A Year Later and Little to Go On; A Family is Still in Pain and Kelly Rothwell is Still Missing…

Surrounded by photographs of missing Police Cadet Kelly Rothwell to his left and David Perry, the only suspect in her disappearance to his right, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri spoke at a press conference this morning to update the case.

“Today marks the one year anniversary of Kelly Rothwell’s disappearance from her Indian Rocks Beach condo she shared with then boyfriend David Perry,” Sheriff Gualtieri said. “I’m here to announce that an additional $25,000.00 reward is being offered by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s department for information that leads us to where Kelly Rothwell is.”

Sheriff Gualtieri explained that this reward, made possible using money seized in drug busts, will be in addition to the $25,000.00 already being offered by the Rothwell family, for a total of $50,000.00. Sadly conceding that Kelly is in all likelihood deceased, Gualtieri nonetheless hopes that the public might have seen something then or sees something now, might remember something last March 12, 2011 that might provide a clue as to what happened to Kelly Rothwell.

“As of right now, we have few leads and we’re hoping the public will see these photos (on easels behind him) and remember something.”
Gualtieri also said he was not hopeful that Perry would give any information about Kelly, even if confronted with jail time for the New York fraud and larceny charges Perry currently faces.
"Why would he admit to an even stronger charge, like murder?"

Admitting that this was a very difficult case to work, Gualtieri said that the information they do have has been very limited. Pinellas County Homicide detectives Mike Bailey and Amy Plourde have been assigned to the case since last year: Plourde has a special tie to Kelly, in that she also attended and graduated from the St. Petersburg Police Academy, where Kelly was to have graduated from last April.
Gualtieri acknowledged to reporters that forensics from the condo search yielded little to go on conceding that since they lived together, it would be normal to find both of their DNA mingled together.

Gualtieri also said that New York State investigators sent portions of the rug in David Perry’s 2006 Honda Civic, to Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for forensic testing of the fibers. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Forensic Unit is widely respected throughout the US as being one of the top investigative forensic labs in the country. They did not find any female DNA or fibers on the rug, but the Sheriff admitted that the rug had been thoroughly cleaned by Perry, using very strong chemicals, prior to his releasing the car to New York detectives.
“Strong corrosive chemicals, like those in cleaning products, break down DNA very quickly,” he explained.

Last March 12, 2011, Kelly went home after lunch with a friend, with the intention of breaking up with Perry, whom she described as controlling and manipulative. At 3:30 PM, Kelly left the Chili’s Restaurant on Rt. 19 where she was having lunch with her friend Donna Scharrett in Clearwater to drive back to Indian Rocks Beach. Donna had asked Kelly if she wanted her to come with her, to help her with her belongings. Kelly declined; telling Scharrett that it “would be ok” and that she was more worried about Perry’s reaction to her leaving him, thinking he might be sad.

“Kelly was more concerned about how it would affect Dave and she wanted to be able to comfort him, in case he got upset,” Scharrett told me in an interview last March. “That’s the kind of girl Kelly was, always concerned for other people.”

Kelly walked alone into her second floor condo at approximately 4:15 PM and was never seen again.

Downstairs neighbors recall hearing a series of bangs or thuds around 4:30 PM that afternoon, then the sound of incessant vacuuming from Kelly’s apartment above theirs.
That same afternoon/evening, David Perry abruptly left Florida, bound for Elmira, New York, his hometown. Cell phone pings from his cell phone around the area of I75 and State Road 52 were later investigated by the PCSO (Pinellas County Sheriff's Office) and a search was conducted in that area. Kelly was not found. There was also a cell phone ping from Kelly’s phone around 5:20 which coincided with a text that Scharett received, purportedly from Kelly. But the strange wording and misspellings made Scharrett suspicious; they did not sound like Kelly at all. Then Kelly did not show up to retrieve keys for a house she planned to rent from a fellow cadet later on that Saturday March 12, 2011. When Donna Scharrett heard that she failed to show up, she called Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office the next morning, March 13, with a sick fear of dread in her heart. She asked them to do a home welfare check on Kelly, knowing that it wasn’t like Kelly to miss the meeting that evening of the 12th to pick up keys, especially when she had planned to move into the house after leaving Perry later that afternoon.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told reporters today that Kelly is presumed deceased and that Perry, who was officially named a suspect in her disappearance last June, has not cooperated with police inquiries. He was also suspected of traveling to both Ohio and Oklahoma during the immediate weeks after he fled to New York.

“He won’t talk, he knows how law enforcement works, and he used to be a Corrections Officer in New York. He has counsel and he isn’t saying a word. We can’t get him to cooperate at all.”

Meanwhile, David Perry became involved with a woman named Melissa Walker, a National Guard Reservist, who Perry met on Craig’s List. Whether or not he started an online relationship while he and Kelly were still together is not yet known. But too many coincidences keep popping up. Perry told the manager of the local gym where he worked out, that he was moving to Hawaii soon and to cancel his membership. Then shortly thereafter, Melissa Walker, who was living in Las Vegas, was re-stationed at Tripler Army Hospital, in Hawaii.

With Perry returned to New York, charges were filed against him by the New York State Insurance Fund, who paid his Workman’s Comp claim from October 2003, in which he claimed to have been injured in an inmate-related altercation. Several of his fellow Corrections Officers stepped forward to testify at a Broome County Grand Jury that Perry faked his injury and then bragged about how much money he was making from Work Comp and Social Security. Perry was arrested in May on his way back from where police think was a visit to Melissa Walker in Las Vegas. Meanwhile Perry was seen , both in Florida and New York, working out, biking and kite sailing in the Gulf of Mexico behind the condo he and Kelly has shared.

Although indicted on Felony Grand Larceny and Fraud charges, Perry used his home in Elmira to post bail after spending five days in jail. Remarkably, with a judge’s permission, Perry was allowed to go to Hawaii last August to visit Melissa Walker.

He married her in a waterfront ceremony on the beach.

Perry remains in Elmira, taunting Kelly’ s supporters on FaceBook and a salacious blog, True Crime Report, where he spews venomous vitriol about Kelly, her family and those who seek justice for her probable death. He conveys a “catch me if you can” attitude towards those that would bring him to justice, stirring up false controversy among Kelly’s many followers and then reveling in the attention.

For a whole year, Kelly’s mother Nancy, her sisters Lauren, Lindsay and Kristen, her father and countless friends and family have been waiting for some news, some clue as to where Kelly is. It’s widely believed that David Perry killed Kelly Rothwell and disposed of her body.

The Rothwell family did not attend the press conference, preferring instead to mourn their devastating loss in a much more personal and private setting. But they are grateful for the love and support that they have been shown since Kelly‘s disappearance and probable homicide. Her mother Nancy lights a candle every night at a memorial they have constructed in her home outside of Baltimore Maryland, where family photos and pieces of Kelly’s history surround her with memories that sustain her. Kelly’s dog Lucy is also now with Nancy and is a constant comfort and a blessing to her, she says. Nancy cannot fathom how anyone would hurt Kelly or why… her pain is palpable,even through the phone.

Kelly’s sisters Lauren and Lindsay, fraternal twins, have also tried to make the incredibly difficult adjustment to life without their big sister. They both say that they know she is around them, that she is free of pain. But it will always be hard to reconcile that Kelly is no longer a phone call or an email away.

Nancy Rothwell,in a phone interview this afternoon, said the Rothwell family is overwhelmingly grateful to the PCSO for the doubling of the reward being offered in the effort to find her daughter Kelly.

“Today is such a painful day for me and my family as we reflect back on Kelly’s life. She was always energetic, kind to everyone, and always tried to trust and find the best in everyone,”she said, emotion welling up in her soft voice.

Sadly, for Kelly Rothwell, her trust in David Perry was horribly misplaced.
And it cost her her life.

One year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,765.81277 hours, 525,948.766 minutes … Kelly Rothwell has been gone. Someone knows something, someone saw something….

Meanwhile Kelly Rothwell is still missing…..


This article contains information that was obtained exclusively by me, is copyrighted and cannot be used or reproduced in any way without my express permission for it's reproduction unless/ and/ or/ is expressly attributed to Leigh Clifton and Tampa Bay Crime Report. Leigh Clifton © 2012

A Part of Kelly Rothwell’s Heart Came Home Last Month

A piece of Kelly found its way home to her family last month as one of Kelly’s dogs, owned when she was married and living in Colorado, came home to the Rothwells to stay. Lucy was one of two Golden Retrievers that Kelly’s ex husband Doug Sanders and Kelly had had when they lived in Norwood Colorado on 40 + acres. Lucy was always Kelly’s dog.

“Clarence, the other Golden was always Doug’s dog,” Kat Jayroe, Kelly’s best friend since 1996 said. “They used to joke all the time that the dogs picked them individually. Lucy was two years younger than Clarence and was always so sweet… just like Kelly…”

Kat’s voice trembles a bit at the memory.The loss of her best friend has hit her very hard. She and Kelly were virtually inseparable friends; they met in 1996 in college at Adams State in Alamosa, Colorado.They went everywhere together.

“We were always affectionate and hugging each other all the time,” Kat laughed. “People use to tease us, but we were just very close; we spent a lot of time together. We both were into spiritual healing and Reike and we both loved crystals. We had a wonderful connection with one another..."

Kelly was studying geology at Adams State and in 1997 she met Doug Sanders in one of their classes. According to Kat, Kelly and Doug were like two peas in a pod.

“They hit it off right away,” she said. “They were a lot alike, both kind of reserved; they didn’t share a lot of emotions with a lot of people, but they were crazy for each other.”

So when Doug told Kat he had a friend named Jason Jayroe she should meet, Kat did and soon the four of them went everywhere together.

In June, 2004, Kelly Rothwell and Doug Sanders were married. Kat Jayroe was Maid of Honor in Kelly’s wedding. Jason was Doug’s Best Man. When Kat and Jason got married, the roles were reversed; Kelly was Maid of Honor in Kat’s wedding and Doug was Jason’s Best Man.


The four friends stayed close and lived near each other until Kat and Jason moved from Telluride to Fort Collins, about 6 hours away. But they called each other often. Meanwhile, Doug, Kelly, Clarence and Lucy all settled down as a family; Doug was a ski instructor in Telluride, Kelly in Human Resources for The Peaks Resort. Lucy and Clarence grew fat and happy.

In September of 2007, Kelly’s company sent her on a business conference to Florida. When she came back, Kat said she was changed.
“Kelly told me how great Florida was, but more than that… She said she had met an amazing person, someone who really understood her, noticed everything about her… she told me she had met her soul mate.”

No one knew at the time that that person was David Perry, who later would become the only suspect in Kelly's disappearance last March 12th.

In June of 2007, Kelly made the decision to leave Colorado and move to Florida. She packed up everything that she wanted into her green Subaru and drove to Florida.

“I’ll never understand why she did that,(move to Florida) but I guess her relationship with Doug, in her eyes, had run its course.”

She left Lucy and Clarence with Doug.

“I think Kelly knew that the dogs would be better off with Doug; they were used to the wide open spaces to run in and she had no idea what type of condo or apartment she might be living in. But I know it hurt her to leave them. She and Lucy always had a special bond. She knew in her heart that Lucy would be better where she was.”

Doug Sanders rented his house out and spent that summer in Australia as a ski instructor there. Friends watched the dogs for the summer. When he came back from Australia, he opted to keep renting his house out, opting instead for a smaller apartment that was much closer to his job. But with that consolidation came space issues; Clarence and Lucy were both big dogs and Doug didn’t have enough room for both of them.

“About two months ago, Doug asked Jason and I if we could take Clarence. He was originally going to just keep Lucy. Then Jason got the idea that maybe the Rothwell’s would like to have Lucy. She was such a part of Kelly’s life and both of us thought it was a great idea. Nancy (Kelly’s mom) had already met both dogs when they came out to Colorado for Kelly’s wedding. So Nancy knew what a great dog she was. Jason called Nancy; she said she would be happy to take Lucy. So between Doug, Jason and Nancy, they got all the necessary preparations done for shipping her East.”

Jason bought a large dog crate and Kat worked with Lucy for a few days helping her get used to it.

“Lucy is just such a great dog; she is so mellow and well-behaved. I just love her!” Once again, emotion takes hold and Kat sits quietly for a moment before speaking again.

“We kept Lucy for a few days to help her get her acclimated to the large cumbersome dog crate. Jason and Nancy Rothwell coordinated the flights from Colorado to Maryland, where the Rothwell’s live. We talked with both Lauren and Nancy about; they were excited about having Lucy. They said it was like a piece of Kelly was returned to them.”

But giving Lucy up was the hardest part for Kat. Lucy represents to her all that Kelly was; vibrant, strong, alive, beautiful. Lucy was Kat’s last real connection to Kelly; to give that up was very difficult. Kat said goodbye to Lucy at the house, then sat in the front yard and cried for her friend.

“The last thing Kelly said to us when she left for Florida was, “Please take care of things and watch out for Doug. Make sure they’re all ok.. That’s how Kelly was, always thinking of others. I never saw her again…”

So as one door closes on this story, another now opens.

After a long 7 hour plane ride and a few delays, Lucy arrived safe and sound in Maryland and is now in the care of Nancy Rothwell, Kelly’s mother. According to Nancy, she is adapting well and sleeps beside the bed, just within an arms gentle reach of her. Nancy feels blessed to have her.

“She is such a sweet heart,” Nancy gushes. “She is so good and well mannered. I have to tell you, it really does feel like we’re getting a part to Kelly back too. And she just LOVES Lauren!! I’m very thankful to Doug and Jason for putting this all together! We all are so grateful… I really do feel like a piece of Kelly came back to me. When I hug Lucy, I remember that Kelly too, is present. It gives me great comfort just knowing she is here with our family.”

Lucy is now at home, among the things and people that helped shape Kelly Rothwell. Lucy is much loved.

“Lucy will always remind me to keep moving, go forward and persevere,” Nancy Rothwell said with a hint of sadness. “She is a part of Kelly that I could get back…... It’s what I can hold onto.”

Its been a year and still there is no word on where Kelly is or what happened to her.

Meanwhile Kelly Rothwell is still missing…..

This article contains information that was obtained exclusively by me, is copyrighted and cannot be used or reproduced in any way without my express permission for it's reproduction unless/ and/ or/ is expressly attributed to Leigh Clifton and Tampa Bay Crime Report. Leigh Clifton © 2012

Will David Perry be Able to Afford Valentine's Gifts and Which Lucky Gal Gets the Romantic VD Dinner at Wegmans?

No one has seen David Perry lately. And nobody has seen him tooling around town in his swanky his little blue 2006 Honda lately. License plate number # BRC -5978. The same Honda he drove to New York last year, leaving the same night his girlfriend Kelly Rothwell went “missing.” The same blue Honda he refused to give up to New York authorities for almost two weeks. The same blue Honda he probably cleaned out so meticulously, clinically removing any traces of… what? Camping equipment? A large sail bag? Kelly’s body perhaps?
What with his intense OCD raging, it’s a wonder Perry even let the cops touch his little blue Honda at all. Sound familiar folks? Perry has a penchant for replacing things and people that are no longer useful to him. He smoothly glides from one object or person to another with such fluidity; it’s hard to keep up with him these days.
Look how he forgot Kelly? After a three year relationship, how could it have been so easy to hook up with someone else SO fast? And then MARRY someone, all the while the “love of his life” is missing? He never bothered to help look for Kelly, never spoke to law enforcement about her... AT ALL….Like I said, replacements always seems to be in the wings. Now he is being replaced; divorced by a woman who probably saved her own life by doing just that.
Perry has some deep insecurities, according to his ex-wife Luana that might explain his narcissistic behavior. “Dave can never be alone,” she said in an interview. “He always has to have someone around him. When we were married, he was seeing two, sometimes three other women. Once he brought a girl home to OUR home. He told me to just deal with it! He went after a good friend of mine at a party; she was married at the time. But he didn’t care about that. He took advantage of her when we were all partying and then just left her on the floor. He didn’t care. He has no conscience, no morals. He doesn’t care who it is, if they’re married or even much younger than him. He has to prove that he’s bigger and badder than everybody else. He’s so sick... it was a nightmare living with him. I’ll bet he had someone even while he was married to Melissa Walker. There’s no way he could be alone for that long with her so far away.”
So how IS David Perry paying for all of his new toys? We know that he is being investigated for fraud by the New York State Insurance Fund for claiming an injury in an inmate-related scuffle he allegedly was involved in. We also know that Social Security, which he is also collecting, is hot on his trail for fraud as well. So where is the money coming from? Luana has a few ideas…
“Dave always had a lot of money on him and he used to keep a big stash in the house. He always seemed to know guys who were known drug dealers at the time too. When we were still married, we used to drive down to Florida all the time from New York and then back up to New York. I never asked what he was taking and bringing, but I had a pretty good idea...”
Luana said that Perry smoked a lot of pot; in fact on one of the domestic abuse calls to the house while they were still married, the investigating officer found pot growing in the basement of Perry’s house and a gun on top of the refrigerator. One anonymous New York officer still can’t figure out to this day how he got away with that; the charges were suddenly dropped at arraignment.
Does Perry have a secret stash that he’s been living on? How can he afford trips to Hawaii for almost a month, an engagement ring (‘Oh, and I want that back’) and a beach wedding as well as a new apt while his house ,which is up for sale, is being shown. How is he affording the first, last and deposit? Since he has been accused of defrauding the state of New York, do you think they just MIGHT want to cut him off?? And if they have, then how is he paying for his new toys?
Perry has some Florida Keys connections too; friends with fast boats and fishing charters. Great business, with wonderful, easy access to the Gulf of Mexico from say, Islamorada. Does anyone else here go HHHMMM? Anybody?
Does anybody really believe that Perry came BACK to Florida last year for BAR STOOLS??? So what WAS in the storage unit that he had to have?
So many questions that have no answers…
Like, where is Kelly Rothwell, Dave? Did you drive her to New York in the blue Honda and dispose of her up there? UP there where you thought no one would look? Is that why you were SO cocky in your comments to this blog, claiming that no one would ever find her? Guess again... No one has given up the search; if anything, people are more determined than ever to bring Kelly justice.
Oh and enjoy Valentine’s Day, Dave….Don’t forget to wear red for all your gals…

It’s almost a year that Kelly has been gone… 11 months today
Where is the justice that Kelly and her family deserve? Time will tell...

David Perry Already Has a New Girlfriend… and a New Apartment.

It seems that David Perry already has a new girlfriend… he admitted as much on a blog called True Crime Report. Of course, he made the mistake of saying “I already have a new gf” first in his prose about his latest conquest, before he caught himself and changed it to “He already has a new gf”. But you get the gist. He tried to backtrack but it’s out there now. I’m sure that, while this knowledge may hurt Melissa’s heart, I hope she realizes it’s better to find out now, rather than later. I hope she can heal from all of this. He has also moved out of his house; I think he’s been out of there since he put it on the market. He as much admitted this as well, saying his “suck a rock attorney already knows” when one of the commenters asked him about his new apartment. Is it in Burdett, Vestal, or Endicott? Does he have to be near his bail bondsman in order to meet the requirements for his bail? Is he already living with the new girl, even as he begs his soon-to-be –ex-wife to come back to him? Thank God Melissa Walker has a level head on her shoulders now, a strong family presence to back her up and lives thousands of miles away from him. I wonder if his bail bondsman even knows that the house he used as collateral for his bond is up for sale. Is that even legal? I’m assuming the DA in his case knows all this. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Meanwhile, the wheels of justice for Kelly Rothwell continue to turn. Because she is still missing….. This article contains information that was obtained exclusively by me, is copyrighted and cannot be used or reproduced in any way without my express permission for it's reproduction unless/ and/ or/ is expressly attributed to Leigh Clifton and Tampa Bay Crime Report. Leigh Clifton © 2012

David Perry Texts to Melissa Walker’s Sister Show Creepy Pattern of Obsession, Stalker-Like Behavior.


This article contains information that was obtained exclusively by me, is copyrighted and cannot be used or reproduced in any way without my express permission for it's reproduction unless/ and/ or/ is expressly attributed to Leigh Clifton and Tampa Bay Crime Report. Leigh Clifton © 2012


With the news this evening of possible felony aggravated stalking charges being levied at David Perry in the disappearance of Kelly Rothwell, David Perry’s character (or lack of it) is coming under increased scrutiny and certainly lends credence to the stories of his stalking that other women, including his ex-wife Luana, co-workers and ex girlfriend Ann Morris have told about him.
Perry’s pattern seems to remain a constant; with all of the women he has either dated or been married to, as with Kelly, he started out charming and attentive, gradually gaining the confidence and trust of the object of his affections. But soon he graduated to subtle forms of control; as in Kelly’s case and the others, he put the cell phones in his name. Then, as in Kelly’s case, gradually the bank accounts become joint accounts and are in his hometown Elmira, N.Y. Bank of Chemung Canal. Soon he started to call, “just to hear your voice”, then he texted when the woman doesn’t answer right away. He sent flowers and presents to the woman’s work, which he did in Kelly’s case as well as other women he was involved with. He started showing up unannounced and became resentful when he wasn’t welcome. He became threatening when the woman tried to leave him. Those that did get away became objects of his anger and revenge and possibly with Kelly, the ultimate betrayal, he killed her instead of letting her walk away from him.
All of this behavior is classic stalking; a man obsessed with perfection and control, who manipulates at first by kindness and generosity, but degenerates into fear, violence and ultimately, murder. David Perry exhibited all of the classic signs of a stalker, not only with Kelly, but the many other women he was involved with over the years.
His latest “victim”, Melissa Walker, married the kind, generous guy that Perry always is in the beginning, although he was beginning to show signs of obsession and control already into their four month of marriage. The cell phones were already in his name and as Melissa was slowly starting to realize that something wasn’t quite right, her family became increasingly suspicious and fearful for her.
Older sister Cassie is very close to Melissa and she began to suspect that something was just off in the relationship. She and her family were not even told until after the wedding that Walker and Perry had married.
“I even mentioned that she should wait until he was found innocent of the charges,” Cassie said. “Then she could marry him with a clear conscience and they wouldn’t have all that hanging over their heads. But she loved him so much and he was so wonderful to her, she just wanted to be a wife and eventually have a family.”
But even as Cassie suspicions grew, Perry convinced Melissa not to read what was being written about him and not to believe anything being said about his involvement in Kelly Rothwell’s disappearance. So she didn’t.
“You have to understand,” Cassie said, “that my sister is smart, beautiful and loves people. She wants to see the good in everyone. So she ignored whatever signs there were that something wasn’t quite right and just went with her heart.”
Just like Kelly Rothwell…..
On December 27th, when a family member called Cassie in tears and told her to read a letter that I had written to Melissa on this blog, Cassie knew that what was being said about Perry had merit. She convinced Melissa to read it. On December 30th, Melissa filed for divorce. And true to form, David Perry started barraging her with texts and phone calls. When he couldn’t get through to Melissa, he started texting Cassie, trying to get her on his side. His texts were rambling and full of misspellings. But more than that, they show the mind of a man on the edge that seems poised to start stalking his latest victim. Below are the texts sent to Cassie over an afternoon/evening period. Note that he calls Melissa his “yummy wife” and makes reference to their souls being together forever. CREEPY and possibly dangerous?
If it sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same thing he said to Kelly. And Luana… And Ann… And Wendy… He recently told a person in New York that Kelly was his “soul-mate”. He insisted he had nothing to do with her disappearance.
Below are the texts he sent, complete with misspellings and punctuation. Interesting to note is the spelling of “ happymess”, a noted misspelling that appeared in David Perry’s “Innocent” FaceBook page often as well as the spew that was written on True Crime Report, with vile and disgusting comments that many attribute directly to Perry.
You be the judge ….Read on…


cassie its dave melissa husband i just wanted to apologies for any issues i have caused melissa you and your family ........ I never meant to hurt any of you and am sorry that your family has been brought into this .. I am not the person the internet claims i am and i have never hurt anyone in any way !!!!! Always know melissa is my world and my love and life !!!! And would do anything for her including walking away so she can move forward --- my heart is crushed but her happymess is so more important to me .... Again i am truly sorry and will do anything for your sister
Melissa is my heart and soul !!!! Always has been always will be !!!!! And her happiness is all i care about ...... So if that means me being unhappy so she can find happiness so be it !!!! I know deep down our hearts and soul are one and will always be .... I would give anything including my life to make her happy --- she means everything to me ........ I love and adore her deeply and i will always feel that way no one can take that from me !!!!! Thank you for being there for her she loves you so so much ....
I struggle every second every minute every day without melissa !!!!! So lost and confused without my yummy wife this might sound stupid but i have called her phone just to hear her voice
Fwd: I have lost everything over this my friends my children are harassed and now my family melissa and little grace..... Only thing they have to take now is my life and i refused to give them that !!!!!

I am assuming that Perry is referring to his daughter Brittani’s new baby, Grace, who it is said he has not been allowed to see.
What is most frightening to me is that Melissa may think that she will be able to just divorce this man and walk away. I hope that she is not that naïve. I hope she has strong defenses and people around her that will hold her up and keep her safe.

Two other points of note:
1) Melissa wants her name back. She has told Perry that she does NOT want him to have her last name. He took her last name when they married. Did he think a name change would suddenly make him pure in everyone’s eyes? Does he have another motive, say; to get out of town unnoticed if everything goes south?
2) David Perry replied to her divorce lawyer that he will only sign the divorce papers IF Melissa gives him his ring back. Sound familiar? Guess he thinks he will need it for his next conquest…. REGIFTING again Perry? Really?

Meanwhile, Kelly Rothwell is still missing…
Ten months today… and her family is still waiting for answers~~

A Mind Changed, Perhaps a Life Saved…

By Leigh Clifton

This is the original open letter (below) I wrote to Melissa Walker in August of 2011. I wrote it on the off chance that she might see it and that it might have some impact or maybe even change her mind. Little did I know that it would ultimately have the biggest impact and perhaps saved her life. I am proud of this; not for the writing, but for the reading of it. I’m proud that common words of sense and decency transcended an almost demonic grip on a young, vibrant, beautiful woman, and made her change her mind. It’s as simple as that.

But Kelly Rothwell was a young, vibrant, beautiful woman, who saw the demon too little too late. She paid the ultimate price for her loyalty and her decency.
On Tuesday December 27, three days before Melissa Walker made her announcement on Fox News that she was divorcing David Perry, I received these two emails below the original letter. Because David Perry has written to me before and used aliases, I wanted to substantiate the source before I printed them. I made some calls and ultimately came to the conclusion that the one from her sister Cassandra really WAS from her; the other one from Melissa I had to conclude was genuine as well. I waited to speak to Melissa’s sister Cassandra because I wanted to give Melissa her privacy for as long as possible, knowing that once the news broke she would get no peace.
Cassandra Williams is a powerhouse and she is very protective of her sister Melissa.
“Melissa is a very smart girl, a personal trainer and licensed esthetician. She gets bored easily because she always likes to be on the go all the time. I mean, who hikes 20 miles before breakfast for fun?”

Cassandra suggested she enter the Reserves and Melissa, in her 30’s, aced boot camp and every test they gave her. So they asked her to enlist for a year,telling her she could be stationed in Hawaii at the Army Medical Center. She had no specific interest in the psychiatry field but did so well on her trials there, they asked her to stay on for the year.”
Cassandra was surprised to learn that Melissa had married David Perry; the family wasn’t told until after the summer wedding. By that time, Cassandra had read some of the stories circulating about Perry and his possible involvement in Kelly Rothwell’s disappearance.

“I did wonder if he was guilty, but I and my whole family wanted to be supportive of my sister. She is a smart, beautiful and talented woman and we trusted that she would make the right decisions.”

But even superior intelligence can be no match for a psychopath, not when they want to charm you and subtly gain control over you. It starts slowly and like Kelly, David had Melissa’s phone put in his name. There were other signs, small ones, but none that were glaring enough to cause Melissa any alarm, according to her sister.

“I just made sure I talked to her (Melissa) every day,” Cassandra said. “We’re very close and always talk about our day, no matter where we are.”

Then,last week,an immediate family member of Cassandra’s called her in tears, reading my open letter blog post over the phone. Cassandra then read it and called Melissa, who also read it. She had no idea it was even out there; David Perry had her convinced NOT to read anything about him and not to answer media requests, telling her they were “all lies”.

Cassandra said Melissa was appalled and suddenly realized she had made a huge mistake in marrying David Perry. Cassandra assured her she did, because by this time Cassandra has started doing her own investigation on David Perry and was alarmed at what she found. Cassandra was also upset that it was also affecting her whole family.

“My sister knew that she needed to clear her name and no longer wanted to be associated with Dave. She realized that he probably was guilty. So we talked and she decided that she should divorce him. She wants nothing more to do with him. All I want is to protect my sister. She really fell for this guy and it hurts.”

One interesting note to all of this; when Perry and Melissa got married, he took her last name of Walker. He has a Hawaii driver’s license as David Walker. Coincidentally (or not) his mother’s last name was Walker too.

Melissa Walker will never know how close to danger she may have been, but thankfully she will be safe and away from David Perry. Her family will love and support her through this hard time.

Kelly Rothwell tried to get away from the danger, but could not. She paid with it with her life.

She is still missing……

An Open Letter to Melissa Marie Walker
Dear Ms. Walker,
By now I’m sure you know who I am and the many others that comprise the family, friends, colleagues and advocates of Kelly Rothwell. She is the woman who has been missing since March 12th, with a high probability that it was her then-boyfriend Davis Perry who it is widely believed has killed her and moved on to you.
I heard that you refused to listen to law enforcement when they initially told you how dangerous a man David Perry is and I am very surprised that you not only have maintained a relationship with him, but are actually thinking of marrying him, if you haven’t already. I can think of several reasons NOT doing this, which I will enumerate:
Could it be that you and Perry already had a relationship going on behind Kelly’s back and she found out about it, wanting to confront Perry. Is that why he killed her? I would have to further suppose that you knew about it... it that true?
Did the two of you plot this together or are you just a pawn in his game of lies and deceit? I find it extremely difficult to comprehend how a woman like you can NOT see what Perry is really all about.
There is documented proof, in graphic detail, of how abusive Perry was to his wife Luana and their three children. Yes, the records are sealed, but CAN be opened in a military enquiry, if Law Enforcement is so compelled. There is also proof that Perry stalked Kelly, followed her around, hacked her computer and phone records, (the phone by the way, was in HIS name)… and generally exerted a gradual control over her life.
He did this with Luana, and several OTHER women he was with; ask him about Ann Morris, who he left after almost 13 years when he met Kelly. He told his friends he had met a “rich bitch with money” and was moving to Florida. Ask him about another Kellie, a woman with who he had an affair AND a child while he was still married to Luana. He got fired from the Outback Steakhouse for trying to choke out a cook who didn’t cook his food right. Luana said that he would often choke her so tight that she would lose consciousness. He also told her he could kill her and they would never find her body.
Doesn’t it bother you at all that he is a SUSPECT in Kelly’s disappearance AND has been charged with 2 Felony Grand Larceny counts of Work Comp fraud? Since you work in healthcare yourself, I would assume that any negative mark on his record would also reflect poorly on yours as well.
I hear he’s quite the charmer… has he tried to “teach” you how to iron yet? Has he done the laundry “for you” to be nice? Has he picked out what he wants you to wear? Has he shown up with flowers at the hospital or when he comes home to your place? Has he called you MANY times a day “just to say he loves you”? Have you seen him vacuum until he can see the lines in the rug? What about his car? Or yours? Is it meticulous? Can you eat a French fry in it if you want without him getting paranoid? What about the linen closet? Has he folded everything perfectly and lined the colors up just so? What about the kitchen cabinets? All the food labels facing forward and lined up like ducks in a row? How about the bathroom? Shower curtain just so as well?
I ask these things because abusers and sociopaths almost always start out like this; they make you think they are indispensable to you and little by little you lose yourself, until you are under his control and can’t get out. Then you end up like Kelly “missing” and presumed dead. Because that is what will happen to you. I could almost lay money on it.
But perhaps you have some intimate knowledge of Kelly’s disappearance….Maybe you know something. Maybe you like the rush of the “bad boy” image.. Is it exciting to lay next to a man who may have killed his girlfriend, thinking there’s no way he would EVER hurt you like that… Think again... again I say there is documentable proof of his prior abuse.
We heard that he applied for a marriage license… could it be to keep you quiet? So you couldn’t testify against him in a court of law? Interesting how things are working out, eh? What does your family think of all this? Do they even care about you? David Perry only thinks about himself, let’s be clear on that. It will only be a matter of time before you start to see the real abuser he is known to be… again... DOCUMENTED PROOF. Because trust me.. He WILL show his true colors and you will be blindsided by it. Be careful; you could be his next victim.

Perhaps you are a nice person; I don’t know you and can’t judge your character. But I DO know that YOUR military salary is being paid for with OUR tax dollars. I don’t think I should have to pay for you to enjoy a life with a man who took one.
Sincerely,
Leigh Clifton,
The Rothwell Family and
Friends of Kelly who Demand Justice


I met Dave Perry in April. He treated me like an angel from day one, through and to the moment I told him I no longer wanted to speak with him. By the way, he has respected my request. Was it wrong of me to ignore the media? Maybe it was wrong. There was never any evidence to prove the accusations. Still there is no evidence. I wanted to believe his words that he is innocent. I pray he is. Was it stupid of me to follow my heart? Maybe it was stupid. I try to live life with an open, honest, loving, forgiving heart. Do I hope and pray that he who is responsible for the disappearance/murder of Kelly pay in full for what he has done? Yes, please, find the evidence today to put that person away. Whoever it is should pay and I have prayed for that from the beginning. Try not to be judgmental. You do not know me.
By melissa on An Open Letter to Melissa Marie Walker on 12/27/11


First I want to say I am Melissa’s older sister, And I am just as disgusted as you all are, and I send my prayers to Kelly’s friends and family and I also want to say I want this case to be solved and the truth to be revealed. Then I want to say that Melissa is smart, she’s kind, she’s beautiful, she is a great sister, and a wonderful aunt to 2 little boys. She is also woman that was sucked in by Dave’s charm and his lies. She is not the only woman that has fallen for it RIGHT???? There is no way that she had any knowledge of his intentions to harm Kelly in any way, or that she even knew about Kelly until it was too late. I want to be clear one thing.... MY SISTER WOULD NEVER EVER HURT ANYONE, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH A MAN WHO LED HER TO BELIEVE HES SOMETHING THAT HE’S NOT, DID SHE MAKE A MISTAKE? DID SHE HAVE BAD JUDGEMENT IN CHARACTER? IT SEEMS SO, BUT SHE WOULD NEVER, I MEAN NEVER, CONDONE, SUPPORT OR STAND BY SOMEONE WHO HAD DONE SOMETHING SO TERRIBLE.YES SHE HAS BEEN WARNED BY PINELLAS COUNTY DETECTIVES, BUT THERE’S THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF HORRIBLE CRIMES AND DONE YEARS IN PRISON THEN LATER RELEASED, ALL CHARGES DROPPED AND AN "IM SORRY", LIVES RUINED FOR NOTHING. WHAT I WANT IS FOR PINALLES COUNTY DETECTIVES TO GET THE EVIDENCE THEY NEED FOR A CONVICTION SO I DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY SISTER, AGAIN MY PRAYERS ARE WITH KELLY AND HER FAMILY, AND I WRITE THIS IN SUPPORT OF THE TRUTH.
By CASSANDRA on An Open Letter to Melissa Marie Walker on 12/27/11

According to David Perry, Re-gifting Isn’t Just for Christmas Anymore

It seems that David Perry has a history of “re-gifting” all KINDS of things to the women in his life and engagement rings seem to be the most popular.

According to Perry’s ex-wife Luana, David Perry used to go out with a girl named Wendy Reagan at Southside High School in Elmira, New York. During the course of their two year courtship, Perry bought Reagan a small diamond solitaire engagement ring. When they broke up and Perry started dating Luana, he tried to give Luana the same ring he had previously given to Reagan as an engagement ring.

But Steve Redner, an ex-Perry friend, told Luana that the ring had been Perry’s old girlfriend’s and Luana made Perry buy her one of her own.

“It didn’t surprise me one bit,when I heard about Kelly’s ring,” Luana said. “He tried to do the same thing to me. But when I found out it was Wendy’s ring, I gave it back to him. He got me another one, but it must have been cheap, because it broke after a while. The diamond fell out of it. So we actually got another wedding set altogether.”

Luana Greenfield had some other interesting insight into Perry’s psyche. She feels bad that Kelly wasn’t able to see Perry for what Luana says is the evil that he is.

“Davey told me that last September, he and his Dad got into a fight, I think about borrowing money, and David went off. All of this was in front of Kelly, they were living in Florida and Davey said Kelly just sat there. So Davey turned to her and told her she didn't know the REAL David Perry and that she should get out of the relationship as fast as she could. Davey really liked Kelly and I don’t think he wanted to see her get hurt or worse. Davey said he tried to warn her couple of times, telling her ‘You don’t know who he is or what he’s done.’ Even Brittany told Kelly Dave was playing her.”

According to Luana, Perry was very abusive during their marriage and would often pretend he was going to hit her. That, she said, was what Perry called “keeping you in check.”

“He would raise his hand and I never knew if he was going to actually hit me or not. He wanted to see me cringe. He’s all about the power.I’ll bet he did the same thing to Kelly. Maybe that's why she just sat there when Davey and Dave had that fight."

Luana said that Perry threatened to kill her so many times that she used to say “Fine, go ahead and kill me then and get me out of this nightmare! Dave would just laugh in my face… he didn’t care. He was just pure evil.”

Luana said that the most trivial things would send Perry into a blind rage. A picture not turned the right way, something a little out of place, would all be noticed by Perry, who exhibits severe OCD tendencies, and he would start screaming. His constant vacuuming and obsession with uber-cleanliness made his whole family paranoid. After Perry and Luana split up, and Perry started dating Ann Morris, Luana said that Ann was so scared of Perry that she would lock the kids out of the house so she could clean the house to his specifications. She didn’t want them they to track in any dirt on the perfectly-vacuumed rug. Perry liked to see the lines in the rug.

“Once, poor Brittany tried to get into the house to go to the bathroom, and Ann wouldn’t let her in because she wasn’t finished cleaning. She locked the kids out! Brittany was about 13, I think and she had to go to the bathroom outside! THAT’S how scared he made people feel.”

Where is Kelly’s Antique Diamond Ring?

In talking to Mrs. Rothwell, she said that a few years ago Kelly had been given an antique diamond ring that had belonged to her great-grandmother, Nancy Rothwell’s mother. The ring was a thin band of gold with an approximately ½ carat diamond inset into the band, with smaller stones on either side of the diamond. Kelly’s sister Lauren said Kelly would wear it on special occasions; it had great sentimental value to her. And its missing.

“That ring was my grandmother’s and was passed down through my family, first to my mother, then me, then ultimately Kelly, as the oldest daughter ,” Nancy Rothwell told me. “Kelly loved it and always took such good care of it, having it cleaned and always having the diamond checked. The gold was wearing very thin on the underside of it because it was so old. I know she loved that ring.”

When Nancy Rothwell came down to Florida the week that Kelly disappeared, she sadly had to collect her daughter’s possessions from the condo that Kelly and David Perry, the only suspect in her disappearance had shared. The very same condo that in all possibility was where Kelly Rothwell was murdered March 12th when she came home to break up with David Perry, who was becoming increasingly paranoid, jealous and out of control emotionally.

When Nancy Rothwell returned home to Maryland, Kelly’s things, boxes of clothes and other possessions sat in the living room; Nancy was just too overwhelmed to go through them. The smells, the little things that were so Kelly were just too much for the family to handle. So they sat for quite a while until finally Nancy and Kelly’s sister Lauren summoned the courage to open some of the boxes up.
“I think I knew that if or when I opened up those boxes, it would prove that Kelly was really gone, taken from us … and she wouldn’t be coming home,” Nancy Rothwell said. “It’s all just still too much to handle.”
With Lauren’ s help, the boxes are slowly being opened up and Kelly’s other sister Lindsay, Lauren’s fraternal twin is finding great comfort in wearing some of Kelly’s things.

“I feel like it brings me closer to her,” Lindsay said. “There are some things that I recognize that Kelly wore when we were growing up; they bring back good memories for me. But I miss her so much… it just hurts ...” she said, her voice trailing off in obvious sadness and pain.

When Nancy Rothwell was finally able to go through Kelly’s jewelry box, she couldn’t find the family heirloom anywhere… the ring was missing. Nancy was very upset; she wanted to at least have it back so she could have a piece of her daughter back. But the ring is nowhere to be found.
Could Kelly have been wearing it the night she ‘disappeared’ and was probably murdered? If so, is the ring still with her, wherever she is? Or did David Perry steal it or worse yet, use it as the engagement ring for his new wife, Melissa Walker, all the while knowing it was Kelly’s, the self –professed “love of his life”, the one he never went searching for when she went “missing”?. Is Melissa the one wearing it now? Does it sit on her left hand, in some twisted, sick way so Perry can maintain his contact with Kelly? It is now widely believed that Perry was seeing or maintaining contact with Melissa Walker well before his claims that he met her AFTER Kelly’s disappearance. Indeed, remember that two weeks PRIOR to Kelly going missing, he has cancelled his gym membership, telling everyone that he was moving to Hawaii. Could it be coincidence that his then secret girlfriend, now wife, is now stationed in Hawaii at Tripler Army Medical Hospital? I hardly doubt it.
Luana, Perry’s ex-wife, whom Perry abused repeatedly during their marriage, said that Perry likes to keep little mementos, likes to keep something of those he has been involved with in his life. For example, he frequently used Luana’s birthday as his own, making himself a year younger than he was. He had used her name as his middle name as well. There is even speculation that he may have married on Luana’s August birthday. His ex-wife said that he does things like that a lot.. It helps to make him feel in control, something Perry’s narcissistic personality constantly demands.
Could Perry have used Kelly’s ring for his new bride’s engagement band? Perhaps with some story, close to the truth, that it was a family heirloom passed down to him as a way to keep Kelly “close?” Did he say it was his mother’s perhaps? The same mother who refused to have him at her own funeral? In his sick and twisted mind, he may feel justified doing so. After all, she was going to leave him; in his mind, NO ONE leaves him, he does the leaving. If Perry kept the ring, it is his excuse to maintain a connection to a woman he supposedly loved and probably fatally harmed.
As this Christmas evening winds down, Kelly Rothwell is not with her family and friends, she is not celebrating the holiday season with loved ones. She is missing and presumed dead. Now her precious family heirloom ring, inherited from her great-grandmother is missing as well.

Someone should check Melissa Walker Perry’s left hand……

David Perry Under Investigation by Social Security Administration

 By

Leigh Clifton

An anonymous source, who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisal by David Perry, said today that they called the United States Social Security Administration in May, to tell them that David Perry, currently a suspect in the disappearance of Police Cadet Kelly Rothwell, was collecting SSID Disability benefits illegally.  This source, who had first-hand knowledge of Perry’s activities while he was living in Florida with Rothwell at their Indian Rocks Beach condo, told a Social Security investigator that they had seen Perry running regularly, wind-surfing and kite boarding on the beach in front of the condo, and biking around the neighborhood among other actions that a supposedly –injured person should not be able to do.

 The source also confirmed that the investigators also talked to the manager of GetFitness, the gym that Perry belonged to, and that the manager confirmed that Perry often worked out there strenuously. Another source, who also did not want to be identified for fear of reprisal from Perry, said that he used to kite and wind-surf with Perry on the beach. He was also questioned by Social Security investigators and confirmed that Perry would often work out on the beach and did in fact wind and kite surf there. This source, when first approached in March with the info that Kelly Rothwell was missing, said instantly that he thought David Perry had killed Rothwell, citing the many times that he had seen Perry’s irrational and often violent behavior when the source and a friend would hang out with Rothwell and Perry.

“He would turn on a dime,” the source said. “One minute he was all charming and sweet; he would reach over and touch Kelly on the shoulder or something nice. But put a wet glass down on the table and he got instantly annoyed, really pissed, and he would jump up to get a towel to dry it off right away.”

 The source continued. “At dinner, he would do all the talking; Kelly rarely said anything, other than to agree with something he said. It was really weird. But if she’s missing, he did it. I’ve seen his rages first-hand. Once I told him, as a joke, that I did a criminal background check on him and he went ballistic. He started screaming and yelling at me; I thought he was gonna hit me. I was only kidding him. We never spoke again after that.”

Windsurfing or kite sailing is a water sport that combines elements of sailing and surfing. It consists of a board usually two to four feet long, powered by the effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a mast, wishbone boom and sail. The sail area ranges from less than 3 feet to more than 12 feet, depending on the conditions, the skill of the sailor and the type of windsurfing being undertaken.

A kite- surfer or kite-boarder uses a board with or without foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel the rider and the board across the water. Both of these sports require a tremendous amount of upper body strength and coordination, and should be extremely difficult to do if one was disabled or injured in the manner that Perry has claimed to be.

Meanwhile, Perry is living back in Elmira, New York and has been seen by many up there biking and jogging around town. When approached by a local TV crew after his Grand Jury indictment, Perry took off running and easily avoided the cameraman. The footage clearly shows Perry capable of running. He did not appear to limp or seemed to be in pain.

Perry, who was indicted by a Grand Jury in Broome County, New York earlier this winter on felony grand larceny and fraud charges, is currently out on bail. The charges stem from an alleged Work-Comp injury sustained while he was working as a prison guard at Elmira Correctional Facility, in which Perry claimed to have been injured in an inmate-related scuffle. Perry claimed to have injured his back and in October of 2003, was able to successfully obtained permanent disability benefits from both Social Security and the New York State Insurance Fund, which pays Workman’s Comp benefits.

It was recently revealed that he married Melissa Walker, an Army Specialist who is based at Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii. In an inexplicable move, Judge Martin Smith of Broome County allowed Perry to go to Hawaii in late July for a month. It was then that Perry applied for a marriage license and appears to have married Walker in August of this year. Perry claims to have met Walker on Craig’s List after Kelly went missing, although people who frequent Perry’s Florida gym told authorities that two week PRIOR to Kelly’s disappearance, Perry cancelled his gym membership, telling everyone he was moving to Hawaii.

Perry’s action is at the least, suspect, at the most, actionable. He has refused to speak to police and is taunting Kelly’s friends, supporters and family on FaceBook pages that have been set up in support of Kelly. He has made “anonymous” comments to this blog, saying heinous things about Kelly that make absolutely no sense. He has ridiculed the efforts to find Kelly Rothwell yet was recently heard to say that Kelly “was the love of my life.” He has never looked for Kelly, nor helped nor volunteered any reason for her disappearance and his sudden flight to New York the day she went missing, March 12^th.

In a recent break in the Florida case, a local news station reported that a witness came forward to say that she had seen Perry acting strangely at Eagle Park, hiding behind a tree when she tried to catch his eye. She recognized him from a recent story done on his marriage to Walker. The witness, who was walking her dog at the time, said that when she saw the recent news story, she remembered seeing him in the park, which is about 7 miles from the condo that Perry and Rothwell shared.  She remembered his odd behavior as he tried to hide behind the tree, thinking it was very strange.

Meanwhile, Kelly Rothwell is still missing….

Kelly Rothwell (back to photographer) watches Perry practice with the kite sail. Perry was advised to learn to control the kite before trying to get on the surfboard with it.  Perry and Kelly Rothwell on the beach in Indian Rocks Beach.  Perry who was learning to kite surf, was told to practice with just the kite sail before getting up on the board. Here he is holding the kite, which measures about 8-12 feet across.

On the Road to Remember: C.U.E Center for Missing Persons Road Tour Visits Florida to Commemorate Missing Police Cadet Kelly Rothwell.

Executive Director and C.U.E. Center for Missing Persons Founder Monica Caison and several member of her search team visited the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Clearwater Thursday morning, stopping to commemorate missing police cadet Kelly Rothwell and bring awareness to her case as well as the many other missing cases throughout the United States. Rothwell has been missing from her Indian Rocks beach condo since March 12^th, the same day she went to break up with her live-in boyfriend David Perry after having lunch with a friend. David Perry left Florida abruptly the same day of her disappearance and has refused to cooperate with law enforcement. He is currently under indictment for felony insurance fraud in New York.

 Perry has been described as controlling and over-possessive, prone to violent rages and is a documented domestic abuser. Rothwell, a St. Petersburg Police cadet was a month from graduation and was ready to start a new life as a law enforcement officer. She was said to have wanted to work in the domestic violence field.

Monica Caison first heard about the Rothwell case after being contacted by a friend of Kelly’s who suggested they call her after Kelly’s disappearance. She and her search team came to Florida, spending almost two weeks searching for Kelly, including a concentrated effort at the Courtney Campbell Causeway, where the Road Tour stopped Thursday morning.

 Caison has repeatedly said that she feels Kelly’s body is not too far from her home.

“I have always said that I think she is located somewhere close to here,” she indicated that the Causeway is a probable place. “I really feel that she is here somewhere between this area and Tampa. We will be coming back sometime in December after the weather has cooled off. We’ll bring the cadaver dogs and this time I think we’ll bring submersible or drop cameras to search the deeper waters around the area. Hopefully we can get a lot of people with kayaks or small boats to help with that.”

Caison and her On the Road to Remember Tour have been stopping in some of the many cities and towns where the missing have been reported.

“There are hundreds of people that go missing every day,” Caison said. “So many of them don’t get the press or media coverage that could really help with their recovery, especially in the first days they go missing. You’ll notice that the people that are found had a lot of attention from the media from the beginning which really helped. It can jog someone’s memory; maybe they saw something or someone suspicious. Any information like that can really be helpful. This tour is to bring awareness to those who haven’t gotten that much publicity, those cold cases that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. We plan on traveling roughly 4,000 miles and make 20 pre-planned rally stops in seven states.”

Members of Kelly Rothwell’s family are grateful to Monica Caison for her tireless efforts to help find their sister and daughter. Living in Maryland, Kelly’s younger sister Lauren, who works and goes to school full time, was studying for a nursing final for Friday and was unable to attend the rally stop for her sister. But she is so appreciative of everyone’s hard work in the search for Kelly.

“Some people think that just because we (my family) don’t attend the public vigils and couldn’t be there for Thursday’s event, that we are indifferent to all of this. Nothing could be further from the truth. At our house, we speak of Kelly every day; we have a memorial to Kelly in our dining room, with some of her rocks and candles we light every day for her. We mourn her every day and it’s sad to think that some people don’t think we’re being proactive enough with her case,” Lauren said.

She continued with a catch in her voice, “They just don’t understand that on the 12^th of every month, it feels like we’re attending a funeral for my sister, over and over again. The pain is pretty unbearable to take and it’s very hard on my family when people say we aren’t doing enough. Trust me; we miss Kelly more than words can say. It just breaks our hearts and we want her back with us.”

Caison will continue her tour, moving on to Ft. Pierce and Jacksonville, Florida, then three stops in South Carolina before returning to their home base in Wilmington, North Carolina this Saturday, October 29^th.

David Perry Pleads NOT GUILTY in Work Comp, Insurance Fraud.

David Perry, the only suspect in St. Pete Florida Police Cadet and ex-girlfriend Kelly Rothwell’s missing persons/ presumed dead investigation has pleaded NOT GUILTY to two counts of insurance fraud /grand larceny. Perry made his appearance in a Broome County courtroom, and is still free on his original $25,000.00 bond, posted after his initial arrest in July. The Grand Jury indicted Perry last week on the charges that he obtained over $100,000.00, including Social Security Disability benefits for his claimed injuries. He was represented by Elmira attorney Tom  Reilly who argued the favorable outcome.

Perry is accused of lying about a work-related injury he said he sustained during an inmate fight at the Elmira Correctional Facility, where he worked as a Corrections Officer. Perry claimed to have been injured when wrestling an inmate to the ground, but eye witnesses who appeared before the Grand Jury last week dispute that.

According to WENY News, Perry current attorney, John Scanlon, had no comment.

David Perry, Suspect in Kelly Rothwell's Disappearance and Probable Homicide is Indicted on Grand Larceny Charges

David Perry, the only suspect in Kelly Rothwell's  disappearance and probable homicide has been indicted by a Broome County Grand Jury on Grand Larceny and Fraud charges. These charges stem from an Oct 2003 incident in which Perry claimed he was injured  at the Elmira Correctional facility  stemming from an inmate-related fight at the prison. As the news of a "RED DOT" came across the prison radio, Perry reportedly turned to his fellow CO's  (Corrections Officers) and said words to the effect: 'That's my ticket boys, I'm outta here and I won't be coming back."
Perry then retained Elmira lawyer Thomas Reilly,who represented him in a Work-Comp related claim against the State of New York Insurance Fund. He successfully defended Perry's claim and extended it to include Federal Social Security, which Perry also received and continues to do so as of this writing.
Perry, 47, who has been a suspect in his then-girlfriend Kelly Rothwell's disappearance in March, has continuously taunted and ridiculed family and supporters of Kelly Rothwell on Facebook since her disappearance, writing heinous and horrendous things about Kelly, her family and her friends. Perry even went  so far as to accuse Kelly's friend Donna Scharrett of harming her,  a charge that is both false and unimaginable
Now Perry has a new girlfriend, Melissa Walker, who is an Army Specialist at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. Walker,who is in psychiatry, has apparently been warned about Perry's past, which includes multiple domestic violence and  abuse issues and has decided to ignore the warnings from local Florida law enforcement.
What is very strange is that Perry, who met Walker on a Craig''s List ad, seems to have overlapped his women;  it seems that Perry was already involved with Walker when Kelly Rothwell drove home from lunch with her girlfriend Donna Scharrett to break up with Perry. Two weeks before Kelly drove home to her Indian Rocks Beach condo for the last time, Perry had already told people at his gym that he was "moving to Hawaii"....Rothwell was just getting ready to graduate from the St. Pete Police Academy and had NO plans to move anywhere. In fact, she had two local interviews lined up with police departments the week after she went "missing."
Could this be a motive for Perry to  murder  Kelly Rothwell? Could jealousy  have been the motive? Did Perry sense that Kelly was ready to move on from him, that she was tired of his constant stalking, controlling behavior? Could Melissa Walker be the key? Did she tell him that it was either her or Kelly? What does she know?
Or did David Perry just not want to take NO for an answer? A bully, used to getting his own way, striking down anyone who got in his way, Perry has a known history of violence, O.C.D. and narcissism.

Now Perry at least has to face a jury about his fake claims of injuries, injuries he says he sustained  during an inmate violence related incident in 2003.  But Perry has been seen, indeed PHOTOGRAPHED enjoying kite sailing kayaking, biking and hiking, ALL  activities that should be prohibitive with his type of claimed injuries.

Said Kelly's mother Nancy Rothwell of David Perry's indictment, " At least he'll pay for some of the many things he's done wrong, including hurting my beautiful daughter. He's done so many other things wrong to so many people that it's time he pays for at least some of them. If we never find Kelly, at least we know that he'll pay for some of the hurt he's caused in this world."
Who knows where this will lead. One thing is for certain.
Kelly Rothwell is STILL missing and her family needs justice. They need to bring their daughter and sister home.

What to Expect from A Grand Jury Indictment

If the Grand Jury last Thursday voted to indict David Perry on fraud and Grand Larceny 

charges, there will be procedures that will be followed. A lot of people are asking what's next so here is some information about the procedures that will be followed:

Most people know what happens during a criminal trial, but very few understand what happens during grand jury indictment proceedings. The purpose of a grand jury is to decide whether or not to indict a suspect for the charges that the prosecution wants to bring.

Grand juries are "secret" proceedings during which witnesses can give testimony without the presence of the suspect or his defense attorney. It is more informal than a trial, and witnesses are allowed to tell "stories" or give long explanations rather than simply answering the prosecutor's questions.

First, the prosecutor will give an opening statement to the grand jury and give reasons why he or she feels there is sufficient evidence to indict. The grand jury will be given a "bill", which details the charges against the suspect, and will explain any extenuating circumstances that give him or her reason to request an indictment.

Usually, prosecutors present only the minimum amount of evidence to secure an indictment. Since the defense attorney will have access to the grand jury transcript after an indictment has been returned, the prosecutor will not want to show his or her "full hand" until a trial date has been set. In most cases, evidence presented before a grand jury consists of testimony from witnesses and, in some cases, expert witnesses.

Before the grand jury indictment proceedings begin, the prosecutor will have notified all witnesses who must appear. Witnesses who fear that they might be under investigation have the right to refuse any questions the prosecutor asks. However, most prosecutors are smart enough to call only witnesses who can truly help their cause for indictment.

Although the suspect and his or her defense attorney will not be present while the prosecutor delivers evidence, he or she can claim the right to testify in front of the grand jury. This is usually not favorable for the defense, but if they believe that the suspect can inspire sympathy from the grand jury, they may decide that it is a viable option.

The suspect will give his or her account of what happened leading up to the crime, and will give reasons why he or she should not be indicted. The defense attorney is not allowed in the grand jury during this testimony, but the suspect can leave the grand jury room at any time to request the counsel of an attorney. Once the testimony has been given, the prosecutor can cross-examine the suspect to try and refute his or her statements.

The grand jury is given as much time as they need to indict, and when they have concluded their discussion, they will return a "true bill" or a "no-bill". A true bill means that the grand jury has recommended indictment, while a no-bill means that they do not feel that there is sufficient evidence to indict.  (Reprinted with credit to Steve Thompson, Associated Content/Yahoo)

In the United States, a federal indictment is written statement formally accusing a person of a crime. This is usually handed down by a grand jury after they have reviewed evidence and decided that there is sufficient to try a person for the crime. After a federal indictment, the accused person is arrested and detained, unless he can pay his set bail. He will then plead not guilty or guilty. In the case of a not guilty plea, the case will usually proceed to trial.

After a federal indictment, if an accused person has not already been detained, law enforcement officials will attempt to locate and arrest him. In many cases, an arrest warrant will be issued. This is a document officially stating that police officers can and will arrest him. When the accused has been arrested, he may then go before a judge for a bail hearing.

During the bail hearing, a judge will look at the details of the case and determine whether the accused is a serious flight risk. In cases involving particularly violent crimes or repeat offenders, the accused may be denied bail. Other times, the judge will set an amount that the accused must pay to get out of jail, known as a bail amount.

The next step after a federal indictment and bail hearing is usually a preliminary hearing known as an arraignment, or a post federal indictment arraignment. This is a short hearing in which the defendant is formally read the details concerning the crimes of which he is accused. He is then given a chance to plead guilty or not guilty.

A person may choose to plead guilty because of an overwhelming amount of evidence against him. Sometimes, federal prosecutors may also offer him a plea bargain, or plea agreement. With a plea agreement, prosecutors typically offer to charge the defendant with a lesser crime or impose a lighter sentence in exchange for him pleading guilty.

Defendants who choose to plead not guilty will typically go through a criminal trial. During this trial, prosecutors will present the evidence against the defendant, including any eyewitness and forensic evidence. A defendant's attorneys will also be allowed to state their case, presenting evidence in defense of the accused.

When both parties have presented all of their evidence, a jury will then deliberate before making a decision whether the defendant is guilty. If found guilty, a judge will then decide on a sentence. This can include stiff fines, along with incarceration. Defendants who have been found not guilty are free to leave.

Reprinted with credit to:

Written By: Christina Edwards     

Edited By: W. Everett   from Wise Geek ©

Forty Three Sign Federal Affidavits in Perry Fraud Case

 It has been reported today that forty three former and current Correctional Officers from Elmira Correctional Facility, in Elmira, New York have signed federal affidavits to the Division of Social Security. They are attesting that David Perry, the named suspect in then-girlfriend Kelly Rothwell’s disappearance and probable homicide, did willfully defraud the Federal Government when he made an alleged false Workman’s Comp injury claim in October of 2003. Perry is scheduled to face a Grand Jury in Broome County New York on October 13 at 12:45 P.M. to answer allegations at the state level.

There has been no word yet on when possible Federal charges could be levied against Perry for Social Security fraud. However, it can be assumed that if the Broome County Grand Jury comes back with an indictment, a Federal charge could not be far behind.

Perry has been writing on both his Facebook page and a blog, using my name to post the following post. Please be assured that I did NOT write this; David Perry has been pretending to be me, writing that I am his advocate. He started several Facebook pages using my name to spread lies and innuendo. Below is the actual text with noted spelling mistakes..

Saturday

·         Leigh Clifton
you are getting excited about nothing. Of course the grand jury will find cause. They always do. thats not a reason to celebrate. i repeat the grand jury will find cause. the real triumph will come when the deal or no deal is made. no one cares about the grand juries thumbs up to proceed. you guys got to better read and understand the basics. will david be found guilty of fraud? I dont think he wi...ll. will he be sent to prison for 15 years . no of course not my best guess if a deal is made or he is found guilty 12 months with restitution . thats all.
its best he put this behind him so he can move to hawaii and start his new life with his lovely girlfriend. we are all very excited for him to get past this. its a speed bump thats well over due wish him luck. Sincerely Leigh

As you can clearly see, this, as well as many other statements purportedly made by me, was in fact written by him.

On October 13^th, the Grand Jury of Broome County New York will hear evidence against David Perry for two counts of Felony Grand Larceny and Insurance Fraud.

Meanwhile, Kelly Rothwell is still missing…….