With 3 suspects arrested, here's a timeline of the Kelle Ann Workman case
Three men have been arrested in the 35-year-old cold case surrounding the disappearance and death of Kelle Ann Workman.
A grand jury indictment filed by the Circuit Court of Douglas County on Wednesday charges Bobby Lee Banks with the murder, kidnapping and rape of an unnamed woman on June 30, 1989. The date listed for the victim's death coincides with the death of Kelle Ann Workman. The grand injury indictment also lists Leonard Dwight Banks and Wiley Belt as acting alongside Banks in the victim's death.
Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase confirmed to the News-Leader on Wednesday that three people have been arrested in connection with Workman's death.
Douglas County Prosecutor Matthew Weatherman said he believes the case will result in convictions. He said law enforcement officers, both current and former, as well as an eyewitness will testify.
Here is a timeline of events, starting with Workman's disappearance.
Disappearance leads to weeklong search
June 30, 1989: Workman's uncle reports seeing her at 5:40 p.m. mowing grass at the Dogwood Cemetery near the Pleasant Southern Baptist Church in Douglas County, according to previous News-Leader reporting. Workman, 24, had mowed the grass at Dogwood Cemetery for three years and was known to perform house and yard work for people in the Dogwood area. By 6:15 p.m., Workman was gone and the grass was only half-mowed. Her car had the key in the ignition.
July 1, 1989: More than 50 people begin their search for Workman, including Fordland firefighters on horseback and law enforcement by helicopter.
July 7, 1989: After a week of searching, Workman's fully-clothed body is found submerged in a creek in the Mark Twain National Forest near Oldfield, about 12 to 15 miles from the cemetery. Her body was identified by her dental records due to severe decomposition. Authorities found no evidence of head injury or bullet holes and believed she was killed the night of June 30 or morning of July 1.
July 10, 1989: Christian County Sheriff and Missouri Highway Patrol troops D and G join the Douglas County Sheriff in the investigation.
July 11, 1989: After a funeral, Workman is buried in Dogwood Cemetery. The Workman family began offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or person responsible for Kelle Workman's death. Also, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Christian County Sheriff's Office "were interviewing people ... who may have information relevant to the case," according to News-Leader reporting.
More: After 35 years, 3 men charged in relation to 1989 Ozarks murder of Kelle Ann Workman
The investigation continues
Summer of 1990: Leonard Banks — who goes by his middle name, Dwight — takes and passes a polygraph test in relation to the case. An ex-girlfriend tells authorities that Bobby Lee Banks sought an alibi for the night Workman vanished.
July 1995: Bobby Lee Banks takes a polygraph and fails it.
July 27, 1995: Christian County and Missouri Highway Patrol officials investigate a new lead, according to News-Leader reporting. The development came from a tip after the Webster County newspaper published a story on the sixth anniversary of Workman's death. The development was "the most promising so far in the case," Christian County Sheriff Steve Whitney told the News-Leader at the time, though he declined to elaborate on the lead as "doing so would jeopardize the investigation."
July 29, 1995: Dwight Banks gives an exclusive interview to the News-Leader, outlining the events of the night and how he'd been questioned by authorities in years since Workman's death. Banks also admits that he'd "joked around about (Workman's death) several times when I was wasted."
September 1999: The Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Lab issues search warrants to obtain DNA from two suspects, including Dwight Banks, according to previous News-Leader coverage.
New information leads to arrests
During Wednesday's press conference, Douglas County Prosecutor Matthew Weatherman said the key piece of the investigation was a person who came forward with information recently. Degase said this person was one who previous law enforcement officers and investigators had been in contact with but was not a suspect.
Feb. 20, 2024: A grand jury indictment is filed, charging Bobby Lee Banks with the murder, kidnapping and rape of an unnamed woman on June 30, 1989. It also also lists Leonard Banks and Wiley Belt as acting alongside Banks in the victim's death.
Feb. 21, 2024: The Douglas County Sheriff's Department and Christian County Sheriff's Department host a press conference at the Pleasant Ridge Church in Douglas County, announcing that three people have been arrested in connection with Workman's death: Bobby Lee Banks, Leonard Banks and Wiley Belt.
Susan Szuch reports on health and food for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Timeline of the Kelle Ann Workman case, from 1989 to 2024
