UMVA has learned that a major breakthrough has been made in the decades-long disappearance of Anna Lee Manning, a Kentucky woman who vanished over 30 years ago.
Anthony Blaine Manning, 59, and his mother, Barbara Ann Manning, 76, have been arrested and indicted on charges related to what investigators now believe was her murder. The pair was booked into the Boyle County Detention Center on May 19 and are being held on $2 million cash bonds.
The case, which has been a cold case for over 30 years, took a significant turn with the indictments. Authorities spent weeks investigating and gathering evidence, ultimately leading to the arrests. Anna Manning was just 23 years old when she disappeared from Junction City, Kentucky.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Anna Manning was last seen on November 19, 1992, standing outside Chinn’s Jewelry Shop on North Third Street. Her aunt, Elsie Williams, recalled seeing Anna that day, and she had shouted out to her aunt, saying she had something important to share.
Williams never learned what Anna wanted to say, and she never saw her niece again. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) database describes Anna as 5 feet tall and weighing about 108 pounds at the time of her disappearance.
Family members have long believed that Anna Manning’s body was buried on the property of her husband's mother, Barbara Manning. Authorities have searched the property multiple times, including a recent excavation on Spring Valley Road.
Elsie Williams, who is battling cancer, expressed her relief and hope that her niece's remains will be found soon. She alleged that Anthony Manning had been abusive during his relationship with Anna and had expressed concerns about him early on.
The Boyle County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information related to the case to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to uncover the truth behind Anna Manning's disappearance and presumed murder.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the investigation is focused on the property and the actions of Anthony and Barbara Manning. The community is still reeling from the news, and many are hopeful that justice will finally be served.
