After more than three decades since Anna Lee Manning vanished, her husband and mother have been arrested in connection with what officials now suspect was her murder.
Anthony Blaine Manning, 59, from Harrodsburg, was charged on May 18 with murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse, according to court records and the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office.
His mother, 76-year-old Barbara Ann Manning, has also been charged—specifically, with accessory to murder, conspiracy to tamper with evidence, and conspiracy to abuse a corpse.
Both were booked into the Boyle County Detention Center on May 19 and are currently being held on a $2 million cash bond, as per jail records.
Anna was reported missing on February 25, 1994, but investigators believe her death may have occurred as far back as 1992. The recent arrests represent a major breakthrough in one of the most enduring cold cases in Boyle County.
On May 19, Detective Ray from the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office announced the indictment and indicated that the investigation into Anna Manning’s disappearance is still ongoing.
According to court documents, authorities have searched the area behind Barbara Manning’s home on Spring Valley Road for evidence, although it’s unclear if they found any human remains.
Anna Lee Manning was just 23 years old when she went missing from Junction City, Kentucky. She was last seen on November 19, 1992, outside Chin’s Jewelry Shop on North Third Street, where her aunt, Elsie Williams, remembers her calling out with something to say but never heard what it was. Strangely, she never saw Anna again.
At the time of her disappearance, Anna stood at 5 feet tall and weighed around 108 pounds, as noted in the National Missing Persons Database where her case was officially listed in 2013. For years, her family believed her remains might be buried on the property of Barbara Manning.
Elsie Williams, Anna’s aunt, voiced her frustrations, stating she had prayed for months for her niece to be found, especially highlighting how finding Anna had taken on greater significance for her as she battles cancer.
The investigators had previously searched the Spring Valley Road property back in 2016 after hints pointed to that location again. Meanwhile, volunteers like Crystal Williams remembered an old well on the property from years ago, showing the enduring community involvement in this case.
While it’s still unclear if Anna Manning’s remains have been found, the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office has expressed gratitude for the cooperation from various local agencies involved in the investigation.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with further information regarding this case to reach out to them directly.
