Iowa Cold Cases

07/10/2026

Reminder of the annual Memorial Ride for Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins of Evansdale.

07/02/2026

The official press release from the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office re the identification of Clifton Todd Womack.

07/02/2026

Amber, Sherry, Terry and Jay Womack (l-r) are appreciative of everyone who provided the family support and played a part in solving the cold case involving the disappearance of their brother, Clifton “Todd” Womack. (Photo submitted)

Womack was found dead in a Winneshiek County hay barn 40 years ago and remained unidentified until recent DNA testing identified him as Clifton Todd Womack, a 28-year-old from Ohio who disappeared in 1985.

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office announced the closure of a 40-year-old cold case Friday.

06/24/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj62VZ9Y464
How genealogists identified Cheryl Lynn Edwards.

Law enforcement and genetic genealogists identified an unidentified...

06/24/2026

The Clinton County "Jane Doe 1975" has been identified as 15-year-old Cheryl Lynn Edwards of Waukegan, Illinois. Investigators are seeking information about Cheryl's life and disappearance, as well as her unsolved homicide.

06/20/2026

https://www.kcci.com/article/des-moines-tyrese-parson-cold-case/71630603
Tyrese Robert Parson, 17, of Des Moines, was found dead on a sidewalk Friday morning, June 8, 2018, on the east side of Des Moines. He had been shot in the back. His family is still searching for answers.

Tyrese Parson was found dead on a sidewalk on the east side of Des Moines on June 8, 2018. Police say the case has been hard to solve.

06/08/2026

With many thanks to KAALTV, and to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird for shining a light on Iowa's unsolved cases and for making these playing cards possible.

Bringing justice to victims becomes a lot more difficult as time passes, but the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is hoping to get answers by putting cold cases back into the shuffle.

06/08/2026

Many thanks to Brian Wise from KAAL-TV in Rochester, MN, for the recent features on the 1992 unsolved murder of Rhonda Knutson in Chickasaw County, and Rhonda's case being featured in the Iowa Attorney General’s Cold Case playing card deck.

"We were hoping to get some answers for Rhonda’s family," Wise told Iowa Cold Cases.

6 INSIDE: Since 1992, Rhonda Knutson's murder has remained unsolved, leaving a mystery that has haunted New Hampton for decades.

05/16/2026

Iowa Cold Case Unit works to solve homicides, bring hope to families.

Brenna Bird, Office of the Attorney General of Iowa, talks to The Des Moines Register about the new cold case unit, Bird's passion for justice, and the recent arrest in the 2011 Ashley Okland case.

"Everybody matters," Bird told the Register. "And so to me, it's important that every single cold case gets that kind of attention and care and that families and communities who have been impacted know that we never give up ... even when it's hard ... and that nothing is going to slip through the cracks."

Launched in July 2024, the unit has already made three arrests and is actively working multiple other cases. Iowa has needed this unit for so very long, and they are truly making a difference in lives. Never lose hope!

Brenna Bird established the Iowa Cold Case Unit in 2024 to solve forgotten cases. One case has been solved, and three arrests have been made. https://www.des...

04/28/2026

$58,000.00 Reward- Unsolved Homicide
In the early morning hours of April 28th, 2019, Micalla Rettinger was driving herself and two passengers from Cedar Falls to Waterloo when a bullet hit the vehicle they were in. Rettinger and her front seat passenger were struck with Rettinger passing away on scene. While many theories have been discussed and investigated over the years, the death of Rettinger remains unsolved.

$58,000.00 Reward- Unsolved Homicide

In the early morning hours of April 28th, 2019, Micalla Rettinger was driving herself and two passengers from Cedar Falls to Waterloo when a bullet hit the vehicle they were in. Rettinger and her front seat passenger were struck with Rettinger passing away on scene. While many theories have been discussed and investigated over the years, the death of Rettinger remains unsolved.

For additional please visit -
https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/micalla-rettinger/