In the News
(Click here for Cold Case news from other states.)
August 17, 2008
Iowa cold case proposal in the running for funds
By Bob Link
Mason City Globe Gazette
MASON CITY — Television crime show junkies have been watching for five years now as fictional detectives solved cold cases after intense investigation.
August 8, 2008
One year later and still no answers in hit-and-run death of Mark Snopek
By Matt Oliver
Boone News Republican
One year ago today, tragedy struck the Boone community as a hit-and-run accident claimed the life of Mark Snopek, 53, of rural Boone. The incident occurred around 8:53 p.m., while Snopek was riding his bicycle on County Road R18, also known as L Avenue.
August 7, 2008
Tipping point: Polk County Crime Stoppers rely on anonymous tips to solve crimes
by Michael Swanger
Cityview
DES MOINES — Here’s a tip. Crime only pays when you make an anonymous call to help the police catch the bad guys.
June 23, 2008
Globe Gazette launches new "minisite" featuring news articles, case information, photos, and journal entries on missing Mason City anchorwoman Jodi Huisentruit.
Jodi's journal
June 21, 2008
Entries from missing Mason City anchor Jodi Huisentruit's journal shortly before she disappeared.
New 'Cold Case' Website Hits Home For Founder
June 9, 2008
SIOUX CITY — Donna Sue Davis, Terri McCauley, Kenneth Harker. Sadly, these are just a few unsolved murder victims in Sioux City. Now, one Siouxland woman is giving these victims a voice with her website.
Cold Case Cards Coming to Iowa
June 5, 2008
Iowa one of 11 states to create "Cold Case Playing Cards" modeled after similar Florida program.
Inside Edition: Copper Theft
May 14, 2008
The television newsmagazine reports on the nationwide copper theft epidemic and the death of Earl Thelander of Onawa, Iowa.
Remembering Earl Thelander
May 10, 2008
ONAWA — KTIV Channel 4 Covers Tree-Planting memorial for Cold Case Victim
Copper Theft Killing Now a Cold Case Investigation
May 8, 2008
ONAWA — On the quiet outskirts of town near Onawa, Iowa is the scene of an unsolved and deadly copper crime.
Visit the Discussion Forum on this article here.
Unsolved Slaying Haunts Retired Bluffs Officer
April 30, 2008
COUNCIL BLUFFS — Former Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Jerry Mann wishes he could have retired knowing who killed Kimberly Ratliff.
Unsolved Cases are Not Forgotten
April 30, 2008
Russell Neal Sr. has found it impossible to move on since his 16-year-old daughter, Sarah, was gunned down inside the family's north Omaha home June 21, 2005.
April 20, 2008
DYERSVILLE — It might be a cold case, but could DNA testing heat up the long-idle investigation of a Dyersville, Iowa, man shot to death in 1984? An official from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation thinks modern forensics could offer some hope.
Finding the lost, naming the unnamed
March 30, 2008
MASON CITY — It was the year that Michael Jackson introduced “Thriller.” Ronald Reagan was president. “Terms of Endearment” swept the Oscars.
It was also the year Grace Esquivel disappeared.
Cold Cases Just Waiting to Happen: The Copper Theft Epidemic
It's happening in every single state and across the world. Articles on a deadly crime leaving death and destruction in its wake.
U.S. News & World Report: Price Hikes Lead to Rash of Metal Thefts
March 27, 2008
Some robberies have ended in tragedy. In Iowa, someone stealing copper pipes from a farmhouse last August accidentally cut the propane line, filling the house with gas, says Monona County Sheriff Jeffrey Pratt. When the 80-year-old owner tried to plug in a fan, the building exploded and killed him.
Three arrested in alleged copper thefts
March 27, 2008
TABOR — Three people were arrested Wednesday for allegedly burning what appeared to be copper wire commonly found in a center pivot irrigation system.
Iowa to Possibly Add Cold Case Unit
March 23, 2008
KELOLAND.COM - Over the last five decades, Iowa has accumulated more than 150 unsolved murders. Many of the cold cases remain closed because police either lack the funding to reopen them or are simply busy with recent crimes.
Lawmakers consider 'cold case' unit for unsolved murders
March 18, 2008
Iowa moved closer today to the creation of the first statewide unsolved murder cold-case unit when lawmakers included the idea as part of a budget proposal.
Family offers $5,000 reward in Earl Thelander death
December 22, 2007
ONAWA — Doug Thelander said his father was a good man who suffered a painful death because some "low life" broke into his house and stole $20 worth of copper.
Additional Arrest Made in 1986 Homicide Case of Karen Weber
November 30, 2007
NEWTON – Today, Agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation, along with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office announce the arrest of 46 year old Gottlieb William Baumann, Jr. Mr. Baumann is being charged with First Degree Murder in the 1986 death of Karen Weber.
November 16, 2007
Reward offered in 12-year-old slaying
Though 12 years have passed since the slaying of Iowa City woman Susan Kersten, her son is still determined to find her killer.
November 15, 2007
IOWA CITY — The family of a woman murdered here more than a decade ago asked Thursday for help bringing her killer to justice, offering a $7,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction Susan Kersten's killer.
November 7, 2007
Renewed Interest in Unsolved Murder Case in Johnson County
IOWA CITY - It has been 12 years since authorities found the body of Susan Kersten in a farm field near her Iowa City home. At first investigators thought the 38-year-old woman died from a car accident. But days later, an autopsy showed someone murdered her. The unsolved murder will soon be back in the public eye.
June 26, 2006
Investigators say Miller case is not cold
It has been nearly one year since the death of five-year-old Evelyn Miller -- and while there's not been an arrest in the case -- Floyd County authorities say they're keeping a positive attitude about the investigation. Floyd County Attorney Marilyn Dettmer says they're still looking at every lead that comes into her department.
January 29, 2005
Iowa seeks to solve Florida "cold case" murder
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Boone County Sheriff's Department are taking a shot in the dark to try and find information on the death of an Iowa woman nearly two decades ago.