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. Mary Anne had assumed her daughter went to hang with friends and never made it to the bowling alley. If you have any information, you can call the River Valley crime stoppers at (479)-78-CRIME. Steve Hamilton was a Springfield police lieutenant at the time. Photo credit: Kurt Wilson/ Missoulian. OPEN/ UNSOLVED CASES . "We loved him dearly.". 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. He weighed anestimated150 to 160 pounds. 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. 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. Both Rush and Ensey believe police can solve the case. Join a singles club and meet with great singles. But one suspect is alive and living in an Illinois prison. DNA evidence then connected him to the other crimes. I've stood in the same parking lot where Melissa went missing. She was running low on money, she was going to come out and have her mother buy her a hamburger. Example video title will go here for this video. Moody's father Jim wrote a letter about his son that he gave to the media. RELATED: Detective believes 1995 murder of Arkansas teen could be tied to another case, RELATED: Alma Police receive hundreds of tips since 'Still Missing Morgan' documentary aired. 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. 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. It was only after the car was impounded, some three days later, that it was dusted.". Who killed Missy Witt? The suspect apparently was spotted soon after the murder. When a crime happens, and you dont know who the other party is. I don't want to go to my grave not knowing, she told Dateline. Some theorize she may have been the victim of a local serial killer, "The River Valley Killer.". 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 . *This list consists of persons who have been reported missing to the Department of Public Safety under undetermined circumstances. The Social Security Administration records do not . 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. Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. Two people witness Melissa's abduction. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. The cases. When she entered the salon, she first saw the corpse of 62-year-old Dorothy Harris. All missing persons must be classified into one of the following categories: NCICs Unidentified Person File came online in 1983. 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. 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. They also tried search warrants and subpoenas for information but had no luck. The body was found on Forest Service Road 1551, located off Franklin County 111, also known as Jethro Road. FORT SMITH, Ark. Crime in Arkansas. Blades' husband, Larry, and her parents Louis and Geraldine Horton took issue with the sheriff's comments. Turner retired from law enforcement in 2020 after nearly 24 years with the Ozark Police Department. She was found not guilty in 2015. Especially at the county levels.". With over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of hiking trails. You can find the link in the menu bar. The city with highest murder rate in Arkansas? That humming sound one hears is that of healthy baby bears, nursing to their little heart's content. The murders remain unsolved. However, Missy's clothes and personal belongings were missing from the scene and were never found. Arkansas Gravestones has over 1.3 million gravestone photos. On Christmas Day, 1970 a year and 10 days after Blades disappeared her body was found in Stone County, 12 miles away. It was described in news storiesas "torn up." OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Despite various theories, the case remains unsolved. JC Rider, a retired Fort Smith Police Department detective, said investigators believe Witt was struck in the head and then kidnapped. Recent job growth is Negative. There is no required waiting period to report a missing person. Shedid. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name Results: 13 Record (s) Found. Submit Your Loved One. An unclesaw her mowing at 5:40 p.m.; her absence was noticed at about 6:15 p.m. 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. They died never knowing what happened to Dana. 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. 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. 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. It could not be determined how she was killed. Her daughters are now 44 and 46. The National Crime Information Center's (NCIC's) Missing Person File was implemented in 1975. When her shift ended, her car wouldnt start. These are the places in Arkansas where people were killed most often, according to the latest FBI numbers. Details About Her Unsolved Murder And Why Police Haven't Caught The Killer. In Arkansas you also have added to the unsolved murders in arkansas an unusual place to visit. Georgia said that this was strange behavior from Dana. Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. The 25-year-old store clerk child was gunned down in an overnight robbery. He said it was likely there was more than one assailant because Workman wasstrong. No one noticed the blood splatter on her keys at the time. From mafia to monsters, check out these 10 unsolved mysteries in Arkansas. Howard County Sheriff's Department. 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. Dana had been very well-liked, her cousin Kristy said she didnt have any problems with anyone. 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. No one else has been. The unemployment rate in Fort Smith is 4.6% (U.S. avg. Arkansas Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries by County. After stopping at the store, Blades went to a Nixa laundromat. The two masked killers used a handcart to wheel the store safe out of the building and fled in Reese's car. Witt disappeared after arriving at Bowling World in Fort Smith on December 1, 1994. I can't stop thinking about this case because it's from my home town. At that point in the investigation, there was no reason to believe she was abducted. The rate of crime in Fort Smith is 55.87 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. In addition, while incarcerated in Illinois he pleaded guilty in March 1971 to killing Obie Fay Ash, 32, of Cotter, Arkansas. The FBI estimates the national clearance rate for murders is 61 percent. Mary Ann calls Melissa's best friend, Tara to see if she has heard from Melissa. The FBI considers eyewitness identification notoriously unreliable, the story stated. His name was never released. A week later, her body was found some10 miles south of the cemetery and about six miles east of Oldfield, in Christian County. A family is still looking for answers after a Sebastian County womans murder case remains unsolved 42-years later. Harsent was six months pregnant at the time of her death. 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. If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already. That left us with 26 cities to rank. She was a 1967 graduate of Nixa High and her maiden name was Horton. 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. 1. If you want to get cheaper rates on your hand. Unsolved Murders. The cause of death is listed as"homicidal violence.". There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the people who killed . She was very sweet, but timid and scared to death of her boyfriend. Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Biologist in the unsolved murders in arkansas to 2006. She reported her daughter missing. Your anonymous call could lead to a $1,000 reward. The only clues left at the scene were a gold hoop earring, a crushed hair clip, her car keys, and pools of blood. That would be Helena-West Helena with 108.0 murders per 100,000 people. 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 Arkansas, Texas & Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Records were contacted in an attempt to locate a death certificate for Nona Young. Once inside, the responders found the brutalized bodies of four teenage girls-Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Eliza Thomas. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite. Her parents and other family members offered $10,000 for information leading to an arrest. No suspect was ever identified. 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. Georgia dreads that outcome. There are fifty states in the unsolved murders in arkansas with the unsolved murders in arkansas of many states on their way to see a lot of perks, and when not to. 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. She parked her car, and before she would even make it inside the bowling alley, investigators believe Missy was abducted from the parking lot. Fort Smith jobs have decreased by 1.6%. The real mystery is why it took so long for someone to decide "hey maybe we should bury this guy.". 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. No suspect was ever identified. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is requesting your assistance in closing these open cases. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Melissa's mother assumed that her daughter was with friends that evening. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Project: Cold Case is a not-for-profit organization with an ambitious goal of publicizing all unsolved homicides in the United States while linking information, families, and law enforcement, and ultimately, helping to solve cold cases. Interactive map produced by Yutao Chen. An autopsy could not determine cause of death; she was not shot and apparently was not raped. Tragically, we'll never know who murdered these young men. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Fort Smith Police Department. 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. Melissa Witt was abducted from the parking lot of Bowling World in the evening. Jenkins, skeletal remains were in the grave, and Dana Stidhams clothes were found nearby. She wouldn't let her dad wait on that.. Certain details are withheld due to maintaining the integrity of the case, Sgt. He was elected sheriff in 1968; lost in 1972 (some say because of the unsolved Blades murder); and re-elected in 1976 and 1980. Her mother declined to give it to her. We have had several people tell us she was not getting along at home. Although the region has its fair share of beauty and wonder, thats not all youll find there. More Cost of Living or Compare Fort Smith's Cost of Living. Smith was also questioned in the 1983 unsolved murder of a 14-year-old girl in Idaho. His father, Alex Murdaugh, a local attorney and the son of Randolph Murdaugh III, owns the boat.. "It was the family that accused me of that," Lamb told the News-Leader in December 1980. 6) Morton S. ROSENFELD (79C-083) LCSO-79-5249 DOD: 05/19/1979 . It is our seventh time ranking the most places with the most murders per capita in Arkansas and is updated for 2021. Lifestyle is a possibility that may play a role in his death.". Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City, OK The West Memphis Three: Arkansas's most controversial murder case involves three men who were tried and convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three eight-year old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers) in West Memphis, Arkansas. Anyone with information that can help solve this case is asked to call the Cold Case Squad at 816-234-5136. It's been nearly 30 years since Pam Felkins was kidnapped from her job at an Arkansas video store, raped and then murdered -- but . Is This Man a Serial Killer? If you have any updates in any of these cases please contact me. Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas The 10 Murder Capitals Of Arkansas For 2021 1. FORT SMITH, Ark. And even the victim and the victims loved ones dont know who the other party iswe normally draw these dead ends, Pevehouse said. There was not one sign of foul play, he said. Both tried to interview witnesses, but they could only speak with certain people. Danas father passed away 10 years after his daughter was killed. No arrests have been made in connection with her death. Her body was found a year later in the Ozark Mountains by trappers. Her car was found in the parking lot, but she was nowhere to be seen. Murder! The lawnmowing job was only about one-third complete and her car was still there, with the keys in it. 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. 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! 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? Timmons already had a kidnapping conviction on his record, having abducted and held an 11-year-old boy in 1976, KYTV reported. Law enforcement agencies should be contacted without delay. "He was a brave, strong person," his mother told the News-Leader at the time. 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. Swearingen denied murdering Missy Witt and was executed on January 27, 2009, for Melissa Trotter's murder. We only looked every single city in Arkansas for which FBI data was available for the most recent FBI Crime In The United States. Morning:Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS). 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. Larry Swearingen was looked at as a person of interest in this case. 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.