When 19-year-old Tara Sidarovich disappeared from her Punta Gorda, Florida home on October 1, 2001, police hoped it would be an open and closed missing person case. However, the discovery of his remains in July 2002 pointed to a horrific homicide. Investigation Discovery’s “The Night That Didn’t End: Stolen Memories” takes the viewer through the murder and shows how the ensuing investigation ultimately focused on the perpetrators. Let’s dig into the details of this case and find out where Tara’s killers are currently, shall we?
How did Tara Sidarovich die?
Tara Sidarovich was a lively nineteen-year-old girl, in love with life. Adored by her friends and family, Tara loved spending time with her loved ones. She worked at the Golden Isle jewelry store and was even looking forward to becoming a big business in the future. It was indeed a dark day when his dreams were shattered due to a thoughtless crime.
When Tara’s siblings, Veronica and Paul Ord, got off their school bus on October 1, 2001, they were surprised to find Tara missing. Although the teenager’s car was still in the driveway and her essentials were still in the house, there was no sign of the missing girl. Her family became even more concerned when Tara didn’t show up at night and the police eventually got involved. For months, the police carried out an extensive search using cadaver dogs and search teams. A local ranch was raided and Tara’s family even announced a $5,000 reward. Still, there was no sign of the missing teenager. Additionally, while investigating Tara’s disappearance, police learned that jewelry was also stolen from the Sidarovich household.
Finally, in July 2002, police discovered a makeshift grave in the woods near Burnt Store Road in Punta Gorda. Inside, they found the skeletal remains of a human body, which was later determined to be Tara’s. After the body was found, the police immediately closed the case as a homicide and launched an investigation determined to bring the culprits to justice.
Who killed Tara Sidarovitch?
Unfortunately, there weren’t many leads, which made the initial investigation relatively slow. Authorities took several interviews, but none of Tara’s acquaintances knew why anyone would want to hurt the nineteen-year-old. It was becoming difficult to progress without any leads, and even asking the public for help didn’t offer much respite. So for years the case was not resolved without any progress.
When detectives decided to reinvestigate the case, they learned that on the day Tara disappeared, David Ray McMannis and Phillip Barr had arrived at her home for some plumbing work. Although the two men were considered suspects, the police had nothing to prove their involvement. Surprisingly, in 2007, Michael Artell came forward and told police that Barr was afraid of becoming a suspect in Tara’s murder. Michael and Barr met in prison while the latter was serving an unrelated sentence, and their conversation led Michael to suspect his fellow inmate’s involvement in the murder. Several witnesses put Barr’s truck at the scene of Tara’s disappearance, and Charlotte County Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Harrison claimed he spotted Barr cleaning the floor of his truck less than 24 hours later. Tara’s disappearance.
Additionally, according to the show, Barr’s ex-girlfriend also said she noticed Barr loading a bloody package onto his truck right after Tara disappeared. Although Barr claimed it was a dead pig, the ex-girlfriend thought it could have been the victim’s body. So, armed with multiple witness statements and convinced of Barr and McMannis’ involvement in the murder, police arrested them both in 2012 before charging them with murder.
Where are Phillip Barr and David McMannis now?
When shown in court, Barr and McMannis insisted on their innocence and pleaded not guilty. However, the jury disagreed and instead convicted Barr of first degree murder. As a result, he was sentenced to life in prison in 2015. David Ray McMannis was also convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2017. Both men are currently behind the bars, with Barr incarcerated at Dade Correctional Facility in Homestead, while McMannis spends his days at the Northwest Florida Reception Center in Washington County.
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