MI MI - Amanda Lankey, 13, White Cloud, 21 June 2004

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1089323680165150.xml

Authorities: Blunt object used to fatally beat former White Cloud teen

The Associated Press
7/8/2004, 5:47 p.m. ET

WHITE CLOUD, Mich. (AP) — A baseball bat or some other blunt instrument was used to fatally beat a 13-year-old girl found dead after she apparently sneaked out of a friend's home during a sleep-over, the Newaygo County medical examiner said Thursday.

Richard Peters told Grand Rapids station WOOD-TV that Amanda Lankey, a Florida resident who lived in White Cloud until earlier this year, died from a blow to the head that shattered her skull and jaw. A telephone message seeking further comment was left at his office.

Prayers for justice, Lanie
Help For The Missing
 
West Michigan murder case remains unsolved

A baffling crime remains unsolved in West Michigan.
It's been nearly 18 months, and the family of murdered Amanda Lankey has come and gone again in their search for elusive clues. They don't plan on closure coming in a box with a bow this Christmas. But a mother would sure like to know: who killed my daughter?

"It will never be the same. I want to get mad... I just want to get mad," said Victoria Lankey.

Lankey sits around the family table in White Cloud, wiping a tear of the heartbreak she wears. "I thought it was going to be easier this time,' she said. "I guess not."

The town is still marked nay scarred by what happened. "When people see me in town they know why I'm here. When they see me they see Amanda and I know they haven't forgotten about her," Lankey said.

The case is all but settled. Amanda, 13, was in town visiting friends. The family had fled south years before from an abusive and now imprisoned father. Amanda was last seen at a friends house on a hot summers night, when he met a torturous end and was dumped in a forest.

The case has been probed. Her online chats with the sign-on name: Skitzo Killa. Another deceptive suspect, and the blood found in his ditched car, leads to nothing...

More: http://www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=4260102
 
Such a beautiful young girl whose family are still desperate for answers.

*******************************************************
Thursday, 12 Mar 2009, 12:13 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 11 Mar 2009, 12:34 AM EDT

WHITE CLOUD, Mich. (WOOD) - Family and friends of Amanda Lankey-- a 13-year-old who was killed almost five years ago in White Cloud -- hope that collecting signatures could lead to clues about who's responsible for her death.
Lankey vanished from a friend's room. No Amber Alert was ever issued, and police thought she left willingly until her body was found in the Manistee National Forest.
"We're ready to have this over with. We need closure. We need to figure out where this person's at, where this person is hiding," James Kahn, Amanda's brother, told 24 Hour News 8. "We have other kids in this community, running around every day. Nobody is safe until this person is caught."
Friends and family are hoping they find "Justice for Amanda."
They think a petition could encourage the Newaygo County prosecutor to take the case to a grand jury. And they're hoping something in the case breaks, and somebody talks for the first time.
Charles Smith is helping to collect signatures. He says "there is also the ability for the grand jury to give you immunity for things that you testify about."
They're hoping the trail of clues -- now dated -- could lead to more answers than questions.

More info at the link on petition
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/Petition_to_find_Amanda_s_killer
 
I am so glad that Amanda has not been forgotten. I am not from the same city, but from the area and have always wondered why her killer has never been caught. It is a small town, seems like somebody would've seen or heard something.

There has been news lately, don't know if it will end up being connected to the case or not, but at least the detectives are looking into it. Here is a link to the story, with an excerpt. (there is more info on the local tv stations too)

http://origin.wzzm13.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=108129&catid=2

WHITE CLOUD, Mich. (WZZM) A man with ties to the investigation into Amanda Lankey's death will stand trial on unrelated charges.

Cecil Wallis Junior was ordered to stand trial today on assault and unlawful imprisonment charges.

He was arrested earlier this month for allegedly duct taping and beating three women. (read more at link and see picture)
 
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/04/second_person_charged_in_amand.html

Marcus Wallis, one of two people accused of lying to prosecutors in the investigation of Amanda Lankey's 2004 slaying, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.

Wallis, 26, entered a plea to making false statements to police, reduced from perjury. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail to be served on weekends. Perhaps more importantly to the family of Lankey, a judge also ordered Wallis to take a polygraph test on facets of the investigation...

Prosecutors say Wallis-Baumgartner, a former White Cloud police officer, lied about being asked to help at the crime scene where Lankey's body was found... She pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in March and was sentenced to 30 weekends in jail. She also was ordered to take a polygraph.
 
Wonder how the Wallis family was involved...

So glad some info is seeping out.
I don’t live in WC/Newaygo county but own a house in WC.
Pretty desolate area, the Manistee Forest & all. The fishing/hunting & other recreation bring so many tourists in. Sadly, I don’t feel safe in the area when I’m there.
 

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