Lucas, KS Area Cold Cases

Name

James Plance

Age

54

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to please contact the kit carson county sheriff's office.

Agency

Kit Carson County Sheriff's Office

Name

James Sinclair

Age

49

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to please contact the kit carson county sheriff's office. ********************************************************* exceptional clearance. Suspect deceased.

Agency

Kit Carson County Sheriff's Office

Name

Robert Sowash

Age

19

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to please contact the kit carson county sheriff's office.

Agency

Kit Carson County Sheriff's Office

Name

Merton Dickson

Age

71

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On june 17, 1989, sometime between 8:20 p.M. And 8:30 p.M., merton "Mutt" dickson was murdered at the intersection of highway 385 and county road 7 in southern yuma county. "Mutt" was returning from burlington when he was killed. "Mutt" was a retired farmer and lived only a short distance from where he was killed. "Mutt" was 71 years old at the time of his death. On scene investigation would indicate that "Mutt" was shot several times. The victim was killed with a 9 millimeter weapon. "Mutt" was rushed to burlington hospital by the idalia ambulance where he was pronounced dead. Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to please contact the yuma county sheriff's office.

Agency

Yuma County Sheriff's Office

Name

Allen Shoemaker

Age

36

Cause of Death

Hit And Run

Info

Allen f. Shoemaker — a police officer with the chicago and northwestern railroad police — was shot and killed on sunday, may 17, 1925, while conducting a railroad check in missouri valley, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Bernadene Sealine

Age

67

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Bernadene sealine, 67, of dexter, iowa, was reported missing to the pottawattamie county sheriff’s office in council bluffs, iowa, on july 10, 1993 after flood waters swept away the family’s vehicle in carson, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brianne Smith

Age

25

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Brianne smith, a 25-year-old mother of three, disappeared from omaha, neb., in april 2006. Her body was discovered in a mills county, iowa, roadside ditch west of glenwood on june 10, 2006. Mills county in iowa mills county in iowa glenwood in mills countyglenwood in mills county the mills county sheriff’s office and the iowa division of criminal investigation (dci) reported on july 18, 2006 that the human remains found were smith’s.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Debra Barajas

Age

44

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Debra (debbie) ann barajas was last seen on thursday afternoon, may 25, 2006, heading to the omaha vicinity of park avenue and leavenworth in omaha, neb. When she didn’t arrive, she was reported missing to the nebraska missing persons information clearinghouse. Mills county in iowa mills county in iowa glenwood in mills countyglenwood in mills county nearly six months later on tuesday, november 14, 2006, barajas’ remains were discovered in a pacific junction ravine northwest of glenwood, iowa, near the 54300 block of 195th street in mills county, iowa. The rural community’s population barely topped 500 people.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dennis Addlesberger

Age

46

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Dennis ray addlesberger, 46, was reported missing to the pottawattamie county sheriff’s office in council bluffs, iowa, on march 16, 1999. At the time of his disappearance, dennis was described as a 5-foot-7 white male weighing 165 pounds. His eyes are hazel, and he may have been completely bald. Officials have classified his case as “endangered / physical,” which refers to a person of any age who is missing under circumstances indicating his/her physical safety is in danger.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dung Truong

Age

37

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On monday, sept. 22, 1997, dung kim truong, a 37-year-old female vietnamese legal alien authorized to work in the united states, left the omaha home she shared with her boyfriend and went to the recently opened ameristar riverboat casino across the missouri river in council bluffs, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Earl Thelander

Age

25

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

The thieves had stripped propane gas lines from a country home — a house formerly owned by my grandparents — where earl and my mother, hope thelander, had been working and readying for a renter. Earl was life-flighted to the clarkson burn center at the university of nebraska hospital in omaha, where he died four days later on september 1. He and my mother would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary four months later on december 30. Also left behind were earl’s six children and five stepchildren, 22 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, four sisters and three brothers, and countless in-laws, loved ones and friends.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Edward Hickson

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On february 15, 1978 at 4:14 a.M., council bluffs police department officers responded to a fire call in the 1500 block of south 6th street, where the fire department advised them there was an unresponsive person inside the rock island bunkhouse #27. The unresponsive male was taken by ambulance to mercy hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival and identified as edward leroy hickson. A witness to the incident advised police that on the same night as the fire at 4:05 a.M., he had observed a white male, 6’3 to 6’4 and wearing a brown stocking hat and black jacket, enter the rock island bunkhouse #27. The witness said the individual immediately came back out and went to a 1975 or 1976 buick or monte carlo, burgundy over white in color, removed something from inside the vehicle and then re-entered the building. The witness said he saw a green shirt hanging inside the car, and that a few minutes later the man exited the building and left in the same vehicle.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Evelyn Resh

Age

87

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Evelyn resh, 87, died tuesday, sept. 16, 1997 after someone deliberately set fire to the red oak apartment house where she lived alone. Her death is one from a group of “cold case” fire investigations resurrected in iowa in spring 2016. The cold cases became the focus in “arson awareness week,” as proclaimed by iowa gov. Terry branstad.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Frank Eckels

Age

73

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Frank johnston eckels, 73, was shot and wounded during a holdup at his motel and café in oakland, iowa, on wednesday, december 3, 1958. Eckels died three days later on saturday, december 6, at a council bluffs hospital

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gary Sebek

Age

20

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Gary eugene sebek, 20, spent the last day of his life going to work in the morning, being called away to witness the birth of his second child – a son – and leaving the hospital late that evening to return to his hamburg, iowa home, where he’d be slain that same night and his body removed from the premises.

Agency

Iowa

Name

George Massouris

Age

30

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

George james massouris, a 30-year-old union pacific railroad carman who worked part-time as a taxicab driver, was found dead in a ditch on the old orchard road two miles east of council bluffs, iowa, on sunday morning, nov. 19, 1950. He’d been shot three times at the base of his skull with a .22 caliber automatic pistol.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gloria Slump

Age

24

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On monday, march 6, 1967, burlington railroad employees found the frozen body of 24-year-old gloria fay slump under a trestle over pony creek three miles south of council bluffs, iowa. Pottawattamie county in iowa pottawattamie county in iowa council bluffs in pottawattamie countycouncil bluffs in pottawattamie county a trail of blood showed she was dragged to the site from a county road 150 yards away.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Humberto Cortez

Age

31

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On june 21, 1996, a partially decomposed male body was discovered in a rail car by a paxton & vierling steel co. Employee. The body was identified in december 2009 as that of humberto cortez.

Agency

Iowa

Name

James Nicoll

Age

52

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

James clark nicoll, a 52-year-old baker from perth, scotland, who emigrated to council bluffs, iowa with his wife and five children in 1871, was found dead tuesday morning, march 17, 1885, lying frozen in about 15 inches of water in a tenth avenue council bluffs ditch that led into indian creek. A successful businessman, nicoll was known as a well respected community member.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Joseph Floyd

Age

42

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

World war ii veteran joseph j. Floyd jr., 42, was shot in the head in the early morning hours on saturday, july 1, 1967, in council bluffs, iowa. Union pacific railroad switchman edward l. Stephen, 1000 cathy lane, contacted authorities around 10:30 a.M. Saturday after finding the body

Agency

Iowa

Name

John Adams Jr

Age

23

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

John p. Adams, jr., 23, of omaha died from a single gunshot to the head on july 11, 1982, after an altercation in council bluffs, iowa, with two men riding motorcycles. A witness told police the fight started in omaha after a traffic confrontation. Witnesses said the two motorcyclists had been arguing in the street by 25th and west broadway and that when the victim approached one of the two men, the offender shot the victim in the face. Adams fell to the ground in the 2400 block of west broadway street

Agency

Iowa

Name

John Conaway

Age

36

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

John steven “steve” conaway, 36, of council bluffs, iowa, went missing sometime on monday night, february 9, 1998. He was reported missing to the council bluffs police department on february 11, 1998. Conaway was last seen between 10 and 10:30 p.M. On feb. 9 at buffalo joe’s food & spirits, located near rosenblatt stadium in downtown omaha, nebraska. Conaway had gone there with a friend and had a few beers, and seemed to be in good spirits at the time

Agency

Iowa

Name

John Erickson

Age

48

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On wednesday, april 30, 1997, vietnam veteran john lee erickson, 48, of council bluffs was shot in the head near mondamin, iowa, in harrison county. His killer or killers then dumped his body in a ditch off I-29 south of onawa in monona county

Agency

Iowa

Name

Johnny Shields

Age

32

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Johnny joe shields, who lived with his mother in carter lake, iowa, was heard leaving the residence at 2 a.M. On thursday, december 15, 1988, and has never returned to his residence nor contacted his family. The 32-year-old left personal belongings and his pickup truck behind, and was reported missing to the carter lake police department on friday, december 16, 1988

Agency

Iowa

Name

Joseph Riche

Age

40

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

The missing person, joseph edward riche, 40, allegedly left his residence in neola, iowa on the morning of october 12, 2012. There has been no social media presence and none of his relatives or close friends have heard from him since that date

Agency

Iowa

Name

Judith Pleas

Age

17

Cause of Death

Strangulation

Info

Judith kaylene pleas, 17, was reported missing to the council bluffs police department in council bluffs, iowa, on august 10, 1973. On october 14, 1973, a farmer located the remains of a female in a cornfield outside council bluffs’ city limits and contacted the pottawattamie county sheriff’s office, who in turn notified the council bluffs police department

Agency

Iowa

Name

Keara Coshow

Age

3

Cause of Death

Fire

Info

Keara lee coshow, a blind 3-year-old native american child living with her family in red oak, iowa, died thursday, july 12, 1979, in the hill top motel’s laundry room after her stepmother allegedly set the room afire. Keara, unconscious from an acute spinal cord injury sustained the previous evening (also allegedly at the hands of the stepmother), was carried into the laundry room shortly before the fire erupted.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Kimberly Ratliff

Age

22

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Council bluffs, iowa (wowt) – a pottawattamie county jury has found matt kennedy not guilty of the 1999 murder of kim ratliff. The week-long trial has been plagued by time. Ratliff was 22 years old when she was found murdered and put into her car 22 years ago. The 52-year-old broke down in tears after hearing he had been cleared of first-degree murder. Kennedy was accused of killing his step-sister kimberly ratliff. She was killed in 1999, her throat had been slashed. The prosecution tried to link small samples of kennedy’s dna, which was found on kimberly’s clothing, and said he was the last known person to see her alive.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Linda Mayfield

Age

21

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

On april 9, 1982 at 2:18 a.M., officers were called to the starlite motel at 3320 west broadway in council bluffs, iowa, regarding a disturbance involving a man with a knife. When officers arrived at the scene, linda mayfield, 21, was found lying face down by the north office door. The responding officer said the victim had several stab wounds to her face, chest, stomach, hand and foot.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Linn Snyder

Age

44

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Linn allen snyder, 44, was reported missing to the pottawattamie county sheriff’s office in council bluffs, iowa, on september 9, 2006. He is described as a 6’0″ white male weighing approximately 280 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and may have a beard or mustache. He has an unknown tattoo on his shoulder.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Matthew Rice

Age

17

Cause of Death

Injury

Info

Matthew joel rice, a 17-year-old senior at westwood high school in sloan, iowa, died from injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle during a hit-and-run on saturday, sept. 21, 2002.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Melvin Price

Age

26

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Around 4:30 a.M. Early sunday morning, november 17, 1974, a passing farragut truck driver discovered a body lying along iowa highway 42 near the foot of a hill about three miles west of riverton, iowa. He notified authorities, who identified the body as that of 26-year-old melvin price.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Mohama Baba

Age

22

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Mohama samsoudina baba, 22, was reported missing to the council bluffs police department on december 3, 2005. Mohama was last seen wearing a gray sweater and pants at approximately 3:00 a.M. At his residence in the vicinity of the 800 block of n. 35th st. In council bluffs, iowa. All personal belongings were left behind.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Paul Brule

Age

30

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Paul michael brule, a 30-year-old council bluffs, iowa man who received $10,000 weekly payouts from lottery winnings, was slain in his sixth avenue home in the early morning hours on saturday, july 25, 1998, and his death poorly staged to mimic a suicide. Brule’s father, michael brule, and sisters michelle (brule) stephens and jamie brule discovered his lifeless body behind the 2118 sixth avenue home after finding his motorcycle out front on its side.The three found brule’s body slumped against a tree — his knees touching the ground — with a nylon clothesline rope tied around his neck.Brule wasn’t breathing when council bluffs police arrived, and officials determined time of death as sometime between 1:45 and 7 a.M.

Agency

Iowa

Name

John Stephens

Age

32

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Council bluffs police officer john l. Stephens, 32, and paul j. Rayer, 51, were shot and killed on tuesday, december 5, 1967, during a robbery of “club 64,” an upscale steakhouse about a half-mile east of council bluffs’ city limits where stephens moonlighted as a plain-clothes security guard. Robbery appeared to be the motive. Officer stephens was to accompany rayer, the restaurant’s manager, to the council bluffs savings bank at about 2 a.M. After the business closed and daily receipts counted. Both men’s bodies were found dead in the restaurant’s office about five hours later when a club employee arrived for regular clean up work. Wichael also said there may have been more bullets fired.“we think they were fired from two different guns — one probably a .25-caliber and the other a .38 — indicating we think that there were two men doing the shooting,” wichael is quoted as saying in the article.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Paul Rayer

Age

51

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Council bluffs police officer john l. Stephens, 32, and paul j. Rayer, 51, were shot and killed on tuesday, december 5, 1967, during a robbery of “club 64,” an upscale steakhouse about a half-mile east of council bluffs’ city limits where stephens moonlighted as a plain-clothes security guard. Robbery appeared to be the motive. Officer stephens was to accompany rayer, the restaurant’s manager, to the council bluffs savings bank at about 2 a.M. After the business closed and daily receipts counted. Both men’s bodies were found dead in the restaurant’s office about five hours later when a club employee arrived for regular clean up work. Wichael also said there may have been more bullets fired.“we think they were fired from two different guns — one probably a .25-caliber and the other a .38 — indicating we think that there were two men doing the shooting,” wichael is quoted as saying in the article.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Robert Bates III

Age

39

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Robert bruce “kip” bates — a 39-year-old marine who fought in operation desert storm — was shot twice around 10 p.M. Thursday, sept. 27, 2007, at the carter lake “jump start” convenience store after stepping outside to take a break.He never should have been there.Bates’ girlfriend, tracy kaiser, expected to deliver the couple’s child within the month, and bates hadn’t been scheduled to work that night but switched schedules with another employee.Bates worked alone at the store that night, and when he went out the front door to take a break, was shot twice in about two seconds.“the shooter did walk up to the store entrance where he was met by the victim,” said pottawattamie county deputy sgt. Dwayne riche.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Robert Hatcher

Age

38

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On march 8, 2007, robert scott hatcher, 38, was shot seven times near playland park in council bluffs, iowa, as he stood on the iowa riverfront trail beneath the interstate 480 bridge on the city’s western edge.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Tevon Stokes

Age

35

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Agency

Topeka Police Department

Name

Mary Drake

Age

79

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Agency

Kansas Bureau of Investigation

Name

Star Boomer

Age

39

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

On the evening of february 23, 1999, star boomer was patron of uncle mike’s bar at 49th and metropolitan in kansas city, kansas. Boomer had gone to the tavern with her roommate. The friend had a drink and headed home, planning to return in a few hours to pick up her roommate. When she arrived at the bar, she was told that boomer had left with two men. Witnesses say boomer was involved in a violent altercation with a man believed to be lifelong criminal with a history of violent behavior, particularly toward women. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the kansas city police department at 913-573-6000

Agency

Kansas City Police Department

Name

Tyszu Smith

Age

34

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Agency

Kansas City Police Department

Name

Ryan Bradley

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Ryan bradley went missing from his home in olathe, kansas on october 9, 2011. He had a scar on his left forearm and ankle, a bump below his left knee, and his left arm is "Bowed." he walked with a slight limp. His remains were found in the wooded area of 213th street and gardner road.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Christina Brandolese

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Christina's body was found at the end of a driveway in rural johnson county, kansas on may 30, 1989. She was last seen in kansas city, missouri on may 29, 1989. The person responsible for her death may be linked to the candice fisher homicide.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Beverly Douthit

Age

Cause of Death

Blunt Force Trauma

Info

Beverly's body was found in the little blue river at the bridge of 69 highway. She was last seen on august 18, 1985. Cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Candice Fisher

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Candice was last seen on may 29, 1989, in kansas city, missouri. Her body was found on june 2, 1989, in rural johnson county, kansas. Detectives believe her homicide is related to christina brandolese's homicide.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Tawnya Knight

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Tawnya was reported missing on december 8, 1996. Her remains were found in a farmer's field in spring hill, kansas on june 7, 1997. The case was ruled a homicide by the johnson county coroner following an autopsy.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Marcell Smith

Age

36

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Agency

Kansas City Police Department

Name

Robert Barnes

Age

37

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Agency

Kansas City Police Department

Name

Ki'essence Pelton

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On 7/7/2019 ki’essence was shot and killed at 39th street and myrtle. She was the front passenger in a vehicle that was driving west on 39th street when someone started shooting. She was an innocent victim minding her own business. Det. Crowell is the case detective and can be reached at 816-234-5413

Agency

Kansas City