Interview Excerpt From
“Hidden Gems: Lingering cold case fuels author’s book and documentary” by April Wallace
How did you manage to write about an ongoing investigation, with there being certain case information that cannot yet be shared with the public?
To do what I do as a civilian is unique in a cold case. The trust had to be built because they were not going to release sensitive information. They shared enough pieces (with me) that weren’t going to compromise the case, things we can talk about and openly discuss on podcasts.
We’ve also talked about things others may not think about: the impact on friends and family and the community. Nothing like this had ever happened there before. It changed the community really quickly. Melissa’s case set the precedent of (folks) locking their doors at night.
We cover the amount of crime and behind-the-scenes things no one knew about. Melissa lived and worked around some horrific, scary things. We live sheltered in our daily world and don’t know what’s going on in our backyard.
Who Killed Melissa Witt?
Connected by Fate
Who Killed Melissa Witt? Book 2
by LaDonna Humphrey
Genre: True Crime
We Know Who Did it.
We Know His Name.
Connected by Fate unfolds against the haunting backdrop of the Ozark National Forest, where the unresolved murder of Melissa Witt has cast a long shadow over the dense woodlands for almost three decades. The mystery, woven into the fabric of the remote mountaintop, has become a part of the lore of the land, with the true identity of the murderer eluding capture, concealed by the forest’s imposing presence.
Enter LaDonna Humphrey, driven by a profound sense of justice and a personal commitment to uncovering the truth, despite never having met Melissa Witt. LaDonna’s connection to the case transcends the ordinary, fueling her with a relentless determination that has defined her life for almost a decade.
LaDonna’s investigation is a riveting narrative of courage, resilience, and an unwavering pursuit of truth in the face of overwhelming odds. Each breakthrough and setback, each clue unearthed and lead followed, draws her deeper into a web of intrigue that extends far beyond the initial crime.
Connected by Fate is more than a true crime story; it’s a testament to the power of human spirit and determination fueled by the knowledge that solving Melissa’s murder is not just about bringing a killer to justice—it’s about restoring dignity to a life cut tragically short, and offering closure to a community haunted by the specter of an unsolved crime.
Amazon * GeniusBooksPublishing * Bookbub * Goodreads
The Girl I Never Knew
Who Killed Melissa Witt? Book 1
About the First Book
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.
Determined to find answers, LaDonna Humphrey has spent the past seven years hunting for Melissa’s killer. Her investigation, both thrilling and unpredictable, has led her on a journey like no other.
The Girl I Never Knew is an edge-of-your-seat account of LaDonna Humphrey’s passionate fight for justice in the decades-old murder case of a girl she never met in person. Her unstoppable quest for the truth has gained the attention of some incredibly dangerous people, some of whom would like to keep Melissa’s murder a mystery forever.
“LaDonna Humphrey restores my faith in all of humanity. The Girl I Never Knew is a painstaking labor of love, masterfully woven together to create a riveting page-turner that describes her hunt for a killer and the traction she is gaining to solve this cold case.”
-Joshua Kessler, twice Emmy nominated Television Producer and Director, Unsolved Mysteries and Drug Lords (Netflix), Breaking Homicide and Unusual Suspects (Investigation Discovery)
Amazon * GeniusBooksPublishing * Bookbub * Goodreads
LaDonna Humphrey is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, investigative journalist, executive director of Oasis of Northwest Arkansas and an advocate for victims of crime. Her passions include advocating for missing adults, crime victims, children in foster care, and for women in recovery. LaDonna is the co-founder of All the Lost Girls and True Crime Fest NWA, as well as the co-host of the Deep Dark Secrets Podcast and the Legends in Blue Podcast.
From the Editor
Thank you to the Silver Dagger Book Tours for their Contribution to our online Magazine Today! We will be participating in a number of their book tours over the coming months. We would encourage any North Florida Writers who would like to Guest Post on this site or be a featured author on the North Florida Writers Tour website then please get in touch using our CONTACT US form.
This sounds like a good story.