Unsolved murder of Melissa Witt in 1994. We have had several people tell us she was not getting along at home. 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? Especially at the county levels.". You can download the data here.We must note that this report is not an analysis of the effectiveness of local police departments. Melissa is still not home. Manage Settings Moody's father Jim wrote a letter about his son that he gave to the media. He loved tinkering with cars, being outdoors and being a loyal friend. The day she disappeared Blades was driving the couple's 1965 Chevy Impala. If you want to get cheaper rates on your hand. Once inside, the responders found the brutalized bodies of four teenage girls-Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Eliza Thomas. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. 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. December 1, 1994, was a typical day for Missy. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Both cases remain unsolved. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Both bodies were found in 1989 in different months in different parts of the hugeMark Twain National Forest, an area the size of Delaware. So, we grew up without her basically our whole lives, said Enseys youngest daughter Nikki Ensey. 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. Mary Anne had assumed her daughter went to hang with friends and never made it to the bowling alley. Sure, that's fiction. And we have, every time we getany kind of lead whatsoever, run down that lead. 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. 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. 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. "He was a brave, strong person," his mother told the News-Leader at the time. Christopher Reese's 2014 murder in Notus, Idaho remains unsolved. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Recent job growth is Negative. 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. Lois Ensey left behind a husband and two daughters ages two and four. Ten months after Blades vanished, Sheriff Lamb told the publiche doubted there was a crime. When they find her body, she had been exposed to extreme temperatures, Rush said. He was elected sheriff in 1968; lost in 1972 (some say because of the unsolved Blades murder); and re-elected in 1976 and 1980. is 6.0%). She wouldn't let her dad wait on that.. Photo credit: Kurt Wilson/ Missoulian. Do you live in one of the murder capitals of Arkansas? What haunted locations can I visit in Arkansas? 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. Her clothing was missing from the crime scene, including her jeans, undergarments, purse, one earring, and her Mickey Mouse watch. Denver Post . With over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of hiking trails. 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. In July of 1979, Lois Ensey was abducted while working at J's Night Owl Grocery off Highway 271 in Fort Smith. Little Rock There were no signs of struggle. The court determined that the events were not foreseeable and the case was ultimately dismissed. Feeling bad, her mother left her a note asking her to join her for a burger later at Bowling World. And, they asked, who leaves their clothes in a drier prior to running off? There were 'only' 26 cities in Arkansas where a city reported a murder to the FBI, meaning 36 places had no murder. The rate of crime in Fort Smith is 55.87 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Arkansas is famous for many homeowners. A trail of blood was later found in the parking lot. But she never made it inside. Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas The 10 Murder Capitals Of Arkansas For 2021 1. She parked her car, and before she would even make it inside the bowling alley, investigators believe Missy was abducted from the parking lot. Would you dare investigate what clawed monster lives in the deep? Both girls were 19 at the time of their death, and both were murdered and found in large forests in Arkansas. If she was going to be late, she always called.. The rest of Danas family became alarmed when they still had not heard from her that night. Arkansas law requires all missing persons to be entered immediately. In addition, while incarcerated in Illinois he pleaded guilty in March 1971 to killing Obie Fay Ash, 32, of Cotter, Arkansas. Western Arkansas was also on the circuit of back roads Clyde Barrow used to evade lawmen from other states. 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. It simply states where murders occurred most frequently on an absolute and rate basis. Compare Fort Smith crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. A 19 year old college student disappears in a parking lot. Did The River Valley Killer Kidnap A Teenage Girl From A Bowling Alley Parking Lot And Murder Her? That would be Helena-West Helena with 108.0 murders per 100,000 people. The lawnmowing job was only about one-third complete and her car was still there, with the keys in it. Larry Swearingen was looked at as a person of interest in this case. 1989 murder of Ronnie Johnson of West Plains, Pokin Around: Inspired by a readers question, an investigation into the 1989 murder of Ronnie Johnson, 'I want justice for my father': An investigation into the 1989 death of Ronnie Johnson, Woman, 15 at the time, disputes account that turkey hunters found Ronnie Johnson's body in the woods, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Tragically, we'll never know who murdered these young men. MISSING PERSON ENTRY CATEGORIES WEATHER & CLIMATE The city with highest murder rate in Arkansas? Known as "The Babysitter", this unidentified serial killer is known to have murdered at least four children, possibly more, between 1976 and 1977. Harsent was six months pregnant at the time of her death. 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. Jenkins. And I was lucky enough to have her.. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is requesting your assistance in closing these open cases. Crime in Arkansas. A week later, her body was found some10 miles south of the cemetery and about six miles east of Oldfield, in Christian County. We have never come up with anything positive.". This can be a post about an unsolved homicide, a missing person, an unidentified person, a wrongful conviction, or forensics. No one has ever been charged. For nearly three decades the homicide case of Fort Smith teen Melissa Witt has gone unsolved, but a former detective refuses to give up hope. The most serious crime committed in the state by the Barrow Gang was the murder of Marshal Henry D. Humphrey of Alma (Crawford County), committed while the gang was hiding out in a tourist camp in Fort Smith (Sebastian County) in June 1933. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. Start browsing the folder's contents at the beginning of the file. For more on Vine's crimes, watch "Snapped Notorious: The River Valley Killer.". 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. Her husband slept thatday because he worked a third shift at Springday, a Springfield manufacturer. Her death differed from the attacks on the other three women, though: She was not beaten in the same way. Swamp gas, pressurized quartz crystal, and headlight reflections have been possible explanations. In addition, a homicide can be cleared if there is enough evidence to arrest and charge a suspect, but that suspect is dead. You may also email information to the Detectives, by clicking on the link. Jenkins, skeletal remains were in the grave, and Dana Stidhams clothes were found nearby. It was only her second night on the job and first night alone. Howard County Sheriff's Department. Rancher Ernest Wilhelm discovered her skeletal remains on his farmtwo miles west of Ponce de Leon. 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 . Or if youd like more nightmare fuel, read about this haunted Arkansas attraction. 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. 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. Each of these victims were submitted by families or law enforcement through our submission page. The man told Davis "vigilantes" who suspected him of killing Workman had shot up his mobile home. Arkansas Gravestones has over 1.3 million gravestone photos. FORT SMITH, Ark. Both Rush and Ensey believe police can solve the case. A family is still looking for answers after a Sebastian County womans murder case remains unsolved 42-years later. Blades was 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds. She was very sweet, but timid and scared to death of her boyfriend. But we're certain he got the idea from some of the real life eye witness reports. 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. 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. On July 10, 1995, the News-Leader ran a story by reporter Robert Keyes with the headline "Killing 'solved' but never tried." Smith was also questioned in the 1983 unsolved murder of a 14-year-old girl in Idaho. It could not be determined how she was killed. The suspect had an alibiand police could not disprove it; The widow's eyewitness account didn't persuade Greene County prosecutors to file charges. However, they still have hope. That humming sound one hears is that of healthy baby bears, nursing to their little heart's content. Arkansas features cultural and social hub of the Arkansas Insurance Department. Thinking their daughter may have had car trouble, Lawrence and Georgia got in their car and drove around to find Dana. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'roadsnacks_net-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-roadsnacks_net-medrectangle-3-0');For more reading on the Natural State check out: Population: 10,187Rank Last Year: 8Murders: 11 (4th Most)Murders Per 100k: 108.0 (Most)More on Helena-West Helena: Data|Photos, Population: 198,382Rank Last Year: 1Murders: 38 (Most)Murders Per 100k: 19.2 (6th Most)More on Little Rock: Data|Photos, Population: 13,468Rank Last Year: 6Murders: 10 (5th Most)Murders Per 100k: 74.3 (2nd Most)More on Blytheville: Data|Photos, Population: 66,604Rank Last Year: 23Murders: 12 (3rd Most)Murders Per 100k: 18.0 (7th Most)More on North Little Rock: Data|Photos, Population: 37,263Rank Last Year: 14Murders: 10 (5th Most)Murders Per 100k: 26.8 (5th Most)More on Hot Springs: Data|Photos, Population: 24,442Rank Last Year: 3Murders: 8 (7th Most)Murders Per 100k: 32.7 (4th Most)More on West Memphis: Data|Photos, Population: 78,261Rank Last Year: 22Murders: 13 (2nd Most)Murders Per 100k: 16.6 (10th Most)More on Jonesboro: Data|Photos, Population: 6,653Rank Last Year: 7Murders: 4 (10th Most)Murders Per 100k: 60.1 (3rd Most)More on Osceola: Data|Photos, Population: 23,873Rank Last Year: -Murders: 4 (10th Most)Murders Per 100k: 16.8 (9th Most)More on Searcy: Data|Photos, Population: 17,820Rank Last Year: 4Murders: 3 (13th Most)Murders Per 100k: 16.8 (8th Most)More on El Dorado: Data|Photos. A documentary is being developed to cover Missy's case, and community advocates recently launched a billboard campaign to highlight her unsolved murder. 322 South Main Streeet, Suite 615 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2222 / Visit Website. William Scott Smith Unemployed cook, Salem, Ore. . A trapper, looking for deer sign on A US Forest Service road about 18 miles north of Ozark, noticed Witt's nude body lying face down about 30 years from the road. She suffered a gunshot wound to her head. 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. Immediately making identification information available to the public has proven effective in helping to locate missing children as well as missing adults. Contact. The state has a surprising number of bone chilling tales, from cold cases to urban legends. The monthly statistics are calculated to address the most frequently requested inquiries. Dig deeper into the stories you've heard before, and encounter many others you haven't, in ways that actually help. Melissa Witt was abducted from the parking lot of Bowling World in the evening. 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 . The only clues left at the scene were a gold hoop earring, a crushed hair clip, her car keys, and pools of blood. The unsolved 1989 murder of Ronnie Johnson of West Plainsis but one of many in the Ozarks. The massacre inspired the movie "The Town that Dreaded Sundown." We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. "It took them eight days to find her body. Fort Smith shares its status with Greenwood as the county seat of Sebastian County. 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. There is no waiting period before a person can be entered into the NCIC Missing Person File. But Melissa never came home, and Mary Anne grew worried. Police learn the key witness in the stabbing death of a beloved aunt was an imposter; a return to the crime scene reveals a .