Finding Closure: Florida Cold Cases Finally Solved
A Decades-Long Quest for Answers
In a significant breakthrough, two long-standing cold cases in Kissimmee, Florida have finally been resolved, bringing closure to families who have waited years for answers. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office’s newly formed Cold Case Program, established in 2024, has already made remarkable progress by solving two of the county’s 32 unsolved cases. These breakthroughs represent not just professional achievements for law enforcement, but deeply personal resolutions for families who have lived with unanswered questions and unresolved grief for years. The cases—a 2007 fatal stabbing and a 2022 fatal shooting—demonstrate how persistent investigation and new approaches to cold cases can finally bring resolution, even when hope seemed lost.
The 2007 Case: De’Andre Nathaniel Wellnitz
The first case dates back to June 24, 2007, when 17-year-old De’Andre Nathaniel Wellnitz attended a house party that would tragically become the last event of his young life. During the gathering, Wellnitz was stabbed in the chest, sustaining fatal injuries. Despite initial investigation efforts, the case quickly went cold within months, leaving his family—particularly his mother, Kelly McDonald—in a state of prolonged grief and uncertainty. For eighteen years, McDonald replayed countless scenarios in her mind, wondering what happened to her son and who was responsible. The not knowing was perhaps as painful as the loss itself, as she lacked the basic facts needed to process her grief.
A Resolution Through Unexpected Circumstances
In October 2024, investigators identified a person of interest in Wellnitz’s case and tracked them down in Orlando. During an interview, this individual admitted to being at the same party as Wellnitz and provided a crucial account of what transpired that night. According to their testimony, they had been struck during a fight and, feeling threatened, grabbed a kitchen knife from nearby and began waving it defensively to prevent further attacks. After careful review of the evidence and testimony, investigators determined that the person had acted in self-defense and declined to file charges. While this resolution may not have been what the family initially hoped for, it provided something perhaps more valuable: clarity and truth after nearly two decades of uncertainty.
Finding Peace After Eighteen Years
The impact of this resolution on Wellnitz’s mother was profound. “I appreciate the empathy that was shown as well as them being straightforward with all of the details,” McDonald told reporters. “What it has done for me has given me closure… I’m able to stop playing the story that I’ve played for 18 years over and over again in my head. I’m able to see something different. I’m able to have peace now.” Her statement reflects the complex nature of closure in cases like these—sometimes, simply knowing the truth, regardless of whether it leads to criminal charges, can be the key to moving forward. McDonald expressed hope that other families in similar situations might also find peace, “even if it’s not what you think it should be.” Her perspective highlights an important reality about grief and closure: the path forward is seldom what we expect, but truth often provides a foundation for healing.
The 2022 Case: Justice for Jommil Baez-Quinones
The second case solved by the Cold Case Program involved the much more recent shooting death of Jommil Baez-Quinones on February 23, 2022. Baez-Quinones was shot multiple times near Indian Point Circle in Kissimmee. Despite intensive investigative efforts, all leads were eventually exhausted, and the case went cold—a stark reminder that even with modern forensic techniques and resources, some cases still defy immediate resolution. However, in October 2024, investigators reopened the case with fresh determination. Their renewed efforts quickly bore fruit when they identified 23-year-old Luis Eluvar Gonzalez as a suspect. With assistance from U.S. Marshals, authorities successfully apprehended Gonzalez, who now faces serious charges including first-degree manslaughter with a weapon and first-degree robbery with a firearm in connection with Baez-Quinones’ death.
The Power of Persistence in Cold Case Investigations
The resolution of these two cases underscores the value of dedicated cold case units and the importance of never giving up on unsolved crimes, no matter how much time has passed. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office’s Cold Case Program, though only established in 2024, has already demonstrated its effectiveness by bringing closure to two families and communities affected by these tragedies. These successes represent just the beginning of what persistent investigation can accomplish for the remaining 30 unsolved cases in the county. For the families of victims, these resolutions provide more than just answers—they offer the chance to finally process grief that has been suspended in the limbo of uncertainty. As Kelly McDonald’s powerful testimony shows, knowing the truth about what happened to a loved one can transform nearly two decades of tormented speculation into a path toward peace and acceptance. These cases remind us that justice and closure, while sometimes delayed, remain worthy pursuits that can heal deep wounds in both individual lives and communities.
