unsolved murders fort smith arkansas
Thank you! Shes waited 42 years for answers. Although the case may be cold, the Fort Smith police are still welcoming any information concerning the case. Ten months after Blades vanished, Sheriff Lamb told the publiche doubted there was a crime. If they can come forward anonymously, they could contact Sebastian County Sheriffs Office, Rush said. 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. The cause of death is listed as"homicidal violence.". Lois Ensey left behind a husband and two daughters ages two and four. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name Results: 13 Record (s) Found. The Possible Police Connection A witness using the name of "Jerry" came forward to say that he saw sitting in a convenience store parking lot the night of August 22-23, 1987 and saw three teenaged boys, one on a motorcycle, hanging out . The body was found on Forest Service Road 1551, located off Franklin County 111, also known as Jethro Road. Should Smith, now 73, ever be releasedin Illinoishe would face a life sentence in Arkansas. 322 S. Main Street, Ste. Connect with Never Forgotten is 6.0%). Brad Cole, current Christian County sheriff, said the Blades murder is an open case. Both girls were 19 at the time of their death, and both were murdered and found in large forests in Arkansas. We were robbed of her wisdom and just her life in general.. You can visit his grave at Graceland Cemetery in Pine Bluff, but we can't promise it will reveal any clues about his mysterious demise. 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. 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 Law enforcement agencies should be contacted without delay. CBI FOHVAMP . "They was just looking for anything to say, they was all upset.". Or if youd like more nightmare fuel, read about this haunted Arkansas attraction. Of particular interest to Missouri investigators is that Smith raped and stabbed to death anIllinois woman named Jean Bianchi, a 27-year-old housewife. Four teenagers were camping on the shores of Lake Bodom in Finland on June 5, 1960, when an unknown group or individual murdered three of them with a knife and blunt instrument. The officer told Mary Ann that since Melissa is over 18, she can leave on her own accord. It was only after the car was impounded, some three days later, that it was dusted.". The Category is reserved for cases of Unsolved Mysteries that occurred in Arkansas. 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. A week later, her body was found some10 miles south of the cemetery and about six miles east of Oldfield, in Christian County. "Obviously, we have not come up with probablecause to charge anybody at this point. WEATHER & CLIMATE Her death differed from the attacks on the other three women, though: She was not beaten in the same way. 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 . If you have information on any of the persons . Drugs is a possibility. In 1979, Lois Ensey was abducted while working at J's Night Owl Grocery off Highway 271 in Fort Smith. 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 . ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) In 2020, Fayetteville has had seven homicides/murders; there were five in 2019, according to the Fayetteville police department (FPD). An autopsy could not determine cause of death; she was not shot and apparently was not raped. He was elected sheriff in 1968; lost in 1972 (some say because of the unsolved Blades murder); and re-elected in 1976 and 1980. 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. About. A kind stranger came along and gave her a jump start. Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Biologist in the unsolved murders in arkansas to 2006. The majority of law enforcement officials consider photographs to be the most important tool in missing person cases. Evening:Melissa arrives at Bowling World to have dinner with her mother but never makes it inside. If she was going to be late, she always called.. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Blades was last seen at a Nixa store buying cookieson a cold Monday, Dec. 15, 1969. Though the fourth boy, Nils Wilhelm Gustafsson, survived the attack and lead a relatively normal life, he became a suspect in 2004. There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the people who killed . Tara was sleeping, and her other had to wake her up, but she didn't know where Melissa was. Georgia has now outlived her husband and both of children. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. Howard County Sheriff's Department. According to private investigators, it was her second night on the job and her first time working solo. Melissa and her mother have a disagreement over money, Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS), Melissa works at the dentist office in the afternoon, Melissa's car doesn't start after leaving work, Melissa arrives at Bowling World to have dinner with her mother but never makes it inside, Witness reports hearing woman in distress in Bowling World Parking, Melissa's body is found by two trappers in the Ozark National Forest, Wal-Mart dedicates their missing persons board to Melissa Witt, 27 y.o.man,charged w/kidnapping,raping,& killing 19 y.o.college student gal in TX in 1998,is prime suspect in unsolved 1994 college gal killing in AR, Parnell v. C & N Bowl Corp., 954 F. Supp. According to science fiction writer Richard Shaver, the cave is one of the entrances to a subterranean civilization. Arkansas is famous for many homeowners. Georgia said they checked all the possible routes that Dana might have taken, and did not see her car anywhere. I wanted a better life for him than I had. Start browsing the folder's contents at the beginning of the file. There were no signs of struggle. They died never knowing what happened to Dana. 1326, Episode 35 - Arkansas - Who Killed Melissa Witt Part 2. 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. Did the River Valley Killer Have Other Victims? She hadthree children. 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. The legend is that a railroad workers head was severed by an oncoming train. Faces of Unsolved Homicide - Project: Cold Case. Blades' husband, Larry, and her parents Louis and Geraldine Horton took issue with the sheriff's comments. Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas, Download The Entire Arkansas Ranking Data. 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 body was discovered by a Conco employee. Furthermore, Swearingen was known to be in the area around the time Missy was abducted. Outdoor enthusiasts can try their hand at fly fishing on the North Central Arkansas Speedway in Yellville. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. "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. 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 . "It took them eight days to find her body. There are currently no cases that match the selected filters. No suspect was ever identified. She had accidentally left something on, and the battery was dead. An old wives tale is one thing, but once physical evidence gets involved these stories become especially chilling. Judge orders North Little Rock mental health facility to pay $2.5M in teen rape case. If I did, I would certainly honor your most understandable request.. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Photo credit: Kurt Wilson/ Missoulian. FPD Sergeant Tony Murphy said. "It was the family that accused me of that," Lamb told the News-Leader in December 1980. Diaz is president of the Vallejo chapter of. The number of homicides stood at 4 - a decrease of 5 compared to 2018. Who Killed Dana Stidham? We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It just destroyed us.. The hunt for answers continues to this day, as the case remains open,THV11 KTHV reported. City of Fort Collins Police Services, 2221 Timberline Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: 970.221.6540 (non-emergency) . Blades was 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds. Melissa is pronounced deceased. Sheapparently died within hours of when she vanished, probably in the early hours of Saturday, July 1, 1989. On September 16, 1989, almost two months after Dana was last seen, a hunter in Benton County, Arkansas came upon a shallow grave in a heavily wooded area. Soon after the shooting, the suspect went to prison for two years for other burglary convictions. There were 'only' 26 cities in Arkansas where a city reported a murder to the FBI, meaning 36 places had no murder. Many conspiracies were prompted by the tragedy, including a (mildly far-fetched) drug smuggling cover-up connected to a former U.S. President. In addition, while incarcerated in Illinois he pleaded guilty in March 1971 to killing Obie Fay Ash, 32, of Cotter, Arkansas. More than 30 years later, Fisher's estranged wife was charged with first-degree murder. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks. When they find her body, she had been exposed to extreme temperatures, Rush said. 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. When her shift ended, her car wouldnt start. She was really sweet, everybody liked her, she was friends with everybody.. Wanted for Arrest. She was shy and didn't like to smile much; she was self-conscious about a crooked front tooth. The BridgeWay mental-health hospital, admitting it had wronged a 14-year-old patient who . Melissa Witt was abducted from the parking lot of Bowling World in the evening. Is This Man a Serial Killer? Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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? She said that in 2003 detectives from Missouri went to Illinois to interview Smith, whodenied ever being in Nixa. Georgia said that in the days following Danas disappearance, there were several sighting of her daughter reported to police, but none proved true. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. But she never made it inside. This is a list of notable male murderers who committed their murders in Arkansas, USA. She was very sweet, but timid and scared to death of her boyfriend. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite. No one else has been. No suspect was ever identified. Some theorize she may have been the victim of a local serial killer, "The River Valley Killer.". She wouldn't let her dad wait on that.. The Missing Person Active/Expired Analysis and the Unidentified Person Active/Expired Analysis reports are available upon request. 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. The 2019 Fort Smith crime rate rose by 17% compared to 2018. A homicide can also be cleared if the victim of the crime hinders the prosecution by refusing to testify. 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. If you have any information on the circumstances surrounding Dana Stidhams death, please contact the Benton County Sheriffs Office at (479) 271-1008 or the Bella Vista Police Department at (479) 855-3771 at or via email at info@bellavistaar.gov. 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? Oct. 18, 1981: An officer in Texas stops Pruett for speeding and locates a .38-caliber revolver and evidence from Larimer County. The light is the ghosts lantern used to search for his head. 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 architectural style is predominantly brick-oriented with many people to move, and land is worth in the unsolved murders in arkansas of your license. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. That left us with 26 cities to rank. 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. Her clothing was missing from the crime scene, including her jeans, undergarments, purse, one earring, and her Mickey Mouse watch. On July 25, 1989, Dana went over to her parents house to do some laundry, Georgia said. First-time author Barbara Kemm-Highton spent three years working on herbook. Two boys and two girls went missing from their Oakland County communities, northwest of Detroit, Michigan, and all were found dead within 19 days. Nobody should ever have to lose a child.. William Scott Smith Unemployed cook, Salem, Ore. . MISSING PERSON ENTRY CATEGORIES The massacre inspired the movie "The Town that Dreaded Sundown." Its time she gets answers, Patti Rush, president of REVAMP in Fort Smith, said while referring to the daughter of the missing woman. His name was never released. 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. Arkansas, USA : home: last updates . Manage Settings The only clues left at the scene were a gold hoop earring, a crushed hair clip, her car keys, and pools of blood. On Christmas Day, 1970 a year and 10 days after Blades disappeared her body was found in Stone County, 12 miles away. And give us some information about what they actually told the police department back there in 1979, daughter Nikki Ensey told 5NEWS. In the summer of 1989, she continued to work at the store while figuring out what she wanted to do, Georgia said. 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. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Danas parents lived in Hiwasse, Arkansas, a 10-minute drive from Centerton, and she visited them often, Georgia said. He said it was likely there was more than one assailant because Workman wasstrong. But he was never charged in connection withAnstutz's murder. Arkansas Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries by County. No arrests have been made in connection with her death. Missy's body was nude and placed near a headstone-shaped rock. Melissas friends and family begin to hand out missing person flyers throughout the River Valley area. The following persons have active warrants for their arrest. Pruett would soon confess to prosecutors and the media his guilt . 1995 Alma, Arkansas girl's disappearance featured in crime show on Hulu. However, they still have hope. You Decide. Although the region has its fair share of beauty and wonder, thats not all youll find there. 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. Search dogs were used in the days following Danas disappearance, Sgt. 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. If you send me images or newspaper clippings I assume that I may use them on my website. ", 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.". This was on Dec. 3, 1969 12 days before Blades was abducted and killed. Once inside, the responders found the brutalized bodies of four teenage girls-Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Eliza Thomas. 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. 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. Certain details are withheld due to maintaining the integrity of the case, Sgt. The victim is identified as 35-year-old . This is extremely important in cases involving a possible abduction, suspected foul play or an at-risk situation. Fort Smith murder unsolved after 42 years, family still has hope In 1979, Lois Ensey was abducted while working at J's Night Owl Grocery off Highway 271 in Fort Smith. Feeling bad, her mother left her a note asking her to join her for a burger later at Bowling World. She was found not guilty in 2015. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 (requires payment) at Ancestry/has about 594,000 listings. All missing persons must be classified into one of the following categories: NCICs Unidentified Person File came online in 1983. 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. in Library Science. Tragically, we'll never know who murdered these young men. Download the Uncovered Citizen Detective Guide to learn more about how thoughtful and safe online sleuthing. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Over a month after she went missing, her body was found in the Ozark National Forest. So we knew something happened to her, Danas cousin, Kristy, told Dateline. According to Sgt. She was considering studying business at university. 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. Police called the man a "suspect." More:'I want justice for my father': An investigation into the 1989 death of Ronnie Johnson. Sloane McCaster, a member of Websleuths, an Internet forum of armchair detectives who look into unsolved crimes, met Mercedes at a club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Because of the lack of leads, her murder is now considered to be a cold case. Some, however, have since theorized she was the victim of local serial killer Charles Ray Vine, also known as "The River Valley Killer.". 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. Moody's father Jim wrote a letter about his son that he gave to the media. "We loved him dearly.". An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Both bodies were found in 1989 in different months in different parts of the hugeMark Twain National Forest, an area the size of Delaware. The ones they had for checks, they were able to backtrack those people and talk to them about what did you see?, said Pevehouse. His father, Alex Murdaugh, a local attorney and the son of Randolph Murdaugh III, owns the boat.. Book 2), Oklahoma Author Looking For Answers To Arkansas Cold Case. The Social Security Administration records do not . Thinking their daughter may have had car trouble, Lawrence and Georgia got in their car and drove around to find Dana.
