When Tara Sidarovich, then 19 years old, went missing from her Punta Gorda, Florida home on October 1, 2001, authorities assumed it would be an easy case to solve.
The finding of her remains in July 2002, on the other hand, led to a horrific homicide.
‘The Night That Didn’t End: Stolen Memories,’ from Investigation Discovery, takes viewers through the murder and how the subsequent investigation narrowed in on the perpetrators.
Let’s get into the intricacies of this case and figure out where Tara’s killers are right now.
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What Caused Tara Sidarovich’s Death?
Tara Sidarovich, a vivacious nineteen-year-old who adored life, Tara was adored by her friends and family, and she enjoyed spending time with them.
She worked at the Golden Isle Jewelry store and aspired to be successful in the future. Her goals were shattered due of a careless crime, and it was a horrible day.
Tara’s siblings, Veronica and Paul Ord, were astonished to find Tara missing when they got off the school bus on October 1, 2001. The teen’s car was still parked in the driveway, and her belongings were still in the house, but she was nowhere to be seen.
When Tara did not show up by nighttime, her family became even more concerned, and the police were called. For months, police used cadaver dogs and search crews to conduct extensive searches.
Tara’s family offered a $5000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Still, no trace of the missing adolescent could be found.
In addition, while investigating Tara’s abduction, the police discovered that some jewellery from the Sidarovich household had been stolen.
Finally, in July 2002, Punta Gorda police discovered a makeshift grave in the woods off Burnt Store Road.
They discovered the skeleton remains of a human person within, which were ultimately identified as Tara’s. When the body was discovered, the case was upgraded to homicide and an investigation was launched to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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Who Killed Tara Sidarovich and How?
Unfortunately, there weren’t many leads to go on, so the initial inquiry took a long time. Authorities conducted multiple interviews with Tara’s friends, but none of them could understand why someone would want to harm the nineteen-year-old.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to make progress with no leads, and even asking the public for assistance did not bring much relief. As a result, the case sat unsolved for years with little progress.
When detectives decided to reopen the investigation, they discovered that David Ray McMannis and Phillip Barr had arrived at Tara’s home for a plumbing repair on the day she vanished.
Despite the fact that both men were suspected, the authorities had no proof of their involvement. Surprisingly, Michael Artell came forward in 2007 and informed authorities that Barr was afraid of being named as a suspect in Tara’s death.
Michael and Barr reunited in jail while the latter was serving a different sentence, and their chat led Michael to believe that his fellow inmate was involved in the murder.
Barr’s truck was seen at the scene of Tara’s abduction by multiple witnesses, and Charlotte County Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Harrison stated he saw Barr cleaning out the floor of his truck less than 24 hours after Tara vanished.
Barr’s ex-girlfriend also claimed, according to the episode, that she saw Barr carrying a bloodied bundle onto her truck shortly after Tara vanished. Despite Barr’s claim that it was a dead hog, the ex-girlfriend suspected it was the victim’s body.
As a result, armed with many witness testimony and persuaded of Barr and McMannis’ involvement in the crime, the cops arrested them both in 2012 and charged them with murder.
What Has Happened to Phillip Barr and David McMannis?
Barr and McMannis insisted on their innocence and pleaded not guilty when they were brought before the court. The jury, however, did not agree and found Barr guilty of first-degree murder.
In 2015, he was condemned to life in prison as a result of his actions. In 2017, David Ray McMannis was also found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of release.
Both men are currently incarcerated, with Barr doing his time at the Dade Correctional Institution in Homestead and McMannis at the Northwest Florida Reception Center in Washington County.
