# The Cigarette Butt: Solving the Tonya McKinley Murder

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/forensic-files-unsealed-6989771/the-cigarette-butt-solving-the-tonya-mckinley-murder.md
Podcast: [Forensic Files Unsealed](https://stenobird.com/podcast/forensic-files-unsealed-6989771)
Published: 2026-09-19T04:23:34+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cigarette-butt-solving-the-tonya-mckinley-murder--75229064
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/75229064/dna_finally_catches_tonya_mckinley_s_killer.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2574

## Resource

This episode details the 1985 cold case murder of Tonya McKinley in Pensacola, Florida, which remained unsolved for over three decades. Despite a violent struggle and the collection of biological evidence, investigators initially hit a dead end after ruling out known associates. The breakthrough occurred in 2018 when detectives employed genetic genealogy to construct extensive family trees from crime scene DNA. This advanced forensic method led authorities to Daniel Wells, whose identity was confirmed after police covertly obtained his DNA from a discarded cigarette butt. Although Wells eventually confessed to the crime following his arrest in 2020, he committed suicide in jail before he could face trial. The narrative emphasizes how the preservation of evidence and evolving technology finally provided answers for the victim's family. Content Warning: This podcast contains discussions of homicide, violence, abuse, and other graphic themes related to real-life criminal events. It is intended for mature audiences and listener discretion is advised. This episode includes AI-generated content.

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## Transcript

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