Disappearance of Danyel Lou Sparpana
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Disappearance of Danyel Lou Sparpana
Name: Danyel Lou Sparpana
Missing Since: November 2, 1985
Missing From: West Sacramento, California
Age at Disappearance: 3 years old
Date of Birth: June 23, 1982
Height: 3'0 to 3'1
Weight: about 38 to 45 pounds
Hair: Blonde (naturally curly, cut short at the time)
Eyes: Blue
Identifying Characteristics
Danyel had a rust-colored birthmark on one kneecap, measuring roughly one by two inches. Her ears were pierced, and she had short blonde hair when she disappeared. She may have been wearing a light blue nylon coat with white fur trim when she vanished.
Dental records are available for identification.
Timeline of Events
November 2, 1985
Three-year-old Danyel Sparpana was last seen inside her family's home in the 1900 block of Manzanita Way in West Sacramento, California.
At some point after that day, something violent occurred inside the home.
November 2 to November 5, 1985
During this period, neighbors reported seeing Danyel alone outside the home and wandering around the neighborhood. These sightings suggest she may have been alive for some time after the crime occurred inside the house.
November 5, 1985
Police were called to the home after Cynthia Mullennix Sparpana, Danyel’s mother, was found dead inside the residence. She had been brutally beaten and shot in the back of the head, and investigators estimated she had been dead two to three days before her body was discovered.
The discovery was reportedly made by Cynthia’s father, who came to the home to check on her and found the front door open.
By the time authorities searched the house, Danyel was gone.
Investigators noted something unusual: none of the child’s belongings were missing, except possibly her coat.
Despite extensive searches of the area, no trace of Danyel was ever found.
The Main Suspect
Investigators quickly focused on Lionel Ernest Tholmer Jr., an acquaintance of the family and a former boyfriend of Cynthia Sparpana.
Tholmer had previously lived in Georgia, but had returned to the Sacramento area in the mid-1980s to work at McClellan Air Force Base.
Authorities suspected he was involved not only in Cynthia’s murder and Danyel’s disappearance, but also in the killing of John B. Meadows, the stepfather of Tholmer’s ex-wife. Investigators believed Tholmer may have intended to frame Meadows for Cynthia’s murder.
Arrests and Convictions
1987
Tholmer was convicted of the murder of John B. Meadows and sentenced to life in prison.
1992
While already imprisoned, he was tried for the murder of Cynthia Sparpana and the presumed murder of Danyel Sparpana.
During the trial, Tholmer’s defense attorneys argued:
• He was innocent of Cynthia’s murder
• Danyel might still be alive
There had been unconfirmed sightings of Danyel after her mother’s death, but none were ever verified.
Tholmer was ultimately convicted in November 1992 for the murders of both Cynthia and Danyel. He was originally sentenced to death, but that sentence was later reduced to life in prison without parole.
What Happened to Danyel?
Even after the conviction, Danyel’s remains have never been found.
Investigators believe she was likely abducted by the person responsible for her mother’s murder and that foul play was involved, but the exact circumstances of her disappearance remain unknown.
Because Cynthia’s body was discovered on November 5, some agencies list November 5, 1985 as the official disappearance date instead of November 2.
Case Status
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Missing for nearly 40 years
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Remains never located
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Suspect convicted
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Case still technically unresolved due to the lack of physical evidence or recovery of Danyel’s remains.
If alive today, Danyel would be about 43 years old.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the West Sacramento Police Department.
Sources
Charley Project
California Department of Justice Missing Persons
Doe Network
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Missing People in America
Sacramento Bee archives (referenced by case databases)
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