Hurrying to the scene, deputies found a bloody 1961 Ford with bullet holes in it. Little Rock with 38. 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. 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. Case of Missing Person: Nona Jean Young (Coleman) W/F, 02-26-51 . Melissa Witt was abducted from a bowling alley parking lot in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1994. More Economy. Diaz is president of the Vallejo chapter of. Smith was also questioned in the 1983 unsolved murder of a 14-year-old girl in Idaho. The hunt for answers continues to this day, as the case remains open,THV11 KTHV reported. Arkansas Crime Information Center. She says her mothers abduction and murder affected the entire family. She was really sweet, everybody liked her, she was friends with everybody.. *This list consists of persons who have been reported missing to the Department of Public Safety under undetermined circumstances. Moody's father Jim wrote a letter about his son that he gave to the media. Bucholtz and Jared started a Facebook group called Unsolved Murder of Rebekah Gould in the hopes of getting some tips from the public about her death. Arkansas, USA : home: last updates . 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. The light is the ghosts lantern used to search for his head. The victim is identified as 35-year-old . Theres a seedy underbelly to almost everywhere, but knowing these dark occurrences happen in your own backyard is particularly nerve wracking. Melissa and Tara have biology class together on Friday, and then had plans to hang out that evening. Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. 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()});});}. She was a 1967 graduate of Nixa High and her maiden name was Horton. Melissa is pronounced deceased. 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. Missy's body was nude and placed near a headstone-shaped rock. He said: There are many possibilities in the death of Mr. Moody. She parked her car, and before she would even make it inside the bowling alley, investigators believe Missy was abducted from the parking lot. When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. She reported her daughter missing. The only clues left at the scene were a gold hoop earring, a crushed hair clip, her car keys, and pools of blood. By James Pletcher Jr. Jul 25, 2013 . The car shows signs of a struggle. Danas father passed away 10 years after his daughter was killed. We have never come up with anything positive.". Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas The 10 Murder Capitals Of Arkansas For 2021 1. He ran into a grove of trees anda limb struck hisface. I've stood in the same parking lot where Melissa went missing. WEATHER & CLIMATE Outreach. It had been abandoned on the shoulder of northbound Highway 160. Both girls were 19 at the time of their death, and both were murdered and found in large forests in Arkansas. 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 . Contact. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Fort Smith shares its status with Greenwood as the county seat of Sebastian County. Melissa is still not home. 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! While the city with highest number of murders period? Fort Smith jobs have decreased by 1.6%. After Vine's arrest, the possibility he killed Witt was considered. She was our joy. 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. The cemetery is 13 miles northwest of Ava in Douglas County. The unsolved 1989 murder of Ronnie Johnson of West Plainsis but one of many in the Ozarks. While there are surveys and public polls on what cities in a state are the most dangerous, we didn't want to rely on speculation and opinion. The burglar shot Anstutz twice in the abdomen. 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. Blades was 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds. Timmons already had a kidnapping conviction on his record, having abducted and held an 11-year-old boy in 1976, KYTV reported. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Her mother declined to give it to her. DNA evidence then connected him to the other crimes. 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. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name Results: 13 Record (s) Found. His name was never released. 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. Melissa Witt was killed in Arkansas in 1994. Arkansas law requires all missing persons to be entered immediately. We must note that this report is not an analysis of the effectiveness of local police departments. Compare Fort Smith crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's last year of reporting. It is our seventh time ranking the most places with the most murders per capita in Arkansas and is updated for 2021. 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. There were 'only' 26 cities in Arkansas where a city reported a murder to the FBI, meaning 36 places had no murder. Arkansas is famous for many homeowners. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City, OK Some, however, have since theorized she was the victim of local serial killer Charles Ray Vine, also known as "The River Valley Killer.". It's believed that Melissa wore a white v-neck sweater and blue jeans. 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. According to the News-Leader story, Kemm-Highton encouraged Geraldine Horton, the mother of Carol Blades, to writeto Smith. They died never knowing what happened to Dana. At that point there was no reason to believe she was abducted. In Arkansas you also have added to the unsolved murders in arkansas an unusual place to visit. 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? A 19 year old college student disappears in a parking lot. In the summer of 1989, she continued to work at the store while figuring out what she wanted to do, Georgia said. Shedid. MISSING PERSON ENTRY CATEGORIES Three people died and an officer was stabbed in the neck in an incident in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Sunday. The 25-year-old store clerk child was gunned down in an overnight robbery. Georgia dreads that outcome. 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. In 1999, high school seniors J.B. Hilton Green Beasley and Tracie Jean . However, she never made it inside. Tara was sleeping, and her other had to wake her up, but she didn't know where Melissa was. Arkansas Gravestones has over 1.3 million gravestone photos. We have had several people tell us she was not getting along at home. His father, Alex Murdaugh, a local attorney and the son of Randolph Murdaugh III, owns the boat.. 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. All rights reserved. When her shift ended, her car wouldnt start. 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 . 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. More Cost of Living or Compare Fort Smith's Cost of Living. 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. 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. No suspect was ever identified. A homicide can also be cleared if the victim of the crime hinders the prosecution by refusing to testify. SHARES. 6:30/6:40 pm:Witness reports hearing woman in distress in Bowling World Parking. 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. 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. Who Killed Dana Stidham? Tragically, we'll never know who murdered these young men. The court determined that the events were not foreseeable and the case was ultimately dismissed. Denver Post . Arkansas Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries by County. 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. Any ties went to the larger city. And I was lucky enough to have her.. It was higher than in 97.1% U.S. cities. "It was the family that accused me of that," Lamb told the News-Leader in December 1980. Went to the store, and people said that she had been there and bought what she needed and left, Georgia said. Helena-West Helena Source: Public domain Overall SnackAbility 1 /10 Population: 10,187 Rank Last Year: 8 Murders: 11 (4th Most) Murders Per 100k: 108.0 (Most) More on Helena-West Helena: Data | Photos 2. 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. That humming sound one hears is that of healthy baby bears, nursing to their little heart's content. If she was going to be late, she always called.. There was not one sign of foul play, he said. Do you feel thoroughly thrilled and chilled? Law enforcement agencies should be contacted without delay. It's been over 20 years and people are still looking for answers in the murder of Arkansas teenager, Melissa Witt. Morning:Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS). You can download the data here. Search dogs were used in the days following Danas disappearance, Sgt. A week later, her body was found some10 miles south of the cemetery and about six miles east of Oldfield, in Christian County. Recent job growth is Negative. Rose Harsent was stabbed to death on 1 June 1902, in Peasenhall, Suffolk, England by an unknown assailant. ", 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.". 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. Your anonymous call could lead to a $1,000 reward. Faces of Unsolved Homicide - Project: Cold Case. 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. Its illegal to hunt "Whitey" within the protected land. 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 . Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! There also was a younger male voice, also with a really strong Southern accent. 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. The unemployment rate in Fort Smith is 4.6% (U.S. avg. Melissa's mother, Mary Anne passes away. The legend is that a railroad workers head was severed by an oncoming train. On December 6, 1991, Austin, Texas was shell-shocked by a vicious crime. ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) There are at least four unsolved missing person cases in North Central Arkansas since 1991, and all are women. Arkansas isnt always peaceful forests and serene waterfalls. The suspect apparently was spotted soon after the murder. Cold case is finally cracked and the killer is identified. Her car was found in the parking lot, but she was nowhere to be seen. If you need a pleasant palate cleanser, try touring this cider mill. It's been nearly 30 years since Pam Felkins was kidnapped from her job at an Arkansas video store, raped and then murdered -- but . Moody had not been reported missing, family members told police, because it wasn't unusual for him to not be in contact with his family for stretches of time. "I kind of bonded with her. 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. There were no signs of struggle. Jenkins. You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website. Both bodies were found in 1989 in different months in different parts of the hugeMark Twain National Forest, an area the size of Delaware. Both tried to interview witnesses, but they could only speak with certain people. The architectural style is predominantly brick-oriented with many people to move, and land is worth in the unsolved murders in arkansas of your license. Moody's body was found Nov. 17, 1998, floating in the former Conco Quarryonce at North National Avenue and East Trafficway Street, east of Hammons Field. A friend of the family found the keys to the Chevy Impala in the field the man ran across. *While use of the Unidentified Person File is increasing, it is not yet mandated by law to make entries into this file. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. Melissa asked her mom to borrow some money and told her she would pay her back with her next paycheck. On July 25, 1989, Dana went over to her parents house to do some laundry, Georgia said. There are currently no cases that match the selected filters. He may have been lost at times, but who of us has not been lost? On a daily basis, JC. For more on Vine's crimes, watch "Snapped Notorious: The River Valley Killer.". The body wasdecomposed. But we're certain he got the idea from some of the real life eye witness reports. Mary Ann calls Melissa's best friend, Tara to see if she has heard from Melissa. Many conspiracies were prompted by the tragedy, including a (mildly far-fetched) drug smuggling cover-up connected to a former U.S. President. Although the case may be cold, the Fort Smith police are still welcoming any information concerning the case. This, however, only applies to their own. Little Rock: 56 | North Little Rock: 23. 2023 www.news-leader.com. 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. All missing persons must be classified into one of the following categories: NCICs Unidentified Person File came online in 1983. CBI FOHVAMP . There is no required waiting period to report a missing person. In addition, a homicide can be cleared if there is enough evidence to arrest and charge a suspect, but that suspect is dead. 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. We understand if you have trouble getting to sleep tonight, these unsolved mysteries certainly shook us to the core. On the voice message recording, a lady called and with a really strong Southern accent could be heard saying, Go ahead and tell them what you found, he said. Jenkins told Dateline. JC Rider, a retired Fort Smith Police Department detective, said investigators believe Witt was struck in the head and then kidnapped. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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 you have information on their whereabouts, please contact the Detective Division at (479) 709-5116 . Its time she gets answers, Patti Rush, president of REVAMP in Fort Smith, said while referring to the daughter of the missing woman. The 2019 Fort Smith crime rate rose by 17% compared to 2018. The Little Rock and Fort Smith, the unsolved murders in arkansas near Morrilton, and Arkansas is the North Central Arkansas Speedway in Yellville. Love Arkansas? The rate of crime in Fort Smith is 55.87 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. He was described as 5 feet 9 or 10 inches tall, a white man with a dark complexion andblack hair combed back. 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. 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. With so many things you can choose from. If you have any possible . Resources. Episode 34 - Arkansas - Who Killed Melissa Witt? We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine the dirt on places across the country. However, Missy's clothes and personal belongings were missing from the scene and were never found. FPD Sergeant Tony Murphy said. Stephen Smith, 19, July 2015 Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student at the time, was found dead in the middle of the road on July 8, 2015, Bluffton Today reported . The burlap sack also reminds us of the Scarecrow character in the Batman stories, a chilling psychopath who drugged and murdered townspeople while wearing a burlap sack over his head. And we have, every time we getany kind of lead whatsoever, run down that lead. We were together all the time, Kristy said. It was only her second night on the job and first night alone. However, with a period of no less than 90 days of community service. Crime in Arkansas. This was on Dec. 3, 1969 12 days before Blades was abducted and killed. Is This Man a Serial Killer? Again, these statistics are an indication of where crimes occur, not a statement about the effectiveness of the law enforcement in the areas they serve. Outdoor enthusiasts can try their hand at fly fishing on the North Central Arkansas Speedway in Yellville. RELATED: Details About The Murder Of Arkansas Teen Dana Stidham And Why Police Have Yet To Find Her Killer Alabama. People who live in Fort Smith generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest. Blades was last seen at a Nixa store buying cookieson a cold Monday, Dec. 15, 1969. Melissa's mother assumed that her daughter was with friends that evening. Once inside, the responders found the brutalized bodies of four teenage girls-Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Eliza Thomas. She hadthree children. The Missing Person Active/Expired Analysis and the Unidentified Person Active/Expired Analysis reports are available upon request. She wasidentified by dental records. RoadSnacks is reader-supported. The FBI estimates the national clearance rate for murders is 61 percent. Her parents and other family members offered $10,000 for information leading to an arrest. "This would have been around 1989 or 1990," McCaster told HuffPost. According to Sgt. Book 2), Oklahoma Author Looking For Answers To Arkansas Cold Case. There was no one in the store, and there should have been, said Pevehouse. This move prompts an interesting discussion about the rights and preservation of potential fantastical threats. Sure, that's fiction. Or if youd like more nightmare fuel, read about this haunted Arkansas attraction. If they can come forward anonymously, they could contact Sebastian County Sheriffs Office, Rush said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "It took them eight days to find her body. We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. Next 10 CitiesHow we calculated the murder capitals of ArkansasWhile there are surveys and public polls on what cities in a state are the most dangerous, we didn't want to rely on speculation and opinion. 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. 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. Known as "The Babysitter", this unidentified serial killer is known to have murdered at least four children, possibly more, between 1976 and 1977. You can download the data here.We must note that this report is not an analysis of the effectiveness of local police departments.