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. COST OF LIVING Compared to the rest of the country, Fort Smith's cost of living is 25.0% lower than the U.S. average. Records in the Missing Person File are retained indefinitely or until the individual is located or the record is canceled by the entering agency. No circumstance has a more devastating effect on a family than the unknown whereabouts of a loved one. She was found not guilty in 2015. At that point there was no reason to believe she was abducted. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Fort Smith is 1 in 90 and property crime is 1 in 18. Serial killer Mark Alan Smith was sentenced to 500 years for raping and killing threeIllinois women. Murderpedia . You can download the data here. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. Ron Davis, the reporter, interviewed one of them. Join a singles club and meet with great singles. "It took them eight days to find her body. In 1979, the Fort Smith Police Department and the Sebastian County Sheriffs Office joined together to work on the case. The BridgeWay mental-health hospital, admitting it had wronged a 14-year-old patient who . It could not be determined how she was killed. 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. WEATHER & CLIMATE JC Rider, a retired Fort Smith Police Department detective, said investigators believe Witt was struck in the head and then kidnapped. According to science fiction writer Richard Shaver, the cave is one of the entrances to a subterranean civilization. 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. About. Man arrested in 2004 Arkansas murder case - KHBS 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,. Melissa is pronounced deceased. 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. The victim is identified as 35-year-old . 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. Archive statistics are available upon request. The cases. Mary Anne had assumed her daughter went to hang with friends and never made it to the bowling alley. These are the places in Arkansas where people were killed most often, according to the latest FBI numbers. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. Katherine Baker Case Report Number: 90-053018 It simply states where murders occurred most frequently on an absolute and rate basis. 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. Friday, March 17th TV listings for MNT (KFSM-TV2) Fort Smith, AR. 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 Bizarre History of a Long-Unsolved Murder - Blogger Smith has also confessed to killing several women while a U.S. Marine in West Germanyin the 1960s. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Hurrying to the scene, deputies found a bloody 1961 Ford with bullet holes in it. This, however, only applies to their own. It is now home to large manufacturing plants; St. Edward Mercy Medical Center and Sparks Regional Medical Center, which provide healthcare to residents beyond the confines of the city; and the . 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. 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 one has ever been charged. Melissa Witt was killed in Arkansas in 1994. The keys were still in the ignition. Vine's disturbing and vicious rape and killing spree is further explored in theOxygenspecial "Snapped Notorious: The River Valley Killer." Did The River Valley Killer Kidnap A Teenage Girl From A Bowling Alley Parking Lot And Murder Her? Here's what is known about them SABRINA LYNN UNDERWOOD:. Smith confessed that he raped Ash and stabbed her to death at theTV repair shop where he worked in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Who killed Missy Witt? Records are retained indefinitely, unless removed by the entering agency. Both Rush and Ensey believe police can solve the case. In 1973, legislation created the White River Monster Refuge. Missy's body was nude and placed near a headstone-shaped rock. Though the fourth boy, Nils Wilhelm Gustafsson, survived the attack and lead a relatively normal life, he became a suspect in 2004. News-Sentinel.com - Fort Wayne Texarkana Moonlight Murders - Wikipedia Murder! The suspect had an alibiand police could not disprove it; The widow's eyewitness account didn't persuade Greene County prosecutors to file charges. Amy Anstutz saw the burglar in the house. IE 11 is not supported. More:'I want justice for my father': An investigation into the 1989 death of Ronnie Johnson. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. There were no signs of struggle. The many faces -- and places -- of murder suspect Travis Couch, Fort Smith Police Putting Fresh Set of Eyes on 1994 Murder Investigation, Death Row Inmate Sought for Questioning In Melissa Witts Murder, Murder, Kidnapping Frustrating Cases for Law, Melissa Witts Body Found 22 Years Ago; Investigation Still Open, Cold Case: The Murder of Melissa "Missy" Witt, Wal-Mart to Dedicate Their Missing Persons Board To Melissa Witt, Fort Smith Teen's Body Found Near Turner Bend. Melissa Witt was abducted from a bowling alley parking lot in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1994. Workman was 6 feet tall and 135 pounds. The court determined that the events were not foreseeable and the case was ultimately dismissed. Six people were on board the boat at the time of the crash, including 19-year-old Paul T. Murdaugh. For some strange reason no one volunteered to climb down to see what pulled the rope. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. Case of Missing Person: Nona Jean Young (Coleman) W/F, 02-26-51 . 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. She had accidentally left something on, and the battery was dead. 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. Although not officially a suspect in any Washington . Soon after she disappeared, the car was discovered about a quarter-milefrom the laundromat. The Social Security Administration records do not . If you have any possible . 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 . Jenkins, skeletal remains were in the grave, and Dana Stidhams clothes were found nearby. "They was just looking for anything to say, they was all upset.". Above the railroad tracks near Gurdon, a mysterious floating light has been spotted. Fort Smith Police Department - Public Awareness - Most Wanted 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. Despite various theories, the case remains unsolved. Evening:Melissa arrives at Bowling World to have dinner with her mother but never makes it inside. Vine himself repeatedly denied having anything to do with Witt's murder, even after his conviction, local outlet Today In Fort Smith reported in 2020. 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. 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. Nobody should ever have to lose a child.. There was not one sign of foul play, he said. Morning:Melissa goes to classes at Westark Community College, now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS). A documentary is being developed to cover Missy's case, and community advocates recently launched a billboard campaign to highlight her unsolved murder. Murdered: Melissa Witt | Fort Smith, AR | Uncovered Western Arkansas was also on the circuit of back roads Clyde Barrow used to evade lawmen from other states. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's last year of reporting. Jenkins told Dateline. We were very young. The Oakland County Child Killer. Police learn the key witness in the stabbing death of a beloved aunt was an imposter; a return to the crime scene reveals a . If you need a pleasant palate cleanser, try touring this cider mill. Ten months after Blades vanished, Sheriff Lamb told the publiche doubted there was a crime. Suspect identified in cold case kidnapping, rape, murder of Arkansas 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 . Missy kept very busy with classes and her part-time job at a local dental clinic where she worked as a dental assistant. During the school year, Dana had been working after school and on weekends at Harps Food Store in Bella Vista, Arkansas. If a manila folder image appears, this means you are at the beginning of the case file. He ran into a grove of trees anda limb struck hisface. FORT SMITH, Ark. We were robbed of her wisdom and just her life in general.. Police ruled Danas death a homicide, but would not confirm the exact cause of death. 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. All rights reserved. Melissa's mother, Mary Anne passes away. Fort Myers unsolved murders: 9 SWFL cold cases from the 1990s 'Cold Justice' Murder Cases Solved: Cynthia Smith And More | Crime News 1995 Alma, Arkansas girl's disappearance featured in crime show on Hulu. I've stood in the same parking lot where Melissa went missing. Submit Your Loved One. 10 Worst Unsolved Mass Murders In US History - Listverse If you have any information, you can call the River Valley crime stoppers at (479)-78-CRIME. Unsolved Cases - Howard County Sheriff AR A family is still looking for answers after a Sebastian County womans murder case remains unsolved 42-years later. Over a month after she went missing, her body was found in the Ozark National Forest. 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. On December 6, 1991, Austin, Texas was shell-shocked by a vicious crime. Immediately making identification information available to the public has proven effective in helping to locate missing children as well as missing adults. Crime News in Fort Smith, AR | Southwest Times Record Specifically, we analyzed the FBI's Uniform Crime Report which summarizes the number of murders that may happen in each city per year. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! All missing persons must be classified into one of the following categories: NCICs Unidentified Person File came online in 1983. Gun sales shot up for a time, and sales of alarm systems and guard dogs also rose as the murders went unsolved . 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. He was described as 5 feet 9 or 10 inches tall, a white man with a dark complexion andblack hair combed back. Arkansas killer gets life term And we have, every time we getany kind of lead whatsoever, run down that lead. In Arkansas you also have added to the unsolved murders in arkansas an unusual place to visit. But he was never charged in connection withAnstutz's murder. Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Biologist in the unsolved murders in arkansas to 2006. PDF National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City, OK Her friends say she was friendly, kind-hearted, and a hard worker, which would serve her well as she dreamed of and was working toward her goal of becoming a dental hygienist. We understand if you have trouble getting to sleep tonight, these unsolved mysteries certainly shook us to the core. Missing Persons Information - Arkansas Department of Public Safety We only looked every single city in Arkansas for which FBI data was available for the most recent FBI Crime In The United States. No arrests have been made in connection with her death. The ones they had for checks, they were able to backtrack those people and talk to them about what did you see?, said Pevehouse. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Dana's brother died in 2015. No answers 29 years after murder of Arkansas teen Dana Stidham - NBC News Home > Crime Info & Support > Crime Information Center > Community Information > Missing Persons Information. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Melissa is still not home. Two boys and two girls went missing from their Oakland County communities, northwest of Detroit, Michigan, and all were found dead within 19 days. Of particular interest to Missouri investigators is that Smith raped and stabbed to death anIllinois woman named Jean Bianchi, a 27-year-old housewife. 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. 1. First-time author Barbara Kemm-Highton spent three years working on herbook. Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock Steven Fisher, 20, and his girlfriend Melisa Gregory, 17, were bludgeoned to death on a ranch northwest of Newton, Iowa, in 1983. In 1999, high school seniors J.B. Hilton Green Beasley and Tracie Jean . Anyone with information that can help solve this case is asked to call the Cold Case Squad at 816-234-5136. Unsolved Murders. There were 'only' 26 cities in Arkansas where a city reported a murder to the FBI, meaning 36 places had no murder. 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. Jenkins told Dateline. When she entered the salon, she first saw the corpse of 62-year-old Dorothy Harris. She was 75 years old. She was shy and didn't like to smile much; she was self-conscious about a crooked front tooth. The clothes she brought to the laundromat were in a drier when she was reporting missing that evening. Known as "The Babysitter", this unidentified serial killer is known to have murdered at least four children, possibly more, between 1976 and 1977. The monthly statistics are calculated to address the most frequently requested inquiries. 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. 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. The light is the ghosts lantern used to search for his head. She reported her daughter missing. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Contact. Certain details are withheld due to maintaining the integrity of the case, Sgt. In December 1977 a man was arrested in connection to the death and questioned. Kelle Ann Workman, 24, was last seen June 30, 1989, while mowing grass at Dogwood Cemetery, outside Pleasant Ridge Southern Baptist Churchat Highways 14 and Z. ", Dave Bowden, a corporal with Springfield police at the time, said in a news release:"Physical evidence gathered at and near the scene will be examined over the next several days to determine if the suspect can be linked to the crime. "He was a brave, strong person," his mother told the News-Leader at the time. 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. That would be Helena-West Helena with 108.0 murders per 100,000 people. 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. Connect with Never Forgotten They also tried search warrants and subpoenas for information but had no luck. 2023 www.news-leader.com. Compare Fort Smith crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. All charges were dropped in 2005. William Miller is a member of that group. 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. 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. Melissa's memorial service is held at the Grand Avenue Baptist Church followed by a burial at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetary under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home, 10:00 am:Wal-Mart dedicates their missing persons board to Melissa Witt. 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. Asking for witnesses who might have seen anything, no matter how small, to speak up. All rights reserved. Recent job growth is Negative. Cold Case Unsolved Homicides Kristy told Dateline she and Dana were especially close since they were only a year apart. The murders of Greg Collins, Daniel Bearden, James Milan, Jordan Kettleson, and Mike Samples remain unsolved. Spiro man shot by law officers in eastern Oklahoma Fort Smith gunsmith arrested in Austin, Texas on federal charge FBI continues manhunt for Fort Smith fugitive Police release name of man shot and killed Friday in north Fort Smith Fort Smith man with ties to Pakistan . Westark Community College/University Of Arkansas, Afternoon:Melissa has lunch with a friend, She met her friend at Chick-fil-A which was just down the road from the college, Afternoon:Melissa works at the dentist office in the afternoon, She was employed part time as a dental assistant, 5:00 PM:Melissa's car doesn't start after leaving work. But Mary Ann knew this was out of character for Melissa. 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. A patron had discovered her car keys and turned them in the night Witt disappeared. Catching a killer: Shootings stir up memories of '81 murders Heultimately raped and murdered two elderly women in the River Valley, Arkansas area: Juanita Wofford in 1993, and Ruth Henderson in 1995. The police looked at the good samaritan very closely before dismissing him as a suspect. Danas personal belongings, however, were not inside the car. 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. On July 25, 1989, Dana went over to her parents house to do some laundry, Georgia said. Your anonymous call could lead to a $1,000 reward. That summer, Dana spent some time living with her cousin, Kristy Smith, before moving into a different apartment with her brother, Larry, and a roommate in Centerton, Arkansas. She was really sweet, everybody liked her, she was friends with everybody.. Image. There is no waiting period before a person can be entered into the NCIC Missing Person File. There are fifty states in the unsolved murders in arkansas of the unsolved murders in arkansas of Arkansas insists that all policy holders have a long and rich history and should not be disappointed. Murder of Arkansas woman still unsolved nearly 30 years later - KTHV Kentucky detective investigating possible connection between 2011 - MSN Three people in a vehicle spotted the Blades' car as it pulled off of northbound Highway 160 onto the shoulder; a man, possibly the killer,exited the passenger side. Lambblamed the Blades family for starting rumors that he was involved in the murder. The city with highest murder rate in Arkansas? Crime in Arkansas - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Two Hunters Person With Information / Witness, Larry SwearingenPerson With Information / Witness, Travis Dale CrouchPerson With Information / Witness, Unnamed older woman and younger manPerson With Information / Witness, Charles Ray VinesPerson With Information / Witness, Douglas Lawrence LoganPerson With Information / Witness, William Dillard TaylorPerson With Information / Witness, Tara LimbirdFriend / Acquaintance of Victim, Morning:Melissa and her mother have a disagreement over money. The officer told Mary Ann that since Melissa is over 18, she can leave on her own accord. 6) Morton S. ROSENFELD (79C-083) LCSO-79-5249 DOD: 05/19/1979 . You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website. Police called the man a "suspect." The body wasdecomposed. Do you feel thoroughly thrilled and chilled? 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. When a crime happens, and you dont know who the other party is. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Murder! 18 unsolved slayings in this area in five years He was convicted of the murder of Melissa Trotter who was killed in a very similar manner as Missy. Resources. 50 creepiest unsolved crime cases that will shake you to the core! Some theorize she may have been the victim of a local serial killer, "The River Valley Killer.". Denver Post . Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Fort Smith, AR: Crime Maps and OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Her logic is that since Smith admitted other slayings he would have admitted this one, as well, if he did it. A CLOSER LOOK: 4 Arkansas missing person cases. Gone but not forgotten It is our seventh time ranking the most places with the most murders per capita in Arkansas and is updated for 2021. Her husband slept thatday because he worked a third shift at Springday, a Springfield manufacturer. Mark Alan SMITH: 1966 - 1970: 4 - 12: Arkansas, USA : Richard Wayne SNELL: 1983 / 1984: 2: Arkansas, USA . Sheapparently died within hours of when she vanished, probably in the early hours of Saturday, July 1, 1989. An old wives tale is one thing, but once physical evidence gets involved these stories become especially chilling. The most notorious unsolved crime in every state - Insider The 1998 murder of John Alan Moody is one of 10 unsolved cold cases listed on the Springfield Police Department website. The National Crime Information Centers (NCICs) Missing Person File was implemented in 1975. Unsolved Ozarks murders include woman last seen mowing cemetery Get more stories delivered right to your email. Georgia said that in the days following Danas disappearance, there were several sighting of her daughter reported to police, but none proved true. Christopher Reese's 2014 murder in Notus, Idaho remains unsolved. This move prompts an interesting discussion about the rights and preservation of potential fantastical threats. When her shift ended, her car wouldnt start. Thinking their daughter may have had car trouble, Lawrence and Georgia got in their car and drove around to find Dana. Fort Smith, Arkansas: 3 dead and police officer stabbed in the neck - CNN Moody's father Jim wrote a letter about his son that he gave to the media. Although the case may be cold, the Fort Smith police are still welcoming any information concerning the case. Judge To Review Clinton 1987 Murder Of 2 Arkansas Boys - News Punch
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