Missing For 10 Years: Search Continues For Melinda Wall McGhee

March 24, 2013

Ten years ago the morning of March 24, something went terribly wrong at a home on Kent Road north of Atmore.  Melinda Wall McGhee, then 31, returned to her home about 8 a.m. after working the night shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home.

Her husband, Troy McGhee, was at work at Masland Carpets in Atmore. Their two children were at a babysitter, and Troy’s son from a previous relationship was at a dentist’s office. At about 8:30 the morning of March 24, 2003, Melinda McGhee spoke to her mother on the phone. It was the last time anyone known to Melinda would ever hear from her.

At about 4:00 that afternoon, husband Troy came home to find Melinda missing. There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. He reported his wife missing.

Melinda’s vehicle was found parked near the house with her keys locked inside. Her purse and cellular phone were inside the residence. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.

Over the years, there have been several searches for Melinda’s body or clues into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

In March 2009, authorities searched an area off Perry Lane in Wawbeek for clues in Melinda’s disappearance. Perry Lane is about a mile north of Highway 31 off Sardis Church Road near Old Atmore Road. The location is about three miles north of the Florida/Alabama line . On the last day of January 2009, authorities searched a water-filled gravel pit off Jack Springs Roads near the Judson Cemetery between Atmore and Poarch. All of the searches have turned up empty.

Anyone with information on McGhee’s disappearance is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 809-0741 or their local law enforcement agency.

Pictured above: Two photos of Melinda Wall McGhee who went missing in March 2003.

Comments

15 Responses to “Missing For 10 Years: Search Continues For Melinda Wall McGhee”

  1. Ann Johnson on March 24th, 2017 6:37 pm

    Praying for her family and friends, I can’t imagine their pain May God continue to be with them.

  2. John Doe on March 24th, 2016 9:27 am

    Knowing who committed a crime, or who Is responsible, and being able to prove it, are two different things. Probably someone she knew was responsible, but did not do the act itself. Maybe employed an old friend from prison who does dirty deeds or something, so they could preserve a solid alibi. Who knows what relationships may have been involved? When people are in relationships and one person wants out, this too can cause great emotional responses. Especially if the other person doesn’t want others too find out about the relationship. I pray for her family and that one day, someone is brought to justice.

  3. dedra on March 25th, 2013 9:20 pm

    she was a sweet and dear person so very friendly,she was a friend to so many!! I PRAY FOR HER FAMILY MAY THEY FIND ANSWERS AND PEACE

  4. Harvey Stacey on March 25th, 2013 2:04 pm

    I believe people knows who he is. And he planed this it was not a freak meeting. My question is why did the governor pay do much attention to that girl murdered from Birmingham. That was on a so called church trip but yet was seen in a bar. I have know Melinda all her life. I remember when she was born. Her parents were very proud of her I say contact others higher than Atmore or Poarch nth ewes two law enforcement’s have no clue on solving anything. Prayers to the Walls and her kids and husband

  5. mom on March 25th, 2013 8:05 am

    Have any of the talk shows been contacted…they use Sylvia Brown to give answers. I know it would probably be a no if a family member contacted the shows producers, but a law enforcement officer or someone from the media calling may get a yes for the family to be on the show. I agree , someone here in Atmore knows something…it’s just a matter of time before answers are given and you are caught…OR, ONE DAY, YOU WILL BE JUDGED BY GOD AND YOU WILL PAY THEN.

  6. 429SCJ on March 25th, 2013 6:23 am

    I agree JW. I believe this was one person, who had animosity and stood to gain from the removal of Mrs McGhee. One person can keep a secret, but when two or greater know, the information usually leaks out. The only other possibility was a manevolent stranger passed through the Poarch Community via I-65 and moved on, or was there all along amongst the community, maybe still to this day.

    I pray this case is closed and Mrs McGhee’s Family can have closure and she can have justice.

  7. fss on March 24th, 2013 6:38 pm

    someone over there knowes what happened to her. but with power come silence

  8. wonder on March 24th, 2013 6:14 pm

    Where any of the neighbors question? Does other familys live in the same neighborhood? Is it true she lived in a area off the road that could not be seen from the highway.? I have been told if you did not live in this area you would never know that homes were in the area. I wish that this could have been on the program Profiler..It needs to be solved. I think of her family often. Prayers to her loving family.

  9. jw on March 24th, 2013 4:43 pm

    broad daylight…no forced entry..seems highly likely it was someone she knew or definitely someone who knew she was there alone.

  10. David Huie Green on March 24th, 2013 3:20 pm

    REGARDING;
    “There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. ”

    It is natural to assume the blood was hers and maybe all of it was, but given the evidence of a violent struggle, some of the blood may have belonged to her attacker. If all the blood were not checked for DNA fingerprinting at the time or since then, that is an avenue of inquiry still open to find who else was there that day.

    Don’t assume that was checked, make sure it was checked — all of it.
    A lot has changed in forensic science in ten years.
    Quite possibly whoever else was involved is in the system or a close relative is.

    David for answers and comfort for loved ones
    protection for others

  11. jw on March 24th, 2013 1:01 pm

    Whats the chances somebody followed her home from work?…she got creeped out by a strange vehicle and hurried inside, locking her keys in the car. That still wouldn’t tell you who did it though. I don’t know if she talked to her mom before or after she was inside the house..?I wish this case could be solved. I’ve sat here and thought of many senarios,but i don’t know all the people in her life,details of the case and evidence that are classified,ect. Was anything stolen from the home?Was it a robbery gone bad? There were no finger prints,hair,skin,shoe prints,tire tracks,ect(it was a dirt road)???Were their phone calls to a lock smith?Did she call someone to help her get her keys?Is it like her to lock her keys in the car?Did she have ex’s?Did the husband have enemies?i hate to suggest but could she have been having an affair? Had someone wanted to have an affair with her? Was there people living nearby that had a criminal history? Did somebody know her from work?Who knew she was usually home alone during the day? I guess after 10 years every question has been asked and every senario played out…or has it? Prayers for the family!

  12. Leslie on March 24th, 2013 11:57 am

    I’m with “dee” on this one. This story has given me goose bumps and a dreaded feeling every time I’ve seen the story. I wish someone would just man up, come forward with concrete information, and give closure to this whole story. Such a sad situation.

  13. Rita Tullis on March 24th, 2013 8:57 am

    Thank you for the post. My cousin, Melinda was a beautiful person inside and out! We miss and love you!

  14. Amanda Wall McGhee on March 24th, 2013 7:29 am

    Thank you for remembering. Prayers needed. I love you Sissy (Melinda) . Your sister, Amanda

  15. dee from the b.p. on March 24th, 2013 6:51 am

    this story always gives me goose bumps. mostly from the uneasy feeling that someone around here is getting away, possibly, with murder. taking a mother from her children. a wife from a husband. someones daughter. but i also get goosebumps from the sadness i get for her friends and family. this is a tragedy and will remain so until someone finds her, or solves this case. this community could use some closure.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive