Local News

April Tinsley memorial event to be held on 30 year anniversary

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): April of this year will mark the 30th anniversary of April Tinsely’s disappearance.  “In Remembrance of April Marie Tinsley” will be held at 5 o’clock p.m., April 4 to honor the 8-year-old girl, who was killed in 1988 by an unknown assailant.

According to The News Sentinel, the event will include releasing blue, pink and purple helium filled balloons, April’s favorite colors, at April’s Garden on the corner of Hoagland Avenue and Masterson Street in the neighborhood where she lived.  In case of rain, it will be held on April 5 at the same time and place.  Participants may bring their own balloons if they would like.

RELATED: Fort Wayne Police release new image of April Tinsley’s alleged killer

On April 1, 1988, April left a friends house to get her umbrella and never returned home.  She was found three days later on a rural Dekalb County Road by a jogger.  She had been molested and suffocated.

Police had found only partial DNA from the crime scene, but now new technologies have given them a full DNA analysis. That DNA also matched DNA found in 2004 letters threatening other young girls.

Her story was featured on “America’s Most Wanted.”  As of today, her assailant has never been caught.  The Fort Wayne Police Department still looks into tips regarding her case.

Related posts

Suspect Leaves the Scene of a Lagrange County Accident

Kayla Blakeslee

Opponents take aim at State of the City address

Darrin Wright

UPDATED: One killed in Saturday afternoon stabbing

Caleb Hatch

Leave a Comment