas. WEATHER & CLIMATE Furthermore, Swearingen was known to be in the area around the time Missy was abducted. Texarkana Moonlight Murders - Wikipedia A 19 year old college student disappears in a parking lot. Archive statistics are available upon request. Melissa Witt was abducted from a bowling alley parking lot in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1994. He was described as 5 feet 9 or 10 inches tall, a white man with a dark complexion andblack hair combed back. Paul Anstutz, 26, and his wife Amy, 30, returned home on a Thursday night, Oct. 8, 1992, and surprised a burglar in their homeat 2546 S. Glenwood Terrace, in the Brentwood Terrace subdivision. The Oakland County Child Killer. Faces of Unsolved Homicide - Project: Cold Case Kentucky detective investigating possible connection between 2011 - MSN Anstuz was a carpenter at Killian Construction in Springfield. I wanted a better life for him than I had. She wasidentified by dental records. A family is still looking for answers after a Sebastian County womans murder case remains unsolved 42-years later. We have never come up with anything positive.". Cold case is finally cracked and the killer is identified. We were robbed of her wisdom and just her life in general.. 322 S. Main Street, Ste. I don't want to go to my grave not knowing, she told Dateline. Jenkins. 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 . Best Places to Live in Fort Smith, Arkansas The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Fort Smith, AR: Crime Maps and 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. No suspect was ever identified. What haunted locations can I visit in Arkansas? The legend is that a railroad workers head was severed by an oncoming train. There are fifty states in the unsolved murders in arkansas near future, information on Arkansas construction project? Melissa and Tara have biology class together on Friday, and then had plans to hang out that evening. 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. Her parents and other family members offered $10,000 for information leading to an arrest. She had been strangled to death and sexually assaulted. 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. 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. READ MORE 5. An autopsy could not determine cause of death; she was not shot and apparently was not raped. Melissa Witt was abducted from the parking lot of Bowling World in the evening. There were 'only' 26 cities in Arkansas where a city reported a murder to the FBI, meaning 36 places had no murder. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. In July of 1979, Lois Ensey was abducted while working at J's Night Owl Grocery off Highway 271 in Fort Smith. 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. On a daily basis, JC. Larry Swearingen was looked at as a person of interest in this case. 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. She was running low on money, she was going to come out and have her mother buy her a hamburger. "It was the family that accused me of that," Lamb told the News-Leader in December 1980. She suffered a gunshot wound to her head. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 (requires payment) at Ancestry/has about 594,000 listings. Over a month after she went missing, her body was found in the Ozark National Forest. The rate of crime in Fort Smith is 55.87 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. Judge orders North Little Rock mental health facility to pay $2.5M in teen rape case. Denver Post . Georgia has now outlived her husband and both of children. Making it tougher for investigators to gather evidence. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. William Miller is a member of that group. However, with a period of no less than 90 days of community service. Cold Case Unsolved Homicides I dont recall exactly what the male voice said, but it was something like, I cant. And then he hung up the phone., 9:40 am:Melissa's body is found by two trappers in the Ozark National Forest. 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 Here's what is known about them SABRINA LYNN UNDERWOOD:. The 1998 murder of John Alan Moody is one of 10 unsolved cold cases listed on the Springfield Police Department website. Some of the biggest unsolved murders in Arkansas include the 1994 murder of Melissa "Missy" Witt, the 1995 murder of Marlo Taylor, and the 1987 double murder of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, among countless others which receive much less media attention. 8 Strange, Unsolved Crimes That Are Sure to Haunt You - The Lineup Over a month after she went missing, her body was found in the Ozark National Forest. In addition, a homicide can be cleared if there is enough evidence to arrest and charge a suspect, but that suspect is dead. 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? Danas parents lived in Hiwasse, Arkansas, a 10-minute drive from Centerton, and she visited them often, Georgia said. Example video title will go here for this video. 'Cold Justice' Murder Cases Solved: Cynthia Smith And More | Crime News 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. Amy Anstutz saw the burglar in the house. Arkansas murderers list | Murderpedia They were attributed to an alleged unidentified serial killer known as the Phantom of Texarkana or simply the Phantom Killer or Phantom Slayer. 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. We were very young. Arkansas killer gets life term Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! From mafia to monsters, check out these 10 unsolved mysteries in Arkansas. Morning:Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS). City of Fort Collins Police Services, 2221 Timberline Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: 970.221.6540 (non-emergency) . Should Smith, now 73, ever be releasedin Illinoishe would face a life sentence in Arkansas. 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. Missing Persons Information - Arkansas Department of Public Safety She was shy and didn't like to smile much; she was self-conscious about a crooked front tooth. No answers 29 years after murder of Arkansas teen Dana Stidham - NBC News I always wanted my son to be aman of his word. No suspect was ever identified. Did The River Valley Killer Kidnap A Teenage Girl From A Bowling Alley Parking Lot And Murder Her? Never Forgotten | Arkansas Missing Persons Campaign 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 . But could he have been responsible for another murder? Jenkins told Dateline. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's last year of reporting. 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 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. With over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of hiking trails. *While use of the Unidentified Person File is increasing, it is not yet mandated by law to make entries into this file. And give us some information about what they actually told the police department back there in 1979, daughter Nikki Ensey told 5NEWS. Danas personal belongings, however, were not inside the car. This was on Dec. 3, 1969 12 days before Blades was abducted and killed. KHBS CNN Three people are dead and a police officer is recovering from being. The state has a surprising number of bone chilling tales, from cold cases to urban legends. Juan Ignacio Blanco MALE murderers: . The Bizarre History of a Long-Unsolved Murder - Blogger Cold Case Spotlight No answers 29 years after murder of Arkansas teen Dana Stidham Eighteen-year-old Dana Stidham was last seen on July 25, 1989 leaving a grocery store in Bella Visa,. 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. The lawnmowing job was only about one-third complete and her car was still there, with the keys in it. 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. Arkansas law requires all missing persons to be entered immediately. Though the fourth boy, Nils Wilhelm Gustafsson, survived the attack and lead a relatively normal life, he became a suspect in 2004. 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. On Christmas Day, 1970 a year and 10 days after Blades disappeared her body was found in Stone County, 12 miles away. Melissa's mother assumed that her daughter was with friends that evening. RELATED: Details About The Murder Of Arkansas Teen Dana Stidham And Why Police Have Yet To Find Her Killer Alabama. 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. December 1, 1994, was a typical day for Missy. A friend of the family found the keys to the Chevy Impala in the field the man ran across. Two Hells Angels held in quadruple killing - SFGATE Diaz is president of the Vallejo chapter of. Unsolved Ozarks murders: Woman was last seen mowing cemetery, man shot by burglar Steve Pokin Springfield News-Leader The unsolved 1989 murder of Ronnie Johnson of West Plains is but one. Unsolved murder of Melissa Witt in 1994. Arkansas area. The Arkansas, Texas & Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Records were contacted in an attempt to locate a death certificate for Nona Young. Tragically, we'll never know who murdered these young men. 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! Chasing Chains, LLC. It was leaking oil badly; there was mud on the windshield; new scratches on both sides;and the antenna on the backwas bent. ", 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.". Timmons already had a kidnapping conviction on his record, having abducted and held an 11-year-old boy in 1976, KYTV reported. Lois Ensey left behind a husband and two daughters ages two and four. And even the victim and the victims loved ones dont know who the other party iswe normally draw these dead ends, Pevehouse said. Get more stories delivered right to your email. 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. Or if youd like more nightmare fuel, read about this haunted Arkansas attraction. 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. The burglar shot Anstutz twice in the abdomen. 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. Each of these victims were submitted by families or law enforcement through our submission page. Soon after the shooting, the suspect went to prison for two years for other burglary convictions. His name was never released. Her daughters are now 44 and 46. Melissa was hoping to become a dental hygienist. The victim is identified as 35-year-old . 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. This is a list of notable male murderers who committed their murders in Arkansas, USA. 6:30/6:40 pm:Witness reports hearing woman in distress in Bowling World Parking. She always called. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Jenkins told Dateline. His father, Alex Murdaugh, a local attorney and the son of Randolph Murdaugh III, owns the boat.. Her death differed from the attacks on the other three women, though: She was not beaten in the same way. 1992 Natasha Atchley White Female San Jacinto County Ranger Company A Re #: 160 1997 Harold William "Bill" Roland White Male It's believed that Melissa wore a white v-neck sweater and blue jeans. Your anonymous call could lead to a $1,000 reward. Melissa drove a white 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage. Lamb also told the paper it was best that the case be forgotten. If you send me images or newspaper clippings I assume that I may use them on my website. Murdered: Melissa Witt | Fort Smith, AR | Uncovered Arkansas is famous for many homeowners. She was 75 years old. 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. In 1999, high school seniors J.B. Hilton Green Beasley and Tracie Jean . During the school year, Dana had been working after school and on weekends at Harps Food Store in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Heultimately raped and murdered two elderly women in the River Valley, Arkansas area: Juanita Wofford in 1993, and Ruth Henderson in 1995. A trail of blood was later found in the parking lot. The Most Terrifying Unsolved Murders In Every State - YourTango At El Patron Mexican . Arkansas area. Cornerstone Mountain Retreat, near Jasper, visitors can walk for miles in pristine forests. Rancher Ernest Wilhelm discovered her skeletal remains on his farmtwo miles west of Ponce de Leon. 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. The murders remain unsolved. The FBI considers eyewitness identification notoriously unreliable, the story stated. 18 unsolved slayings in this area in five years. Missy's body was nude and placed near a headstone-shaped rock. In 1973, legislation created the White River Monster Refuge. Although the region has its fair share of beauty and wonder, thats not all youll find there. On July 25, 1989, 18-year-old Dana Stidham left her parents' home to pick up her father's . Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Fort Smith, AR. Brad Cole, current Christian County sheriff, said the Blades murder is an open case. If she was going to be late, she always called.. Georgia was at work at the time, but her husband Lawrence was at home. Specifically, we analyzed the FBI's Uniform Crime Report which summarizes the number of murders that may happen in each city per year.We only looked every single city in Arkansas for which FBI data was available for the most recent FBI Crime In The United States. The National Crime Information Centers (NCICs) Missing Person File was implemented in 1975. Wanted for Arrest. Its illegal to hunt "Whitey" within the protected land. If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already. Despite various theories, the case remains unsolved. She was just the kind of daughter people wish they had. 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He ran into a grove of trees anda limb struck hisface. Records in the Missing Person File are retained indefinitely or until the individual is located or the record is canceled by the entering agency. is 6.0%). In Arkansas you also have added to the unsolved murders in arkansas an unusual place to visit. Details About Her Unsolved Murder And Why Police Haven't Caught The Killer. Three people died and an officer was stabbed in the neck in an incident in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Sunday. An old wives tale is one thing, but once physical evidence gets involved these stories become especially chilling. Kristy told Dateline she and Dana were especially close since they were only a year apart. Police ruled Danas death a homicide, but would not confirm the exact cause of death. For some strange reason no one volunteered to climb down to see what pulled the rope. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. According to science fiction writer Richard Shaver, the cave is one of the entrances to a subterranean civilization. He was caught in 2000 when he attempted to rape and kill a 16-year-old girl in her house. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is requesting your assistance in closing these open cases. You can find the link in the menu bar. There was not one sign of foul play, he said. Police learn the key witness in the stabbing death of a beloved aunt was an imposter; a return to the crime scene reveals a .