http://www.atmorenews.com/2013/03/27/10 ... da-mcghee/
10 years later – still missing. Press conference held for Melinda McGhee
By Sherry Digmon / March 27, 2013
Sheriff Grover Smith, at the podium, talks about the case. Seated are Melinda’s mother and sister, Ouida Wall, left, and Melissa Wall Wooten.
The tenth anniversary of the disappearance of Melinda Wall McGhee was marked Monday, March 20, at a press conference held at the Poarch Creek Family Life Center. “It was ten years ago yesterday, the first day of Spring break,” Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith said. “We wanted to call this conference to draw attention to the fact that Melinda is still not with us and there is still no one in prison for taking her away.”
At the request of Sheriff Smith, the Reverend Don Davis with Atmore First Assembly of God prayed before Smith updated everyone on the status of the investigation. Rev. Davis prayed for the family and for those still conducting the investigation.
Smith renewed law enforcement’s commitment to bringing closure for the family and bringing the guilty party to justice.
“We will never stop until we locate Melinda and bring her home,” he said. “We will never stop until we find the person responsible and successfully prosecute the one who took her away from us.”
Melinda’s mother Ouida Wall and sister Melissa Wall Wooten were present but chose not to speak. Instead a prepared statement was read by Smith.
“The family wishes to express our appreciation to those in law enforcement who continue to search for justice for Melinda. It is a daily battle that is more acute at the holidays, birthdays and this anniversary. If you have information, please call law enforcement. Pray for our family.”
Mrs. Wall and Mrs. Wooten wiped tears as the statement was read.
“Melinda was last seen at 7 a.m. on that fateful Monday, March 24, 2003, ten years ago, when she stopped at a local convenience store after having worked the night shift at Oakwood Nursing Home in Bay Minette,” Smith said. “It was the first day of spring break, just as we have today.
“Since that time until this very day, Escambia County deputies and investigators have continued working this incident. Let me say without question, this is not a cold case. It is an active investigation. Investigators have pursued literally hundreds of leads since this occurrence and we are committed to our pursuit of justice not only for the victim, but for the family members. This horrific event impacted not only the immediate and extended family of Melinda Wall McGhee, but has affected our entire community since the day it occurred.”
Smith introduced Tommy Calhoun, lead investigator on the case and former Mobile cold case detective.
“It is all about Melinda,” Calhoun said. “This is a team effort. No one individual can do this alone. We are going to keep on keeping on.
“We have several individuals we are highly interested in. One is in the penitentiary and others are out in the world. We are reviewing the whole case. We have entered Melinda’s dental records in a national data base. We are using the latest technology.”
Smith said that the state is offering a $10,000 reward and the family is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the individual responsible.
“To whoever is responsible, we will never rest. Every time you hear a footstep behind you or a noise in the night, it might be us,” Smith said. “We will never forget. Nothing will stop us from doing what we have to do to find out what happened and bring Melinda home.”
Law enforcement personnel stood with Sheriff Smith on the stage – Atmore Public Safety Director Glenn Carlee, Atmore Police Chief Jason Dean, Escambia County Sheriff’s Investigator Matt Hammon, PCI Police Chief Larry Hammonds, Escambia County Deputy Janet Richburg, PCI Officer and Task Force Office Dale Lisenby, ECSO Deputy Greg Forbes, Lead Investigator Tommy Calhoun, Tribal Council Secretary David Gehman, PCI officers Steve Griffis and Lucas Gibson.
