FORT SMITH, Ark. — Nearly 30 years later, a new four-part docuseries is bringing attention to the unsolved murder of Fort Smith native Melissa Witt.
The 19-year-old woman was abducted from the Bowling World parking lot in 1994.
After her disappearance, the community, investigators, and Witt's mother searched endlessly for her for a month. On Jan. 13, 1995, Witt's body was found by two hunters in the Ozark National Forest near Turner Bend in Franklin County.
Although her body was found, her killer never was.
For the last three decades, Witt's case has remained open. To this day, investigators still receive leads from time to time and continue to conduct interviews in the case.
In December, investigators were seeking information about the following details about Witt's case:
- Information that leads to Melissa Witt's Mickey Mouse watch and the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for her kidnapping and murder.
- Or any information that can help identify any of the individuals described below:
- A short male with a mustache, and glasses, who was allegedly wearing a blue shirt, jeans, brown boots, and a white or light-colored baseball cap on the day of the kidnapping. Officials say the man was seen standing outside of Bowling World on the sidewalk smoking that day. Officials say it is likely that this man "heard and/or saw the very loud altercation" between Melissa and her abductor.
- A couple with a young child who was at the time between 8 to 10 years of age. These people were allegedly seen "walking across the parking lot and going into Bowling World that day," the release says. The woman is described as short, blonde, with "fluffy" hair. She was also said to have been wearing a "tan/light colored" striped sweater. The man she was with was described as taller than the woman.
While investigators continue to follow leads, several docuseries and documentaries have publicized Witt's case. This is no exception with the anticipated release of "At Witt's End: The Hunt For a Killer" from executive producer Ridley Scott.
The series will only be streaming on Hulu on Aug. 6.
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