Kelle Ann Workman: 3 men arrested in 1989 cold case murder of 24-year-old Missouri woman

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

OLDFIELD, MISSOURI: In a chilling saga that unfolded in 1989, the disappearance and subsequent murder of 24-year-old Kelle Ann Workman saw a recent breakthrough with authorities announcing the arrest of three men.

Kelle Workman was last seen engaged in a routine task—mowing the lawn at a rural cemetery on a summer evening.

However, within a week, her lifeless body was discovered in a creek, approximately 10 miles away from where she was last seen. The circumstances surrounding her death remained unsolved, haunting investigators and family members alike.

Trio indicted on grave charges in Kelle Ann Workman murder

This week marked a significant turning point, as law enforcement officials revealed that three men had been arrested.

The suspects were identified as Wiley Belt, Leonard 'Dwight' Banks, and Bobby Lee Banks and indicted on charges including first-degree murder, forcible rape, and first-degree kidnapping, according to reports from the Associated Press.

Trio under scrutiny since the start of Kelle Ann Workman's case

The arrests were announced near Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, close to the location where Kelle had vanished more than thirty years ago. According to Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase, all three had been under suspicion since the inception of the case, as reported by The Springfield News Ledger.

Decades of investigative efforts saw intermittent developments, with archival clippings from 1990 revealing that Bobby had purportedly failed a polygraph test related to the incident. His ex-girlfriend had informed law enforcement that he lacked an alibi for the evening Kelle Workman went missing.

Nine years later, a warrant was issued by the Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Lab for Dwight Banks, along with another individual, in the quest for DNA evidence linking him to the crime. However, the tests did not yield conclusive findings, leaving the case in limbo.

Who was Kelle Ann Workman?

Described as a quiet woman living with her parents at the time of her death, Kelle was known for her contributions to the community, performing house and yard work for residents near Dogwood Cemetery. 

Chris Degase, speaking at the press conference, expressed the importance of bringing justice to Workman and providing closure to her grieving family. He stated, “I think we’re able to give Kelle some justice and hopefully give the family some closure, knowing that these guys are not here running around and simply getting away with it.” The three men are currently held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.