204. Looks Like Melissa Witt Has A Champion - With Special Guest LaDonna Humphrey

On the morning of December 1, 1994, Melissa Witt (her friends and family called her “Missy”) had a small tiff with her mom over money.  The 19 year-old college student, who was studying to become a dental hygienist at a local college, was out of cash, and she wouldn’t get paid at her part-time job until the next day.  When she asked her mom for a loan, mom – in a lesson to her daughter about money management – told her no.  And young Missy was not happy.  She left to start her day in a huff.  When Missy got home later in the day, she found a conciliatory note from her mom – with an invitation to meet at a local bowling alley later in the evening – where mom would buy dinner.  And Melissa Witt drove to the bowling alley.  But she never made it out of the parking lot.  From there the details get skimpy.  All we know for certain is that Melissa Witt’s keys were found in the parking lot, as were two pools of blood in two parking spaces, with a blood trail leading from one parking space to the other.  And that her decomposing body was found a month later, 60 miles away from the bowling alley – strangled to death by a murderer who has, as of now, some 27 years later, never been identified.  That’s where this episode’s guest comes in – and a very special person she is.  LaDonna Humphrey is a dedicated wife and mother of seven children (five of whom are adopted).  She is Executive Director of Oasis of Northwest Arkansas, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and a safe space for women in recovery and their kids.  And those two things right there would be more than enough to handle for anyone.  But not for LaDonna.  Back in 2015, while searching for a case to be the focus of a documentary on missing women, LaDonna came across Melissa Witt’s story – and solving the mystery of the young woman’s murder became more than an interest – it became a mission.  The documentary – “Uneven Ground: The Melissa Witt Story” (which LaDonna is Executive Producing) – is nearing completion and will be making the rounds on the film festival circuit this coming year.  LaDonna has created a website and a Facebook page dedicated to the Witt investigation.  And she has written a book about the case, “The Girl I Never Knew,” which will publish in the spring of 2022.  Join host Melissa Morgan for an intensive, and intense, interview with LaDonna Humphrey – we guarantee that you will be moved and inspired.