By By CONNIE NOWLIN - Special to The Standard
Birthdays are supposed to be joyous occasions, but not so in the case of Melinda Wall McGhee. Her 32nd birthday was Tuesday.
Gov. Bob Riley issued a $5,000 reward Friday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved when the Poarch Creek woman went missing from her home March 24. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
According to a press release from the Escambia County Sheriff's office, District Attorney Michael Godwin was instrumental in contacting the governor's office and requesting the reward. Similar rewards have been requested in the cases of Alvin Sinquefield, missing from Atmore since Oct. 26, and Woodrow Allen, missing since Dec. 16, 2001. Those cases are not believed by authorities to be connected to each other or the McGhee case.
It is hoped that the reward money will induce someone to come forward with new information.
Although there has not been much new information and a link to a Louisiana man accused of a series of murders in Baton Rouge was unfounded, McGhee's family holds on to hope that the case will be solved soon and rumors put to rest.
She hopes that the reward money will make people sit up and take notice of the disappearance, as the trail grows colder.
The toll on the family is unimaginable, Amanda McGhee said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff's department at 1-251-809-0741.