That would be Helena-West Helena with 108.0 murders per 100,000 people. 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 . There were no signs of struggle. The cause of death is listed as"homicidal violence.". She was running low on money, she was going to come out and have her mother buy her a hamburger. 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. All rights reserved. Interactive map produced by Yutao Chen. And we have, every time we getany kind of lead whatsoever, run down that lead. The murder of two grandparents tears a family apart; two decades later, a detective races to solve the cold case that has haunted him since he was a child. It is our seventh time ranking the most places with the most murders per capita in Arkansas and is updated for 2021. Taxes and utilities also rank low on the national scale allowing those searching for dens in early October and early November. 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. Both Rush and Ensey believe police can solve the case. Little Rock: 56 | North Little Rock: 23. We have had several people tell us she was not getting along at home. 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. The body was discovered by a Conco employee. By James Pletcher Jr. Jul 25, 2013 . 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. 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. 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. "I kind of bonded with her. 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. Drugs is a possibility. No circumstance has a more devastating effect on a family than the unknown whereabouts of a loved one. There also was a younger male voice, also with a really strong Southern accent. According to Sgt. Recent job growth is Negative. His name was never released. Western Arkansas was also on the circuit of back roads Clyde Barrow used to evade lawmen from other states. If you need a pleasant palate cleanser, try touring this cider mill. Its illegal to hunt "Whitey" within the protected land. It was only her second night on the job and first night alone. They denied ever suggesting Lamb was involvedbut stood firm in their belief Lamb was incompetent as a criminal investigator. Sheapparently died within hours of when she vanished, probably in the early hours of Saturday, July 1, 1989. 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. On Christmas Day, 1970 a year and 10 days after Blades disappeared her body was found in Stone County, 12 miles away. They called around to family members and Danas friends, but no one had heard from her that day. Join a singles club and meet with great singles. Soon after the shooting, the suspect went to prison for two years for other burglary convictions. Early in the history of Arkansas and the city, Fort Smith was an important point of contact to the American West. The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) receives monthly NCIC reports concerning the Missing and Unidentified Person files. He was described as 5 feet 9 or 10 inches tall, a white man with a dark complexion andblack hair combed back. The man told Davis "vigilantes" who suspected him of killing Workman had shot up his mobile home. If you want to get cheaper rates on your hand. 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 body wasdecomposed. A trail of blood was later found in the parking lot. 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 . SHARES. Arkansas Crime Information Center. 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? 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. Connect with Never Forgotten If you have any possible . It's been nearly 30 years since Pam Felkins was kidnapped from her job at an Arkansas video store, raped and then murdered -- but . At that point in the investigation, there was no reason to believe she was abducted. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The following persons have active warrants for their arrest. She was a 1967 graduate of Nixa High and her maiden name was Horton. But Mary Ann knew this was out of character for Melissa. It's been over 20 years and people are still looking for answers in the murder of Arkansas teenager, Melissa Witt. 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. Especially at the county levels.". 322 South Main Streeet, Suite 615 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2222 / Visit Website. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. It could not be determined how she was killed. 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. He weighed anestimated150 to 160 pounds. 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. 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. The massacre inspired the movie "The Town that Dreaded Sundown." ", 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, however, only applies to their own. The light is the ghosts lantern used to search for his head. Ive always felt that the phone call was tied to what had happened, Rider said. First-time author Barbara Kemm-Highton spent three years working on herbook. Over a month after she went missing, her body was found in the Ozark National Forest. However, they still have hope. 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 . FORT SMITH, Ark. I feel rape was the motive I think she was big and strong enough to fight them and they probably strangled her and then dumped her.". Went to the store, and people said that she had been there and bought what she needed and left, Georgia said. Submit Your Loved One. You Decide. Denver Post . The officer told Mary Ann that since Melissa is over 18, she can leave on her own accord. 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. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Fort Smith Police Department. A friend of the family found the keys to the Chevy Impala in the field the man ran across. So we knew something happened to her, Danas cousin, Kristy, told Dateline. Some theorize she may have been the victim of a local serial killer, "The River Valley Killer.". On July 10, 1995, the News-Leader ran a story by reporter Robert Keyes with the headline "Killing 'solved' but never tried." Some, however, have since theorized she was the victim of local serial killer Charles Ray Vine, also known as "The River Valley Killer.". You just cant accept that your child is gone. 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. She was just the kind of daughter people wish they had. There is no required waiting period to report a missing person. 1. The day she disappeared Blades was driving the couple's 1965 Chevy Impala. The legend is that a railroad workers head was severed by an oncoming train. Lamb also told the paper it was best that the case be forgotten. A kind stranger came along and gave her a jump 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 . . 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. 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. The murders of Greg Collins, Daniel Bearden, James Milan, Jordan Kettleson, and Mike Samples remain unsolved. Mary Ann calls Melissa's best friend, Tara to see if she has heard from Melissa. A mother's 30-year missions to uncover the truth about what happened to her son's in 1987 has led a federal judge to order an urgent review of several tightly guarded government . He chose not to cooperate and therefore remains a suspect in this murder. At that point there was no reason to believe she was abducted. The monthly statistics are calculated to address the most frequently requested inquiries. A 19 year old college student disappears in a parking lot. Six people were on board the boat at the time of the crash, including 19-year-old Paul T. Murdaugh. It's been over 20 years and people are still looking for answers in the murder of Arkansas teenager, Melissa Witt. Friday, March 17th TV listings for MNT (KFSM-TV2) Fort Smith, AR. The Missing Person Active/Expired Analysis and the Unidentified Person Active/Expired Analysis reports are available upon request. That caused him to jerk the coat down. Harsent was six months pregnant at the time of her death. When a crime happens, and you dont know who the other party is. 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. Case of Missing Person: Nona Jean Young (Coleman) W/F, 02-26-51 . 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. 1995 Alma, Arkansas girl's disappearance featured in crime show on Hulu. She was considering studying business at university. Missy kept very busy with classes and her part-time job at a local dental clinic where she worked as a dental assistant. 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. "Since her death in 1989 our family has reached out to the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation on numerous occasions," he said. Melissa Witt was a hardworking and ambitious, 19-year-old college student. FORT SMITH, Ark. Melissa Witt was killed in Arkansas in 1994. ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) In 2020, Fayetteville has had seven homicides/murders; there were five in 2019, according to the Fayetteville police department (FPD). 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. Records in the Missing Person File are retained indefinitely or until the individual is located or the record is canceled by the entering agency. Dana agreed to run out for her father and left the home to make the four-mile drive in her grey Dodge Omni around 3:00 p.m. Georgia said she got home after work around 4:00 p.m., and Lawrence told her Dana had not yet returned. On November 6, 2001, at approximately 11:00 AM, a woman arrived for an appointment at the Hair Gallery, located in Florence, Montana. At approximately 7:45 PM, a person found Melissa's car keys and turned them in at the front desk at Bowling World. And I was lucky enough to have her.. 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 . READ MORE 5. Known as "The Babysitter", this unidentified serial killer is known to have murdered at least four children, possibly more, between 1976 and 1977. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Our Cases. For some strange reason no one volunteered to climb down to see what pulled the rope. A patron had discovered her car keys and turned them in the night Witt disappeared. With so many things you can choose from. Kristy said her family was struck with fear for what happened to Dana after that. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 1. The rate of crime in Fort Smith is 55.87 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Resources. 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. Although the case may be cold, the Fort Smith police are still welcoming any information concerning the case. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Thinking their daughter may have had car trouble, Lawrence and Georgia got in their car and drove around to find Dana. 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. Would you dare investigate what clawed monster lives in the deep? They questioned him. Both tried to interview witnesses, but they could only speak with certain people. She was really sweet, everybody liked her, she was friends with everybody.. Between 6:30-7 pm, after class and work, Missy went to the same bowling alley that her mother had mentioned in her note. Any ties went to the larger city. Danas parents lived in Hiwasse, Arkansas, a 10-minute drive from Centerton, and she visited them often, Georgia said. The Oakland County Child Killer. 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. Records are retained indefinitely, unless removed by the entering agency. A week later, her body was found some10 miles south of the cemetery and about six miles east of Oldfield, in Christian County. 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. 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. Jenkins, skeletal remains were in the grave, and Dana Stidhams clothes were found nearby. We all know she was really responsible, and she knew her dad was waiting on the medicine. Arkansas features cultural and social hub of the Arkansas Insurance Department. 5 The Florence Salon Murders. 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. Both girls were 19 at the time of their death, and both were murdered and found in large forests in Arkansas. Mark Alan SMITH: 1966 - 1970: 4 - 12: Arkansas, USA : Richard Wayne SNELL: 1983 / 1984: 2: Arkansas, USA . Although not officially a suspect in any Washington . Melissa is still not home. You can download the data here. 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. Mary Anne had assumed her daughter went to hang with friends and never made it to the bowling alley. During the school year, Dana had been working after school and on weekends at Harps Food Store in Bella Vista, Arkansas. The suspect had an alibiand police could not disprove it; The widow's eyewitness account didn't persuade Greene County prosecutors to file charges. "It took them eight days to find her body. Specifically, we analyzed the FBI's Uniform Crime Report which summarizes the number of murders that may happen in each city per year. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke rising from a yogurt shop on West Anderson Lane. RELATED: Details About The Murder Of Arkansas Teen Dana Stidham And Why Police Have Yet To Find Her Killer Alabama. Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. Oct. 18, 1981: An officer in Texas stops Pruett for speeding and locates a .38-caliber revolver and evidence from Larimer County. She wouldn't let her dad wait on that.. The lawnmowing job was only about one-third complete and her car was still there, with the keys in it. If you have information on their whereabouts, please contact the Detective Division at (479) 709-5116 . We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. Though the fourth boy, Nils Wilhelm Gustafsson, survived the attack and lead a relatively normal life, he became a suspect in 2004. From mafia to monsters, check out these 10 unsolved mysteries in Arkansas. In the summer of 1989, she continued to work at the store while figuring out what she wanted to do, Georgia said. So, we grew up without her basically our whole lives, said Enseys youngest daughter Nikki Ensey. Home > Crime Info & Support > Crime Information Center > Community Information > Missing Persons Information. The number of homicides stood at 4 - a decrease of 5 compared to 2018. People who live in Fort Smith generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest. 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. The FBI considers eyewitness identification notoriously unreliable, the story stated. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. is 6.0%). 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. William Scott Smith Unemployed cook, Salem, Ore. . IE 11 is not supported. The three people at the time thought nothing of seeing theman dash across the field until they learned Blades was missing and her car was the one they had seenabandoned along Highway 160. Two people witness Melissa's abduction. Melissa is pronounced deceased. In Arkansas you also have added to the unsolved murders in arkansas an unusual place to visit. There is no waiting period before a person can be entered into the NCIC Missing Person File. 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. Arkansas area. Arkansas Gravestones has over 1.3 million gravestone photos. You may also email information to the Detectives, by clicking on the link. 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. No suspect was ever identified. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks. Is This Man a Serial Killer? Nobody should ever have to lose a child.. And even the victim and the victims loved ones dont know who the other party iswe normally draw these dead ends, Pevehouse said. This move prompts an interesting discussion about the rights and preservation of potential fantastical threats. Your anonymous call could lead to a $1,000 reward. MISSING PERSON ENTRY CATEGORIES in Library Science. If you have information on any of the persons . The body was found on Forest Service Road 1551, located off Franklin County 111, also known as Jethro Road. Her husband slept thatday because he worked a third shift at Springday, a Springfield manufacturer. 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.