Tinsley family speaks about latest attention to cold case

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - One day after hearing new details of her murder 24 years ago, April Tinsley’s family has spoken publicly.

The girl’s uncle, Jim Tinsley spoke to NewsChannel 15 Tuesday on behalf of April’s parents; his brother Michael and sister-in-law Janet.

The family said it is thankful that April’s cold murder case will receive another round of national attention through a follow-up episode featuring the investigation on America’s Most Wanted.

The show’s host, John Walsh, and a crew were in Fort Wayne Monday to tape segments for the episode scheduled to air August 24 at 9:00 p.m. on Lifetime.

“It’s getting a lot of coverage and it should,” Tinsley said.  “I know somebody out there has to know something, I mean, this can’t go on forever.”

Tinsley questioned the timing of evidence released for the first time as part of the national coverage. 

Police revealed that a plastic Sears shopping bag was discovered near April’s body, found in a Dekalb County ditch four days after her disappearance.  The bag carried a uniquely designed sex toy investigators hoped would be recognized by a former partner of Tinsley’s killer.

GRAPHIC WARNING: Click here to see the uncensored picture of the sex toy

“They should have brought it out within at least a week after everything went down,” Tinsley said.  “I just hope it comes to an end.  The family’s grieving enough and all we want to do is see April rest in peace for now.”

The evidence was kept quiet until 24 years later in case it could be used to easily prosecute a suspect who would know about the object’s existence exclusively.

April Tinsley was eight-years-old when she went missing on April 1, 1988 while walking from a friend’s home.  Her body was found after someone molested and suffocated her.

NewsChannel 15 put together a video timeline of events surrounding the death of April Tinsley: