Post by Loose CannonIn the spring of 1988, April Tinsley went missing from Fort Wayne, IN.
Known as the cultural and economic center of northeastern Indiana,
Fort Wayne was a suburban city known to be family-friendly; however,
after April Tinsley’s disappearance, Fort Wayne’s law enforcement was
plunged into a decades-long investigation searching for answers.
This search changed the city's approach to crime, and at the end of
their 30-year investigation, the Tinsley family finally found closure.
https://www.ranker.com/list/april-tinsley-case/rayven-crawford?ref=browse_list
It became a story of interest because the little girl was White. Had
she been a picaninny, injun or slant-eyed, nobody would give a shit.
Lots of crime stories posted here involving dead Natives and Blacks and Asians. You are a lying moron a racist and a Jew Hater a white haired wimpy pariah with no IRL friends. A dumb ESL immigrant.
In 2004, Four Young Girls Received Notes From Someone Claiming To Be The Killer
During Memorial Day weekend of 2004, three girls received notes on their bikes, while another girl received a note in her mailbox, all allegedly authored by April’s killer.
The notes were placed in a plastic bag, each one accompanied by a used condom and a polaroid picture of a man’s lower body. Each letter also encouraged the girls to report the incident to police to ensure news of the letters reached the local newspaper by the following morning.
The suspect told each girl if the letters were not reported to the police, she would be his next victim. Law enforcement couldn't determine why the culprit wanted them to know about his recent plans and threats.
DNA From Condoms Found With The Notes Connected Them To April’s Case
When the letters and accompanying material were reported to police, they tested samples gathered from the used condoms and compared them to the samples found with April’s body.
When they conducted tests on both samples, they found the DNA did, indeed, match the DNA found in April’s case. Because of this, police could confirm the suspect they had been tailing for decades was still in the area.
Once investigators determined the DNA samples matched, investigators set up a tip hotline to gain more leads in April's case.
In 2018, Investigators Found John D. Miller Through A Genealogy Website
In 2018, Investigators Found John D. Miller Through A Genealogy Website
Photo: Fort Wayne Police Department / Fair Use
In May 2018, a detective in the Fort Wayne police department sent the DNA samples connected to April’s murder to GEDmatch in hopes of finding some of the suspect's relatives. A genealogist working for GEDmatch narrowed the search down to two brothers, one of whom was John D. Miller.
Miller's neighbors described him as angry and reclusive. When police went to his home, they found a used condom in his trash. They then tested this DNA against the other samples investigators had collected and found a match.
After a decades-long investigation, police - and the Tinsley family - finally had their answer.
Miller Confessed To Murdering April And Was Sentenced To 80 Years In Prison
When police approached Miller’s house to take him to the police station for questioning, they asked him why he thought they were there. Miller said he knew they were there to discuss April Tinsley and followed them to the police station without incident.
During questioning, Miller confessed to the murder. He claimed it was not pre-meditated and that he had never seen April before he decided to abduct her. Following his confession, Miller was sentenced to 80 years in prison, and April’s family was finally able to put her to rest.