In December 1994, 19-year-old Melissa Witt stood on the cusp of adulthood. Her life was brimming with dreams and aspirations. Her future in Fort Smith, Arkansas was bright and full of hope. Yet this beautiful young woman would not see Christmas that year or any other year. Her life met a terrifying end at the hands of someone she likely knew.
When she arrived at Fort Smith’s Bowling World around 6.30 pm on December 1, Melissa found herself looking into the eyes of her killer. In those moments, she was just forty-five steps away from the safety of the bowling hall, but no one knew of her desperate plight.
She was assaulted and snatched from that location under the cover of darkness. Her car keys sat on the tarmac. A few steps away, a pool of blood hauntingly indicated the danger she was in.
“Like a predator carefully stalking his prey, he watched and waited. His eyes intensely focused on her every move ….. His sharp eyes are locked on the target. He is ready to strike. And then, it happens. The hunter makes his move.” – LaDonna Humphrey
The perpetrator of this horrific crime was frantic and chaotic during her abduction, before giving way to controlled and organized during Melissa’s final moments out in the wilderness away from possible witnesses.
Taken to a remote forest, she fought desperately for her life against her assailant’s suffocating grip. It’s a fate she did not deserve.
Her devastated mother, Mary Ann Witt, is no longer alive to see justice for her daughter. She went to her grave never knowing or understanding what happened.
LaDonna Humphrey has emerged as a beacon of hope in this dark saga. Her resolve is unyielding as she delves into the shadows in pursuit of the faceless perpetrator who took Melissa’s life. She refuses to let Melissa Witt’s memory fade into obscurity.
A true crime author and filmmaker, podcaster, and Executive Director, LaDonna is a dedicated and talented one-woman whirlwind who never gives up a fight.
Although LaDonna never met Melissa, the young woman’s story and the brutality of her death ignited an unshakeable determination in her. Her journey has been an unrelenting quest to uncover the truth and unmask this young woman’s killer.
Connected by Fate is the second book in this series on Melissa Witt. In the first book, Who Killed Melissa Witt? (Read Crime Traveller’s review here) there’s a mysterious figure hovering on the fringes of the investigation.
He regularly calls LaDonna, discussing the case with great interest. He makes unusual statements and has a thirst for updates. What adds to the intrigue is his connection to Melissa Witt and his apparent devastation that she was killed. Could he be the one responsible for her death?
“Consumed by his obsession with Melissa Witt, he made a decision that changed both of our lives: he called me.” – LaDonna Humphrey, Connected By Fate
Notably absent from Melissa Witt’s body and a recurring feature in her story is the Mickey Mouse watch that was a constant presence on her wrist. When she was found, the watch had vanished. Potentially kept as a souvenir from his despicable crime, it is an item that could link her killer to her murder.
“We know who you are. You will not benefit from the passage of time and the burden of old age – neither has dampened our tenacity or enthusiasm. We cannot rest until you are behind bars. We will not rest. We’re still here. And we’re still coming for you.” – Jay C. Rider & Chris Boyd
In this second book, the missing pieces fall into place, completing the intricate narrative begun in the first.
The fascinating and beautifully finished documentary released in 2023 between these two books, Uneven Ground: The Melissa Witt Story, traces this heart-wrenching case. In it, the groundwork is laid out for this elusive figure that is circling the investigation – the unnamed suspect.
From the moment Melissa Witt vanished in 1994, leaving behind only the echoes of a life cut short, her story has gripped hearts and minds alike.
Unexpected challenges and unsettling threats would not deter this group of remarkable individuals. LaDonna Humphrey, former Captain of the Fort Smith Major Crimes Unit Jay C. Rider, and former Fort Smith Detective Chris Boyd are driven by a fervent desire to secure the justice that has been denied to an innocent young woman and her family.
Related Books:
- The Girl I Never Knew: Who Killed Melissa Witt? – “For over two decades the identity of Melissa Witt’s murderer has been hidden among the dense trees and thorny undergrowth rooted deeply in the uneven ground of a remote mountaintop in the Ozark National Forest.” [Read Crime Traveller’s Review here]
- Strangled (Who Killed Melissa Witt?) – “Strangled is the shocking and suspenseful account of the war Humphrey and Lockhart wage on a warped and depraved online community set on destruction, murder and mayhem.” [Read Crime Traveller’s Review here]
